Chamber and committees

The Scottish Governmentrecognises the invaluable contribution that unpaid carers make to Scottish societyand the importance of training in helping carers to cope with their caring role.That is why we have said we will initially focus our efforts on carer training,as well as carer centre support, respite and support for young carers.

As a signal of ourintent, we have announced the allocation of £200,000, spread over this year andnext, to expand piloting of carer training. We are working in partnership with theNational Carer Organisations in taking this forward.

In addition, the PrincessRoyal Trust for Carers is currently being funded by the Scottish Government to developstandard training materials for unpaid carers to help them to cope better with theircaring role.

At a local level,NHS Carer Information Strategies will also improve carer training. In line withthe minimum requirements of these strategies, NHS boards must demonstrate the person-centreddelivery of training for carers, covering advice on physical and emotional wellbeing.This should include demonstrations on moving and handling techniques, where appropriate.

These strategies arenow in place in every health board. They will be monitored annually to ensure thatlocal support for carers, including the provision of carer training, continues toimprove.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4421 on 26 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The government believesthat Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)6 – Renewable Energy provides a soundnational policy context for addressing renewable energy development. We want tosee the SPP’s provisions taken forward urgently, with local authorities engagingwith communities and other parties in the preparation of locational strategies inrelation to wind farm development in the form of supplementary planning guidance.These local frameworks should provide greater certainty for developers and localcommunities and speed up the decision making process. We see this approach as strikingthe right balance between national and local responsibilities.

SPP6 applies not only to applications made under the Townand Country Planning Act but is also applied by the Scottish Government in its handlingof applications for consent under the Electricity Act 1989. In addition to applyingSPP6, the government is examining whether any changes in administrative processcould improve the efficiency of case handling for Electricity Act applications.For example, the scoping opinion report has been reviewed. This seeks to providespecialist consultee advice to developers at the design stage of the project, withthe aim of raising the overall quality of applications when submitted such thatconsideration of these should take less time. Input has been received from statutoryconsultees and from a sub group of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development inScotland (FREDS).

This sub-group hasalso considered the Electricity Act consents process more widely and will reportto the FREDS group shortly. I will then consider any recommendations which theymake to the government.

The Cabinet Secretaryhas discussed progress required on the dynamic loop at Dunlop with the Chief Executiveof Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

The Scottish Governmentsupports the use of solar energy devices by householders, as well as other small-scalerenewable technologies, through the Scottish Community and Householder RenewablesInitiative.

The government iscommitted to increasing the use of microgeneration technologies as part of widerpromotion of clean energy and we will set out our plans for future funding for microgenerationfollowing the Spending Review.

The Scottish Governmentis committed to taking targeted action to encourage the regeneration of our mostdisadvantaged areas and to tackle poverty and deprivation. We will make fundingannouncements shortly after the conclusion of the Spending Review.

Funding for HollybushHouse (Combat Stress’ Scottish treatment centre) services is provided by NHS Scotlandthrough an arrangement with NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Recent costs have been:

2003-04	£777,000
2004-05	£818,000
2005-06	£830,000

 

In addition (between 2005-07) the then Scottish Executiveprovided a total capital grant of £100,000 toward the refurbishment of HollybushHouse. The grant was provided on the understanding that Combat Stress would worktoward service redesign following the recommendation of the Health and Social CareAdvisory Service (HASCAS) report into their services.

Total revenue grantfunding of £54,000 over 2004-07 was also provided to help support the Combat Stresswelfare team in its community outreach work.

The Scottish Governmentis currently discussing the future funding arrangements for Combat Stress with theUK Government.

We are committed to ensuring the standards of servicesprovided to veterans are of a high quality that meet the specific individual needs.We continue to work with colleagues in the Ministry of Defence and other WhitehallDepartments to that end.

Any changes to thecurrent arrangements in respect of veterans in Scotland will be announced in due course.

We continue our discussionswith the Ministry of Defence and NHS boards on improving structured care and support for former servicepersonnel whose mental health is assessed to have suffered as a result of theiroperational deployment.

Inpatient care is provided and fully funded by NHSboards through normal referral processes, subject to terms on the priority to beattached for treatment for those veterans in receipt of a service related pension.

Hollybush House, theshort stay residential treatment centre run by Combat Stress, also provides assessmenttreatment and support for former service personnel with mental health problems (includingpost traumatic stress disorder) related to operational deployment. Care at thiscentre is centrally funded by the Scottish Government

The InternationalDevelopment Fund and policy are presently being reviewed to determine how best todevelop Scotland’s investment in international development. Future funding allocationswill be based on the decisions arising from the review.