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Following independent research, commissioned by the Executive in April 2003, on methodologies for data collection and also a pilot study, completed in April 2004, the Executive commissioned EAC to collect the necessary information and create a full database to support the directory. This work will be completed by October 2005, and the directory published in paper and web based format by January 2006.

As explained in the answer to S2W-16652, answered 31 May 2005, work on the directory will not be complete until January 2006. However, the data collection exercise has revealed that there are about 1,350 providers responsible for 7,000 services nationally. Within this total, it is estimated that housing support services specifically for older people are delivered by around 200 providers through 2,100 services. The vast majority of these services for older people are accommodation-based, typically amenity, sheltered and extra care housing settings. Of the remaining services 19,092 people, who were homeless or sleeping rough, received housing support during 2003-04.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The entitlement card programme with local authorities is designed to help ensure that citizens get access to all of the services that they are entitled to, and that access to those services is as convenient as possible. This includes the use of a citizen’s account, where, for example, citizens will be able to access services online, and the use of a citizen’s entitlement card to provide a wide range of card based services on one single card.

This is quite different from national UK identity cards as envisaged by the UK Government prior to the election.

The purposes of the identity cards bill as re-introduced at Westminster this week include proving and protecting identity, demonstrating the right to live and work in the UK and supporting the fight against various types of crime, all of which are matters reserved to Westminster. Some public services – such as social security services – would in time require use of identity cards to establish eligibility. The national identity register supporting identity cards would include information about a person’s nationality and immigration status, employment entitlement and biometric data.

The Executive has no plans to link the entitlement card to any national identity register or similar database.

However, within Scotland, there will be a need to develop a link between the entitlement card and an index of entitlement card holders. For example, to automatically cancel the account of that card holder and their entitlement in the event of that persons death being notified, or to automate the award of an entitlement should that persons status change, e.g. a national concessionary fare could automatically be offered in the event of that person reaching their sixtieth birthday.

The establishment of the account, the account status and any data sharing that results from this will only be done with the informed consent of the citizen.

These developments are at an early stage in the consideration of how an entitlement card scheme might work. It is part of a wider drive to improve the efficiency of our public services and the implementation of a more pro-active approach to the delivery of services. It is not about identity management and the need to create a national identity register.

The Scottish Executive has made progress in two areas.

Firstly, working alongside local authorities as the card issuers, we have completed an evaluation process to: determine the potential for a multi-application entitlement card, including the issue of more than 100,000 cards to citizens; test the roll out of a young person’s version of the card with cards being issued to more than 300,000 young people; identify a suitable range of services for the card, including concessionary fares, cashless catering, school registration, proof of age, library and leisure services.

Secondly, again working with all local authorities, we have put in place a framework for the rationalisation and replacement of the many disparate card schemes that currently exist, into a single – Scotland-wide - scheme.

Both of the above have been delivered with support from the Modernising Government Fund as part of a wider programme of modernisation work with local authorities, called “Customer First”.

I can confirm that the card is voluntary and no-one would be denied access to the services that they are entitled to should they decline the offer of a card. Further information on the Customer First programme is available at www.openscotland.gov.uk.

The Executive is taking part in discussion fora on 4 May 2005 organised by HIV-Scotland for organisations involved with HIV, and on 1 June 2005 by Positive Voice for individuals living with HIV. An extension to the consultation deadline has been agreed for these two organisations to allow the outcomes of the discussions to be fed into the process.

In addition the proposals were discussed, and the groups’ views requested, at the meetings of the UK Health Departments’ Expert Advisory Group on AIDS and Advisory Group on Hepatitis, on 3 March 2004 and 27 April 2004 respectively. Executive officials were present at both meetings.

I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

The Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004, which come into force on 1 May, require local authorities to maintain an electronic register for the geographical area of the authority relating to building standards information.  For construction of dwellings, energy ratings will be recorded. The possibility of extending the scope of the register to include energy performance certificate information for all buildings is currently being investigated.

I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

It is intended that the Directive will be fully implemented by 4 January 2006 with regard to energy performance requirements. However, if member states have a lack of qualified and/or accredited experts to enable them to apply fully the provisions of certain articles that require inspection or certification, the directive permits an additional three years to carry this out. Any notification to the European Commission of the need to do this will be done by the UK Government. Numbers of experts available are currently being assessed.

I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

Energy certification of buildings can be introduced through the building standards system. All the primary legislation is in place with the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 coming into force on 1 May 2005. Secondary legislation and supporting guidance will be required to commence a roll-out of certificates.

I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

The EU Directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings will be implemented in Scotland by the SBSA, on behalf of Scottish ministers, using the new building standards system.