Chamber and committees

The table below gives the number of homeless applications from households with children which were made during the years 1996-97 to 1998-99 under section 31 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 and which resulted in the household being secured permanent accommodation.Information about those applications which were made in 1999-2000 and 2000-01 is not yet available.

Year of Application	Number of applications from households with children where the outcome was permanent accommodation
1996-97	8,700
1997-98	8,700
1998-99	8,300

Notes:1. Figures are estimates based on around 92% of case returns received from local authorities. Estimates are made by grossing to the reported total number of applications and rounding to the nearest 100. See the Scottish Executive publication HSG/2000/5 for more details.2. The figures in any one year may include more than one application from the same household, since repeat applications cannot be identified.Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 provides for the promotion of the welfare of children in need and the powers in Section 25 relate to the provision of accommodation for young adults. Permanently accommodating homeless families with children under these sections in the years in question would be an unusual use of these powers by local authorities and we are not aware of them being so used.

The available information is for applications made during financial years up to and including 1998-99. The table gives the number of applications from households with children which were made to local authorities in each of the years from 1996-97 to 1998-99.Information about applications made during 1999-2000 will be available in summer 2001.

Year of Application	Total number of applications from households with children
1996-97	15,100
1997-98	15,200
1998-99	15,200

Notes:1. Figures are estimates based on around 92% of case returns received from local authorities. Estimates are made by grossing to the reported total number of applications and rounding to the nearest hundred. See the Scottish Executive publication HSG/2000/5 for more details.2. The figures in any one year may include more than one application from the same household, since repeat applications cannot be identified.

The Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, sets out the powers and duties of local authorities in dealing with applications from people, including families with children, seeking help on the grounds that they are homeless or threatened with homelessness.In addition to their existing resources, the Executive has provided additional funding of £5.3 million in 2000-01 to reduce the inappropriate use of bed and breakfast as a means of providing temporary accommodation for homeless households, in particular those with children.

The available information is for applications made during financial years up to and including 1998-99. The table gives the number of applications from households with children which were made during the years 1996-97 to 1998-99, which were assessed as intentionally homeless or intentionally potentially homeless, and of these which were not secured permanent accommodation.Information about applications made during 1999-2000 will be available in summer 2001.

Applications from households with children
Year of Application	Applications assessed as intentionally homeless	Applications assessed as intentionally potentially homeless	Applications assessed as intentionally homeless and not given permanent accommodation	Applications assessed as intentionally potentially homeless and not given permanent accommodation
1996-97	1,100	600	400	200
1997-98	1,400	500	400	200
1998-99	1,400	500	400	200

Notes:1. Figures are estimates based on around 92% of case returns received from local authorities. Estimates are made by grossing to the reported total number of applications and rounding to the nearest hundred. See the Scottish Executive publication HSG/2000/5 for more details.2. The figures in any one year may include more than one application from the same household, since repeat applications cannot be identified.

I, together with Nick Brown, MAFF Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, represented the UK at this meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers.We informed the Council of the actions taken to combat foot-and-mouth disease and explained that these measures are bringing about a significant decline in the number of new cases. The Council also heard reports on FMD from the Commission and from the Dutch Agriculture Minister. In response to a UK/Dutch initiative there was a collective agreement to hold a conference later in the year to discuss the lessons to be learned from the outbreaks.The Council also heard a report from the Commission on the results of the EU-wide testing programme for BSE, and agreed conclusions inviting the Standing Veterinary Committee to extend the temporary ban on meat and bone meal beyond the end of June. With the support of several other member states, the UK secured agreement from the Commission that they would re-examine the use of fishmeal in ruminant feed in the light of their current evaluation of cross contamination risks.Turning to market-related measures, the Council considered a compromise text from the Presidency and Commission on reform of the EU sugar regime, extending the duration of the quota system for a further four years but with a review before end-2002. Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK were able to support this compromise, but others were strongly opposed. The issue will be re-examined in May.The Council reached unanimous agreement on measures to reform the cotton regime, within strict budgetary limits. The Council also adopted by qualified majority a proposal to permit organic producers to grow fodder legumes on set aside land; only France abstained in the vote on this small but worthwhile measure.The Council agreed conclusions on the integration of environmental concerns into the common agricultural policy; these will form part of a report on environmental sustainability going to EU Heads of Government in June. The Commission also reported to the Council progress with the setting up of the proposed European Food Authority.

Initial advice is being made available to any individual or business affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak through the Small Business Gateway's helplines. Training for Work eligibility has been relaxed, ensuring that all individuals made redundant as a result of this outbreak in Borders and Dumfries and Galloway have immediate access to this programme. Immediate entry to Training for Work has now been extended to workers temporarily laid off as a result of foot and mouth in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.The Department for Education and Employment has introduced a new service, Rural Skills Action, as an emergency response to the employment and training needs of those worst affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

The answer to question S1W-15222 noted that the Executive has established an FMD Impact Assessment Group to study the economic impact of FMD across areas and sectors of Scotland. The group, through their existing information networks, has also received some anecdotal evidence of workers receiving reduced earnings. In addition, a survey recently commissioned by the group will help to illustrate measures taken by employers to minimise the impact on their businesses.

Abattoir employment tends to fluctuate in normal circumstances. I do not have figures of lay-off since the outbreak but my officials have asked the Scottish Meat Wholesalers Association for the information.

There is additional support being made available to those businesses and individuals facing financial difficulties as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Initial advice is being made available to those affected through the Small Business Gateway's helplines.The DSS/Benefits Agency have produced an information leaflet about the benefits system for those facing financial difficulties as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, and are taking a sympathetic and flexible approach in dealing with applications from affected individuals.

The Executive has established an Impact Assessment Group to identify the effect FMD is having across areas and sectors. The Employment Service is a member of the group and is providing regular information on employment issues arising as a consequence of FMD. In addition, the group has recently commissioned a survey to provide hard evidence of economic impacts, including employment effects, across all sectors and regions of Scotland.