Chamber and committees

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

There has been communicationfrom the Scottish Community Ownership Forum which voiced its concern over thewithdrawal of section 54 tax relief grants and the effect on housingco-operatives.

The Scottish Executive isproviding £1.3 billion this year to help local authorities deliver social careservices, including learning disabilities.

The same as you? recommended that life plans for people with learningdisabilities who live with their parents should include plans for a time whenparents may no longer be able to provide care. Scottish Executive guidance onPartnership in Practice Agreements (PiPs), issued on 26 March 2001, stated thatPiPs should address all recommendations that apply to statutory authorities,and that they should specifically address ageing, and support for families andcarers. Guidance Circular CCD 3/2001 Implementing The same as you?: Partnershipin Practice Agreements (PiPs) and Change Funds is available in the Parliament’s reference Centre (Bib. number 12320).

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

There are 15 non-fully-mutualhousing co-operatives registered with Communities Scotland.

the Scottish Executive is planning to spend over £7.3 billion this year onproviding health services for everyone in Scotland, including people with learning disabilities.

Wepublished Promoting Health,Supporting Inclusion in July 2002, about thecontribution that nurses and midwives can make to the care and support ofpeople with learning disabilities. It aims to ensure that all nurses and midwivesrecognise the particular needs of people with learning disabilities, and worktowards promoting and improving their health.

We have asked NHS Health Scotland toundertake a Needs Assessment of the health needs of children and adults withlearning disabilities in Scotland, to inform the development and commissioning ofservices for the future. This is expected in the autumn.

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

In 2000-01 105 housingassociations and co-operatives received section 54 tax relief grants at a costof £5.0 million.

In 2001-02 49 housingassociations and co-operatives received section 54 tax relief grants at a costof £3.3 million.

Provision of day care is amatter for local authorities, who provide such services.

Many local authorities arein the process of reconfiguring their day services, in accordance with therecommendations of The same as you? Information for each area can beobtained from individual local authorities.

The number of individualswith learning disabilities in long-stay hospitals has been coming down for sometime, and at October 2002 was around 900. Lennox Castle near Glasgow closed in May 2002, Birkwood Hospital inLanarkshire in September 2002, and the Royal Scottish National Hospital at Larbert closed in early 2003.

Many people with learningdisabilities who formerly lived in a hospital are now living in the community,with packages of care and support tailored to meet their individual needs.

AShort Life Working Group of the national The same as you? Implementation Groupis preparing a report on hospital closures which is due soon. Itsrecommendations will be intended to help ensure the 2005 target is met.

Community Care policygenerally is that, where possible, people should be supported to live in theirown homes. Practical support for individuals to remain at home is providedthrough care services, notably health and community care.

No – the recommendations setout in the The same as you? review of services for people with learningdisabilities continue to guide the Executive’s policy that people with learningdisabilities should be cared for at home, with an appropriate range of servicesto meet their health and social care needs.