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Scottish Homes (Transfers)
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the scope of his announcement that local authorities will now be able to bid for Scottish Homes properties which were earmarked for transfer. [9252]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities proposal that local authorities should be able to bid more widely for Scottish Homes
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stock was included in the consultation paper, "Devolution of Power to Councils", which was issued on 29 December and is currently the subject of consultation. Until a decision is taken following the responses to the consultation exercise, the current policy will continue to be applied.
Electricity Interconnector
Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representation he has received concerning the need for an inquiry into the undersea section of the proposed electricity interconnector with Northern Ireland; what response he has given; and if he will make a statement. [9320]
Mr. Kynoch: My right hon. Friend has received one such representation. This was passed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport in view of his responsibilities under section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949.
Disability
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on the provision of services for disabled people; what guidelines he (a) has issued and (b) intends to issue to unitary authorities on the provision of services for and to disabled people; what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure the continuation of services which are currently provided across the new local government authority boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [9236]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The new local government arrangements will allow authorities the flexibility to establish procedures and structures to secure the efficient and effective delivery of social work services for people with disabilities in response to local needs and circumstances.
The Government have been determined to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements. As part of the community care planning process for 1995-98, local authorities were asked to identify both current and planned services within the new local authorities' boundaries. This will ensure that the new authorities have an informed insight on current strategic thinking and the pattern of services in their areas. The recently produced booklet "Managing Social Work Services in the Future", was distributed widely to both old and new authorities to ensure that elected members were fully aware of their authorities' responsibilities for the provision of social work services. The new authorities are also being provided with a complete package of up-dated guidance and directions on the community care arrangements.
With regard to the provision of services across the new local authority boundaries, authorities will continue to be able to contract with independent sector providers in other areas. Section 58 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 clarified authorities's powers with regard to purchasing services from other authorities.
Authorities also already have available procedures to allow them to enter joint arrangements with other authorities or independent sector organisations in consortia to develop specialist services.
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Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures are in place to ensure that the inaccessibility of school transport is not a restricting factor in integrating disabled children into mainstream schools; and if he will make a statement. [9257]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson:
The provision of school transport is a matter for education authorities who have certain statutory duties, in addition to wide powers, to make appropriate arrangements in respect of disabled children who are attending mainstream schools.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that disabled people are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9361]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
A number of disabled people already serve in a non-executive capacity on health boards and NHS trusts and their contribution brings a necessary and important perspective to the boards to which they are appointed. Invitations to serve as non-executives are sought from a wide range of community, voluntary and health groups together with press advertisements to ensure the broadest range of community membership is available for health boards and NHS trusts.
Responsibility for appointments to health councils rests with local health boards, who are encouraged to seek a broad representation of members appointed to serve on health councils.
Mr. Stewart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made representations to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys concerning a question on the Scots language being included in the 2001 census; and if he will make a statement. [9383]
Mr. Michael Forsyth:
The Registrar General for Scotland is currently canvassing the views of a number of individuals and organisations with an interest in the Scots language. It will be some time before a decision will be taken on the merits and practicality of including a question on Scots in the census.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on the supply of incontinence pads to those who require them because of disability; what plans he has to review these arrangements; and if he will make a statement. [9213]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
In Scotland, general practitioners are able to prescribe incontinence pads. A range of incontinence pads is included in the Scottish drug tariff. There are no current plans to review these arrangements.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the services available to (a) children and (b) adults with autism; and what plans he has to enhance these services. [9253]
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Lord James Douglas Hamilton:
Local social work, education and health authorities are responsible for determining and responding to the social, educational and health care needs of children with autism. The Scottish Office has commissioned a research project on the incidence of autism among children in Scotland and the current education provision for autistic pupils. The project will draw on experience through the UK in considering which types of educational approaches are most appropriate for children with autism. With regard to adults with autism, under the community care arrangements, local authority social work departments, in conjunction with health and housing authorities, are responsible for assessing the requirement for care services to meet the needs of vulnerable adults living in the community. Local authorities are well funded to meet these responsibilities and must establish their priorities for service development and resource allocation in response to local circumstances.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that carers are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9365]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
Invitations to serve as non-executives on health boards and NHS trusts are sought from a wide range of community, voluntary and health groups, a number of whom will represent the interests of carers. Invitations are also made by press advertisements to ensure that the broadest range of community membership of health boards and NHS trusts is available.
Responsibility for appointments to health councils rests with local health boards, who are similarly encouraged to ensure that a broad representation of community interests is available through the appointment of members.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the national lottery on raising funds to support the development and operation of the hospice movement and hospices; what plans he has to ensure the financial security of hospices; and if he will make a statement. [9280]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
There is as yet no conclusive evidence about the impact of the national lottery on the fund-raising activities of the adult voluntary hospices in Scotland. The Scottish Office will keep in close contact with the Scottish Partnership Agency for Palliative and Cancer Care, which will continue to keep this matter under review. Two hospices have already benefited from the national lottery fund, and we have given an assurance that such funding can be treated independently of the hospices' income from their contracts with health boards.
When my right hon. Friend met representatives of the hospice movement on 21 December 1995 to discuss a number of issues, including finance, he reaffirmed his view that hospices should be able to expect to receive around half of their running cost income through their
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contracts with health boards; and he recognised the benefits of longer contracts in increasing their financial security.
Mr. McMaster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of the national lottery upon the fund-raising efforts of charities and voluntary organisations in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [9286]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
There is, as yet, no conclusive evidence concerning the impact of the national lottery on the fund-raising activities of charities and voluntary organisations. However, the Government have given a commitment to monitor charitable income, and The Scottish Office is associated with a Home Office research project which will analyse and monitor changes in charitable income, following the introduction of the national lottery.
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