- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 24 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1778 by Ms Margaret Curran on 19 August 2003, what Communities Scotland's investment in real terms will be in 2004-05 and what investment is projected for 2005-06.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:
The amount of planned investment by Communities Scotland in 2004-05 will be £264 million, with £182 million invested in urban housing, £65 million in rural housing and the remainder not attributed to a single distinct geographical area. In addition, a further £20 million has also been set aside to be available to respond to any immediate requirements emerging from the affordable housing review.
The investment programme for2005-06 will be agreed in late 2004/early 2005.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 19 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding policies in other European nations with regard to local people purchasing or renting rural properties in their local area and how such information may be used to inform its policy-making processes.
Answer
Through the Land Reform (Scotland) Act2003 the Executive has promoted sustainable development throughout rural Scotland, diversityin land ownership and the involvement of local communities in decisions that affecttheir futures. The proposals in the act were informed by studies of current practicesin relation to land ownership in a number of European member states, and by responsesto consultation from outwith Scotland.
The Executive will continue tomonitor practices in other countries when developing its future land reform policies.It does not routinely collect information on European practice in relation to morespecific and detailed aspects of buying and renting land and property.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2F-849 by Mr Jack McConnell on 29 April 2004 (Official Report, c 7931-7932), how many meetings have been held to discuss the application forms; when and where such meetings took place; who chaired the meetings; who was invited to attend the meetings and who represented Scotland; whether there are any minutes of these meetings, and who was selected to draft the forms and why.
Answer
There have been a number of meetingsbetween officials of the four UK administrations since the announcement of the schemein August 2003 concerning fundamental aspects that have a bearing on the applicationforms. Draft application forms prepared by the Macfarlane Trust were discussed ata meeting on 26 March 2004 which was also attended by representatives of HaemophiliaSociety, the Scottish Haemophilia Groups Forum, the Hepatitis C Trust, the MacfarlaneTrust, the Primary Immunodeficiency Association, Capital C, and Haemophilia Wales.A representative from the Haemophilia Society of Northern Ireland was invited butwas unable to attend.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what process will be established for representation at appeals when a claim is rejected by the Skipton Trust and whether assistance will be provided with such representation and, if so, what form this will take.
Answer
An appeals process will be establishedbut this is still under discussion.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many specialised social workers there are for deaf and hard of hearing people, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
This information is not heldcentrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of those infected with hepatitis C through contaminated blood products have died since the publication of the Health and Community Care Committee's 17th Report 2001 (Session 1) Report on Hepatitis C (SP Paper 398).
Answer
This information is not heldcentrally.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements in training in deaf awareness for social workers there will be when single shared assessment is fully implemented and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 comes into force.
Answer
The Sensory Impairment ActionPlan, launched in January 2004 recognises the importance of improving training forstaff who provide services for people with a sensory impairment, including thosewho are deaf or hard of hearing, and the Scottish Executive is now taking the work of theAction Plan forward to address issues, including training for social work and otherstaff.
We would expect local authoritiesto abide by the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act when it comesinto force.
We would expect the focus ona person-centred approach in single shared assessment to improve understanding ofindividual’s needs. Councils will determine their training needs in the light of the Scottish Executive’s guidance on single shared assessment.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be given to claimants in completing the forms for application to the Skipton Trust.
Answer
Officials are working with patientgroup representatives to ensure that the applications forms are user friendly andfit for purpose. Comprehensive guidance will be provided with the application formand the Skipton Fund will operate a telephone helpline.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Euan Robson on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what best practices it is learning from the Department for Education and Skills' Early Support Pilot Programme and how these are informing processes and services in Scotland.
Answer
We will publish an IntegratedEarly Years Strategy later this year and we will consider any lessons when theyemerge from the Early Support Pilot Programme.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 May 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 May 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the General Medical Council was consulted with regard to the forms for application to the Skipton Trust.
Answer
The General Medical Council wasnot consulted.
