Chamber and committees

Scottish ministers and the ScottishExecutive are in regular contact with the UK Government about a range of issues,including planning for the combined Scottish parliamentary and local governmentelections, which will take place on 3 May. I have received assurances from the Secretaryof State that he does not consider there are any grounds whatsoever to delay orpostpone the Scottish Parliament elections and preparations are also continuingas planned for the local government elections.

Table 1 lists the number of rentto mortgage sales of public sector dwellings. This includes dwellings owned by localauthorities, Scottish Homes and new towns (when in existence).

Table 1: Rent to Mortgage Salesof Local Authority, New Town and Scottish Homes Stock, Financial Year Figures 1989-90to 2003-04

Year	Rent to Mortgage Sales
1989-90	17
1990-91	118
1991-92	166
1992-93	418
1993-94	131
1994-95	87
1995-96	84
1996-97	63
1997-98	32
1998-99	20
1999-2000	34
2000-01	7
2001-02	9
2002-03	8
2003-04	2
All Years	1,196

Source: Scottish Executive HousingStatistics Branch, SALES3 returns

Notes:

1. For purposes of comparability,data for 2002-03 onwards include sales for Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and ScottishBorders where complete stock transfers took place in the course of 2003. Figuresexclude other housing association stock but include Scottish Homes stock.

2. The Housing Scotland Act 2001repealed the rent to mortgage scheme with effect from 30 September 2002. Applicationsmade before this date resulted in a small number of sales in 2003-04.

Between 1979-80 and 2005-06 therewere 421,635 sales of public sector dwellings under the right to buy scheme. Thisexcludes sales under the rent to mortgage scheme and other voluntary sales to sittingtenants. Public sector dwellings include those owned by local authorities, ScottishHomes and new towns (when in existence).

Table 1 shows the number of suchsales in each year since the scheme’s inception.

Table 1: Right to Buy Sales ofLocal Authority, New Town and Scottish Homes Stock, Financial Year Figures 1979-80to 2005-06

Year	Right to Buy Sales
1979-80	2,629
1980-81	4,580
1981-82	9,810
1982-83	13,368
1983-84	15,171
1984-85	13,611
1985-86	11,915
1986-87	12,038
1987-88	18,609
1988-89	27,394
1989-90	32,756
1990-91	25,651
1991-92	20,877
1992-93	20,279
1993-94	18,615
1994-95	20,001
1995-96	14,974
1996-97	14,144
1997-98	15,467
1998-99	13,187
1999-2000	13,803
2000-01	13,502
2001-02	13,530
2002-03	17,376
2003-04	15,597
2004-05	12,379
2005-06	10,372
All Years	421,635

Source: Scottish Executive HousingStatistics Branch, SALES3 returns.

Note: For purposes of comparability, data for 2002-03 onwardsinclude sales for Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgow and Scottish Borders where complete stock transfers tookplace in the course of 2003. Figures exclude other housing association stock butinclude Scottish Homes stock.

Yes. Action is in hand to implementthis at the appropriate time.

The Prime Minister’s announcementof 29 January 2007 indicated an intention by the UK Government to bringforward regulations on discrimination in provision of goods and services under powersin section 81 of the Equality Act 2006, which would be applied in the case of existingadoption agencies from the end of 2008. These powers relate to a matter reservedunder the Scotland Act 1998 and enable such regulations to apply in England, Scotlandand Wales. As the Prime Minister’s announcement made clear, he took account of representationsmade personally to him by the First Minister on the issue. During the transitionalperiod up to the end of 2008 the Scottish Executive will continue to keep in closecontact with the agencies concerned, the Catholic Church and the UK Government toseek to ensure that the agencies’ valuable work continues.

Work on the stock take of neurologicalservices is nearly complete, and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland expects its draftclinical standards for neurological services to be ready for publication this autumn.

The Scottish Executive has encouragedthe Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association to develop proposals for a nationalManaged Clinical Network for Motor Neurone Disease, for submission to the NationalServices Advisory Group.

The Forth Replacement CrossingStudy, which is currently underway, was instigated in light of the problems associatedwith the cables on the existing bridge. Legislation for any replacement crossingis being considered as part of the study.

The Act of Settlement is, underthe terms of the Scotland Act 1998, a matter reserved to the United Kingdom Parliament.The Executive has no plans to discuss the issue with Her Majesty’s Government.

HM Inspectorate ofEducation’s recent publications Improving Scottish Education and ImprovingScottish Education: Effectiveness of Education Authorities fulfilthis Ambitious, Excellent Schools commitment. Copies of both reports areavailable in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 38934 and41128 respectively). Local authority performance in respect of their educationfunctions is subject to regular inspection by HM Inspectorate of Education. Inspectionis supplemented by regular dialogue between officials and Directors ofEducation.