Chamber and committees

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:

Communities Scotland’sHomestake scheme provides funding to Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) whichcan help disabled people who are in housing unsuitable for their needs topurchase a new build shared equity home. This funding is available to RSLsoperating in Dumfries and Galloway. In recognition that disabled people may havedifficulty in becoming homeowners, Communities Scotland is also piloting aspecialist advice service on disability issues to RSLs taking part inHomestake. The service, which is provided by Ownership Options, aims to helpRSLs plan for, target and directly assist people to buy homes under theHomestake scheme. This advice service will continue to run until 30 November 2007following which an independent review will be commissioned. A good practiceguide is planned as an output of the pilot so that RSLs are better able toprovide the kind of services required themselves.

The Homestake scheme isspecific to owner occupation. The needs of persons and families affected bydisability also continue to be met through the more significant fundingdirected to providing social rented accommodation. We expect all RSLs receivingfunding for new homes to design their properties to comply with the requirementsof Housing for Varying Needs.

Many voluntary organisationsare provided with financial assistance by the Scottish Executive each year. Of thesea significant number may well be considered social enterprises, however many wouldnot describe themselves in this way. The generic grant application pack does notask voluntary organisations to state whether they are social enterprises, as thereis no requirement to be one in order to access the grants.

We will consider howbest to invest in social enterprises as part of the Strategic SpendingReview 2007, including building on the Futurebuilders Scotland programme whichis now closed.

Economic development is theresponsibility of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. As such, most grantassistance to businesses is available through both bodies and I have askedtheir Chief Executives to respond to you directly.

Some direct grant assistanceto businesses is, however, available through the Scottish Executive. Regional Selective Assistance is the Executive’s maingrant scheme aimed at encouraging investment and jobs creation in those areasof Scotland designated for regional aid.

The SMART: SCOTLANDprogramme provides direct grant assistance to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)improve their competetiveness by developing new, highly innovative andcommercially viable products and processes. The SCORE programme also providesgrant assistance to SMEs for collaborative near market research and developmentprojects.

Ownership of thebusiness is not a determinent of eligibility for these schemes and they areavailable, subject to meeting scheme criteria, to female owned businesses.

Further to this, the wholerange of grants that will be available under the new Scotland Rural DevelopmentProgramme will be available to land management businesses run by women on the samebasis as those run by men. Women will also be one of the target groups for thenew LEADER programme.

Economic development is the responsibilityof Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. As such, most grant assistanceto businesses is available through both bodies and I have asked their Chief Executivesto respond to you directly.

Some direct grant assistanceto businesses is, however, available through the Scottish Executive. Regional Selective Assistance is the Executive’s maingrant scheme aimed at encouraging investment and jobs creation in those areas ofScotland designated for regional aid.

The SMART: SCOTLAND programmeprovides direct grant assistance tohelp small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) improve their competetiveness by developingnew, highly innovative and commercially viable products and processes. The SCOREprogramme also provides grant assistance to SMEs for collaborative near marketresearch and development projects.

Ownership of the businessis not a determinent of eligibility for these schemes and they are available, subjectto meeting scheme criteria, to small businesses.

The contract between generalpractitioners and the National Health Service is for the provision of essentialmedical services. Since the inception of the NHS it has included the making availableto patients a range of certificates free of charge for certain national purposessuch as claims for social security, unfitness for jury service and absent votingby reason of physical incapacity. The provision of certificates for other purposes,including services provided by local authorities, is outwith the contract.

Economic development is the responsibilityof Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. As such, most grant assistanceto businesses is available through both bodies and I have asked their Chief Executivesto respond to you directly.

Some direct grant assistanceto businesses is however available through the Scottish Executive. Regional Selective Assistance is the Executive’s maingrant scheme aimed at encouraging investment and jobs creation in those areas ofScotland designated for regional aid.

The SMART: SCOTLAND programmeprovides direct grant assistance tohelp small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) improve their competetiveness by developingnew, highly innovative and commercially viable products and processes. The SCOREprogramme also provides grant assistance to SMEs for collaborative near marketresearch and development projects.

Ownership of the businessis not a determinent of eligibility for these schemes and they are available, subjectto meeting scheme criteria, to sole traders.

A range of grants will also beavailable to help farmers and other land managers to expand their businesses underthe new Scotland Rural Development Programme, which is currently with the EuropeanCommission for approval.

The need to use thepowers provided in section 8 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 is kept under review.

Yes.

In the period 2004to 2007, a total of £2.54 million was made available to local authorities to supportthe development of common housing registers.

A further £25,000has been made available to West Lothian Council in 2007-08 to fund the common housingregister support service provided by the Scottish Housing Best Value Network.

Good progress is beingmade in most local authority areas in developing common housing registers (CHRs).There are operational CHRs in 10 local authority areas and 11 further areas expecttheir CHR to be operational later in 2007-08.

Every local authorityin Scotland has received funding to support CHR development,either through the Modernising Government Fund (2001) or the CHR programme (2004-07).Recently funding was awarded to allow the Scottish Housing Best Value Network tooperate a CHR support service during 2007-08, providing practical advice and assistanceto all social landlords.