Chamber and committees

The Task Force on E.coli O157 was intended to address many diverse issues underpinning the history of E.coli O157 infection in Scotland in an open, innovative and holistic way. The substantive report which emerged from that process in 2001 was cogent and compelling. It provides a fine example of the value which can emerge from the inclusive, cross-cutting and action oriented ethos which is the foundation for all the work of the Scottish Executive. The Executive and the Food Standards Agency (Scotland) are grateful to the chairman and members of the task force, for producing an excellent report and a comprehensive range of related recommendations.Since July 2001, the Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency (Scotland) have been working, with others, including UK Government Departments and NHSScotland, to consider, cost and implement the detailed recommendations made by the task force. We have already achieved a great deal, for example:

• the Food Standards Agency has initiated a £20 million "Food Hygiene" awareness and publicity campaign which will incorporate food safety advice on E.coli O157;

• the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) has been provided with appropriate additional funding from 2001-02, in order to initiate an enhanced programme of infection and disease surveillance;

• formal guidance has been issued to the National Reference Laboratory (SERL) restating protocols consistent with task force recommendations;
• guidance has been issued to water authorities on the need to give particular attention to testing water from high-risk catchment areas for coliforms and E.coli O157;

• Private Water Supply Regulation: a consultation
was issued in November 2001;

• Guidance on Recreational Use of Animal Pasture
, was distributed to relevant organisations in March 2002, and

• the Cairns Smith Group has taken account of task force recommendations relevant to outbreak management and published revised guidance in April 2002.

The Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency(Scotland) will build on those achievements, given the continuing threat posed by E.coli O157 and the many diverse actions proposed by the task force.The Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency (Scotland) have today published a joint response to the report of the Task Force on E.coli O157. Copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The report is also available on both the Scottish Executive and Food Standards Agency (Scotland) website.

Funding of £22.5 million over three years from April 2001 will enable at least 80,000 people to be helped. £18.5 million of this is being allocated through local authorities to Community Learning Strategy Partnerships where all providers can access the funding. A new national development unit on literacy and numeracy is being established within Communities Scotland and a national training programme for tutors is already under development. On 16 April, I announced the launch of four pathfinder projects, three of which provide the first national support for raising awareness of the issue within the workplace. I also announced the development of a national curriculum for adult learners.

It will deliver improved partnership working across a wide range of public policy issues. Partnership working will help secure a more prosperous economy, and better and more efficient public services.

Guidance was issued in 1998, Protecting Children-A Shared Responsibility, which sets out how agencies and professionals should work together to protect children from abuse and neglect, and to safeguard and promote their welfare. The Executive also issued further guidance for consultation - Getting Our Priorities Right - in September 2001, which includes guidance to local agencies on preparing policies for the support of drug misusing parents and their children.With effect from 1 April 2001, the Executive has committed £7 million per annum for three years through the Changing Childrens Services Fund for drugs projects tailored towards children, including support for those whose parents misuse drugs. On 8 February, the Minister for Education announced the allocation of £2 million over three years to Lloyds TSB Foundation to support vulnerable children and young people affected by drug misuse.

The Executive has set a national standard that all Drug Action Teams and Child Protection Committees should have in place local policies on support to drug misusing parents and their children, in line with national guidance, by 2002. The national guidance is set out in Getting our Priorities Right - I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24225 today.The Executive will be monitoring the Drug Action Team Corporate Action Plans to assess what progress has been made towards this standard. Child Protection Committees will continue to monitor and review local inter-agency child protection procedures on a regular basis.

If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, Glasgow's older tenants will receive enhanced home security packages including effective and well designed door and window locks, viewers and intercoms.

Following transfer of housing from a local authority to a registered social landlord, the Scottish Executive will make resources available to councils to offer grant assistance to owner occupiers in respect of the costs of repairs to common areas in shared properties. The detailed arrangements of the grant scheme are being progressed.

If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, statutory responsibility for homelessness will remain with the city council who will carry out case work, homelessness assessments and provide an out of hours service. The city council will also retain ownership of existing hostels and will continue with their hostel decommissioning programme. The Glasgow Housing Association will be expected, as a condition of sale, to provide a specific number of properties for homeless people - temporary and permanent housing.

We believe that by increasing community engagement in the planning and delivery of public services we will deliver improved service outcomes that better meet the needs of communities. The Better Neighbourhood Services Fund gives £90 million over three years to local authorities to work with communities to deliver services and to identify local outcome targets. We have also recently published proposals in respect of community budgeting and invited views on a requirement to engage communities in the community planning process. The forthcoming Community Regeneration Statement will say more about our policy in this area.

If tenants vote yes in the Glasgow housing stock transfer ballot, the Treasury has agreed to repay the City Council's outstanding Public Works Loan Board debt (around £900 million). This is an extension of the arrangements that already apply as part of the housing transfer programme in England. As part of the deal, the breakage costs incurred will require to be met from the receipt from the sale or by the Scottish Executive.