Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Executive is currently undertakinga review of the certification and registration of visual impairment in Scotland witha view to improving the registration process.

I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7896 on 12 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The Executive has launched anEye Care Review in order to improve services for blind and partially sighted peoplein Scotland and to promote better integration of services withinthe NHS, and between the NHS and other agencies. The review will examine the existingarrangements for the provision of eye care services and make recommendations foreffective models of care.

It has also begun work, withother bodies, on implementing the recommendations in the Sensory Impairment ActionPlan to address the community care needs of people who are blind, deaf or deafblind.The action plan was written in consultation with the Royal National Institute of the Blind, The Scottish Council on Deafness and Deafblind Scotland.

Iunderstand that discussions are continuing between the Scottish Borders Council,the Scottish Court Service and Lothian and BordersPolice around the plans for the new joint facility. Once these are successfullyconcluded, I am advised that building work would be expected to be completed byend 2005.

Table 1 shows the total number of residential care homes for older people and nursing homes which opened and closed in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02. Note that some homes were dual registered and will be counted in both columns.

Table 1

	Residential Care Homes for Older People	Nursing Homes
Number of Homes – 31 March 2000	631	557
Opened	20	15
Closed	30	3
Number of Homes – 31 March 2001	621	569
Opened	5	4
Closed	21	15
Number of Homes – 31 March 2002	605	558

Sources: SEHD Community CareStatistics – R1 return,            ISD Scotland – ISD(S)34 return.

Table 2 shows the number of carehomes which opened, closed or de-registered in (c) 2002-03. Note that de-registeredhomes have not closed but are now operating as housing support services.

Table 2

	Care Homes
Number of homes – 31 March 2002	1,018
De-registered	9
Number of homes – 31 March 2002 adjusted	1,009
Opened	2
Closed	30
Number of homes – 31 March 2003	981

Source: SEHD Community Care Statistics– SCHC return.

Information relating to carehomes closed in (d) 2003 to date is not currently available centrally.

The SEHD Analytical ServicesDivision are currently attempting to harmonise data from the Care Commission, localauthorities, and the ISD Nursing Home Census. Once this is completed, an accuratebreakdown by local authority area will be available.

Over the same period, the numberof people receiving care in their own homes increased (by 4 per cent) and the numberof hours of home care services provided by local authorities also increased (by11 per cent).

This reflects a continuing shift in the balance of service provision towards more care at home.

When the presumption was announcedin England in 1998, ministers in Scotland declined to follow suit but, rather, drewthe attention of Scottish local authorities to the importance of balancing all theeducational, financial and community issues which particular school closure proposalscan raise, and of taking account of representations made during the statutory consultationprocess before reaching decisions. 

A road safety research reportlooking at sleepiness as a factor in road accidents was published by the UK Governmentin 2001. The report suggests that sleep could be a factor in a tenth of all roadaccidents across the whole of the road network and up to 20% on “monotonous” roads,especially motorways.

Data about injury road accidentsare collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which oneor more people were injured: they do not cover damage only accidents.

The Stats 19 returns do not recordthe causes of the accidents. Under a pilot scheme, 14 police forces across Great Britainhave been voluntarily submitting information on contributory factors to accidentsalong with their Stats 19 returns. However, it is not possible to use the pilotcontributory factor data to provide figures which are representative of accidentsin Scotland because only two police forces in Scotland tookpart in the scheme. I understand that the UK Government is analysing the pilot dataand will publish an article later in the year.

Starting in January 2005, thepilot scheme will be replaced by a new set of questions on contributory factors,which will form an integral part of the Stats 19 injury road accident reportingsystem. Information about contributory factors should thereafter be supplied byall police forces for personal injury accidents which are reported either (a) followingattendance at the scene by a police officer or (b) by a member of the public topolice staff at a police station.

Following discussion with COSLA,we will prepare new guidance for parents, to improve understanding of the processesand of the respective rolls of local authorities and ministers.

The first three year review of the GB road safety strategy Tomorrow’s Roads – safer for everyonewas published on 7 April. The review reports that considerable research has beenundertaken by the Department for Transport to increase understanding of the risksassociated with falling asleep at the wheel. This work is continuing and has helpedinfluence publicity campaigns to raise awareness amongst drivers of the dangersof driving while tired and the need to take regular breaks. Campaigns started inAugust 2000 and have included leaflets, posters, TV and radio advertising. In additionmotorway variable message signs and truck backs have been used to carry the “Don’tDrive Tired” message directly to drivers on the road. Copies of the review are availablein the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32399).