Chamber and committees

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0625-01.htm

Twenty-four applications to the Home Owners'' Support Fund were rejected in the three months from March to May 2009 for the following reasons:

Twenty one where the value of the property was outwith the scheme eligibility criteria;

One eviction carried out;

One, no landlord was willing to buy the property, and

One household reached agreement with their lender on how to manage arrears.

This represents nine per cent of applications received in the same period.

Six of the 21 rejected on the basis of value were rejected between 1 March and 15 March.

It should be noted that statistics provided are based on our computerised records which are updated regularly. However, there may be time lags of a few days in logging individual case details onto the system.

One hundred and twenty one applications were received to the mortgage to rent scheme in the three months from March to May 2008 and 66 have been successful so far.

No changes have been made to the rules governing the Home Owners'' Support Fund since its launch in March 2009. However we will review take-up and rejection rates regularly to ensure that the mortgage to rent scheme and mortgage to shared equity scheme maintain their effectiveness.

In addition, we will apply some flexibility in exceptional circumstances. For example, it is right that individuals should seek help from UK Government schemes first to ensure Scottish Government funding goes as far as possible and is the option of last resort. However, we are willing to consider applications where individuals can show that assistance from these UK schemes still isn''t adequate to stave off the risk of repossession.

Thirty-eight applications to the mortgage to rent scheme were rejected in the three months from March to May 2008 for the following reasons:

Thirteen evictions were carried out;

Nine, no landlord was willing to buy the property;

Eight where the value of the property was outwith the scheme eligibility criteria, and

Five where arrears were paid and legal action by the lender was cancelled;

Three households were unable to reach an agreement with their lender to repay the shortfall.

This represents 31 per cent of applications received in the same period.

No specific discussions have been held with NHS Ayrshire and Arran regarding the intermediate care unit at Kirklandside Hospital.

The provision of local healthcare services is a matter for NHS Ayrshire and Arran. NHS Ayrshire and Arran have stated that they are developing efficient new models of care in line with national policy which are flexible, community-based and meet the needs of local people. NHS Ayrshire and Arran are working with partners to introduce these new models of service in the autumn. Once community based services are established, these changes will involve ceasing to provide inpatient intermediate care at the unit at Kirklandside Hospital. We understand that this was a pilot scheme set up as a specific short to medium-term initiative to address historical problems with delayed discharge. In line with Scottish Government policy, the board are now seeking to develop services which are community based and closer to patient''s homes.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran have stated that they are working with partners to introduce new models of service in the autumn. This work is being progressed through the Community Healthcare Partnerships and both staff and the public will be involved in this process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24688 on 19 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Scottish Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

In addition to the national door drop, the National Swine Flu information leaflet was sent out to stakeholders who communicate specifically with black and ethnic minority communities. This includes people in education and training, advice centres, charities, cultural diversity and religious groups across Scotland.