Seòmar agus comataidhean

The report of theSocial Work Inspection Agency on Argyll and Bute Council’s social work servicesis due for publication in late October. I will consider any response to that report,and the council’s plan for improvement, at that time.

A meeting was heldwith Argyll and Bute Council and the then Deputy Minister for Health and CommunityCare on 14 November 2006.

Executive officialswill meet Enable later this month to discuss the Speak Up report. Respectmethe national anti-bullying service for Scotland has already met Enable to identifyfuture joint work.

It is up to each localauthority to decide how it uses its resources based on its own assessment of localneeds and priorities. The Social Work Inspection Agency will publish a report onsocial work services in Argyll and Bute in the autumn. That report will cover olderpeople’s services. I expect the council to act on any recommendations that theagency may make.

The Scottish Governmentis committed to delivering the homelessness legislation already passed by the Scottish Parliament. This includes a commitment to the target to abolish the current distinctionbetween households assessed as having a priority need for accommodation and otherhomeless households by 2012.

We are committedto sharing the UK Government’s long-term target to eradicate child poverty by2020 and will continue to do all that we can to ensure that Scottish policiesand programmes make the maximum contribution towards the milestone of halvingchild poverty by 2010.

We are currentlyreviewing existing policy commitments in this area and will make clear what ourpriorities are in the coming months. By developing policies that reflect ouroverarching strategic principles of making Scotland a Wealthier and Fairer, Healthier, Stronger and Safer, Smarter andGreener nation, we will take the steps which ensure that tackling child povertyis an overarching priority for the Scottish Government.

I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-1137 on 26 June 2007. In addition, we welcome the report by Save theChildren Scotland on this subject, published on 19 June 2007, and will be discussing the implications of thereport with them.All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website thesearch facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

A wide range of actionsis required to deliver the homelessness legislation passed by the Scottish Parliamentand to meet the target to abolish the current legislative distinction between householdsassessed as having a priority need for accommodation and other homeless householdsby 2012. Ministers will consider the current situation later in the year in orderto assess progress and determine priorities. This consideration will be informedby discussion with stakeholders on annual outcome and progress reports submittedby local authorities; homelessness statistics, and other relevant information.

We will continue totake forward the implementation of Workforce Plus and More Choices, MoreChances to get more people into sustainable employment and more of our youngpeople into employment, education or training. In addition, we have already announceda number of additional measures which will enhance our efforts to tackle child poverty.These include trialling approaches to extend free school meals for P1 to P3 pupilsin selected schools, a new skills strategy by the end of the summer, developmentof a new early years strategy to ensure that all children have the best start inlife and the establishment of a Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities totackle the most significant inequalities in the health of the people of Scotland.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-788 on 15 June 2007. 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/wa.search.