Seòmar agus comataidhean

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/29131808/0.

Alasdair Allan MSP;

North Area Children''s Panel;

Orkney Children''s Panel Advisory Committee;

Orkney Children''s Panel;

Orkney Islands Council;

Shetland Children''s Panel;

Shetland Children''s Panel Advisory Committee;

Shetland Island Council;

Shetland Safeguarders'' Group;

Western Isles Children''s Panel;

Western Isles Children''s Panel Advisory Committee, and

Western Isles Panel of Safeguarders.

A majority of the responses raised the importance of the local dimension in the children''s hearings system.

The responses are available on the Scottish Government website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/29131808/0.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/29131808/0.

We have carefully listened to all the responses and taken the time to adapt our policy to more closely address the concerns and issues raised. As a result we are bringing forward proposals for two, not one, national bodies:

A new body, the Scottish Children''s Hearings Tribunal, will be responsible for all functions associated with the Children''s Panel, including recruitment, selection and training of panel members.

The Scottish Children''s Reporter Administration will continue to deliver the Children''s Reporters service.

In order to retain budget flexibility and in response to stakeholders'' views, the budget provision for Rural Priorities was not ring-fenced in total or within each budget line. Rural Priorities spending comes from budget headings which also fund other SRDP spending, for instance on Land Managers Options and on legacy payments for agreements entered into under the previous programme.

At the start of the SRDP, taking assumptions for the amount of spending on the other elements within the relevant budget headings, around £500 million was expected to be available for new commitments under Rural Priorities overall. The amount actually available for new commitments under Rural Priorities will depend on a number of factors, including the level of uptake for demand-led elements within the relevant budget headings, and any future policy changes.

Of the £500 million, the following sums fell within the budget headings for agri-environment, business development and forestry:

www.scotland.gov.uk/childrens-hearings-bill.

Copies of the report have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47908).

We are grateful to everyone who responded to the Strengthening for the Future consultation. We have carefully listened to the responses and taken the time to adapt our policy to more closely address the concerns and issues raised.

A locally delivered, nationally supported children''s hearing system that provides streamlined and strengthened support for Scotland''s most vulnerable children is our aim. The key proposals which we are bringing forward are:

Panel Members will benefit from more consistent support and training in order to make the important decisions that can have such a positive effect on children''s lives.

A new body, the Scottish Children''s Hearings Tribunal, will be responsible for all functions associated with the Children''s Panel, including recruitment, selection and training of panel members. The Tribunal will be led by a president who will have the power to work with volunteers to exercise its key functions.

People who wish to volunteer to become panel members will continue to be recruited, selected, trained and sit on hearings on a local basis.

The Scottish Children''s Reporter Administration will continue to deliver the Children''s Reporters service.

The management and provision of Safeguarders will remain with local authorities.

The procedural changes proposed in the consultation, such as providing an option to speed up the process for establishing grounds where child is too young or incapable of understanding them, will be taken forward.

We intend to introduce the Children''s Hearing Bill to the Scottish Parliament in the autumn.