Seòmar agus comataidhean

The information requestedis not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-3570 on6 September 2007 for information on local authority pre-primaryeducation expenditure. It is not possible to split these data between educationand child care services.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.

I have asked Angiolina Foster Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

Local authoritiesthat have submitted Standard Delivery Plans (SDPs), setting out how they will achievethe Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS), plan to invest approximately £1.94billion by 2015. This figure is in 2004-05 prices and is based on individual localauthorities’ interpretations of the Standard and assessment of investment needs.

The breakdown of plannedSHQS investment by local authority is as follows:

Local Authority	Total Expenditure to Meet SHQS (£000)
Aberdeen City Council	210,752
Aberdeenshire Council	115,084
Angus Council	10,405
Clackmannanshire Council	15,307
Dundee City Council	133,760
East Ayrshire Council	91,759
East Dunbartonshire Council	38,019
East Lothian Council	131,485
East Renfrewshire Council	40,191
Falkirk Council	124,796
Fife Council	200,420
Midlothian Council	34,534
Moray Council	7,382
North Ayrshire Council	147,474
North Lanarkshire Council	237,317
Orkney Islands Council	5,066
Perth and Kinross Council	53,729
Shetland Islands Council	6,777
South Ayrshire Council	65,712
South Lanarkshire Council	213,000
West Lothian Council	55,350
Total Expenditure	1,941,328

 

Local authoritiesthat have transferred their stock to housing associations (Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Eilean Siar and Argyll and Bute),or that are in the process of doing so (Inverclyde) are not required to submit anSDP. Stirling, Renfrewshire, Highland, Edinburgh and West Dunbartonshire Councilsare currently developing their SDPs which will include details of their plannedSHQS related investment.

We are currently consideringhow best to increase public awareness of the national Child Protection Line andwill be discussing proposals with the national working group for this project andwith Child Protection Committees.

The operation of theChild Protection Line is under review and development through a national workinggroup, whose membership includes representatives from Child Protection Committees(including police and social workers) and out-of-hours and phone-based child protectionservice providers. See www.scotland.gov.uk/childprotectionfor further information.

We plan to commissiona rigorous independent evaluation of the service after it has been operational for18 months, in August 2008.

The Independent Reviewof Scrutiny, led by Professor Lorne Crerar, is examining how regulation, audit,inspection and complaints are functioning in Scotland’s public services. The review is developing recommendations for a bettersystem of scrutiny which should reduce the burden of regulation on third sectorbodies which deliver such services.

We support the principlesof the Scottish Compact, which was explicit that Government should apply best practicein funding and in the administration of grants. We support the practice ofthree-year funding for the voluntary sector across the public sector and encouragethe use of longer term funding agreements, where possible, to provide a stable andefficient operating environment for the sector.

Within that context,we are considering what more can be done to enable local authorities and voluntaryorganisations to develop contracts which ensure effective delivery of services whilenot jeopardising the sustainability of the service provider.

We recognise the importantcontribution that third sector bodies can make in delivering public services. Inmany areas they are already substantial suppliers of service. Overall, it is clearthey have capacity to do more and we are considering work to improve commissioningby local authorities and public bodies which should enable third sector bodies toplay their full part.

Voluntary sector employersare independent of government. Staff terms and conditions are a matter for staffand the employer, within the boundaries of employment law.

Voluntary sector organisationsare independent of government.

Ministers are clearthat all costs for providing a service should be met, and that the third sectorshould not subsidise, or be expected to subsidise, public services.

We are committed toworking with the sector and local government to ensure all are aware of the consequencesof not providing for full cost recovery.