Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-2599 on 30 November.

We have no evidence to suggest that local authorities are failing to carry out their statutory duties to assist homeless young people. We have commissioned research from York University into how authorities discharge their responsibilities for throughcare and after care of 16 and 17 year olds formerly looked after by them. The results are expected to be available in September.

In 1998, guidance on the use of Donepezil Hydrochloride in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease produced by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee in England and endorsed by the National Medical Advisory Committee in Scotland, was issued to all Health Boards and NHS Trusts. This guidance recommends that treatment with Donepezil should be initiated and supervised only by a specialist experienced in the management of dementia.

On 19 January 2001, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published their Final Appraisal on the use of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine (Reminyl) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The Health Technology Board for Scotland is currently working on a process to comment on all Final Appraisals from NICE. Treatments for Alzheimer's disease will be the first topic to go through this process in the spring.As an interim measure, the Scottish Executive has asked Drugs and Therapeutics Committees to review any advice they may have provided to their clinicians on the use of these treatments in Alzheimer's disease, taking into account the NICE guidance.

The Scottish Executive does not forecast GDP growth rates. However, Scottish GDP growth strengthened in the most recent quarter and latest independent forecasts indicate growth in line with or above trend this year, with BSL and Cambridge Econometrics projecting that growth in Scotland will strengthen in 2001. The Scottish Executive is firmly focused on raising the long run sustainable growth rate of the Scottish economy by meeting the new international conditions for economic success - growing business, ensuring Scotland is globally connected, lifelong learning and skills development - through the framework provided by the Enterprise Strategy, A Smart, Successful Scotland.

The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) recognises effective communication processes are essential to its work and is developing a communication strategy to ensure it has ongoing dialogue with interested groups. It is also forming a Communications Reference Group to advise its Board.HTBS will hold consultative seminars with health boards, Trusts and other groups in NHSScotland in spring 2001. Discussion at these seminars will identify preferred methods of disseminating HTBS advice.HTBS is actively building a communication network with interested groups, particularly patient groups, and individuals to support its consultation processes. In addition to an open and consultative process designed to ensure there is ongoing dialogue with interested groups, HTBS is also using its website to capture suggestions and encourage feedback, and conducting question and answer sessions with the public at the end of each of its Board meetings.All documents issued by HTBS are placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre and advice that flows from the assessments carried out by HTBS will also be available there.

The available information relates to applications to Scottish local authorities under the homeless persons legislation. The following table gives the number of such applications where an under-18 applicant was assessed by the local authority as being homeless. It should be noted that some of the applications recorded in each year will be from single persons who have applied more than once during the year. Information for 1999-00 is not yet available.

Applications Assessed as Homeless:
Scotland, 1991-92 to 1998-99
Year of application		Single1 person households under 18
1991-92		1,700
1992-93		1,600
1993-94		1,700
1994-95		1,900
1995-96		2,000
1996-97		2,200
1997-98		2,100
1998-99		2,300
1. Figures are estimates based on around 92% of case returns received from local authorities. Estimates are made by grossing to the reported total number of applications and rounding to the nearest hundred. See the Scottish Executive publication HSG/2000/5 for more details.

This is a matter for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and Glasgow City Council.

The Scottish Executive Health Department has not set any efficiency target for the National Health Service in Scotland. Health boards may set targets for their local Trusts and any adverse effects would be for local management to consider and address.However, Our National Health: a plan for action; a plan for change, published on 14 December, sets out a range of measures that will be taken to simplify the funding system to ensure resources are managed in as an efficient and effective way as possible. The plan also sets out our aims for working in partnership with staff, valuing and investing in their skills to help them perform and develop their full potential.

The Executive has no such plans.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-2755 on 11 January 2001.