Chamber and committees

Following the answer to question S1W-29052, the Scottish Executive will publish as early as possible in summer 2003 information on the actual incurred costs of all the overseas engagements carried out by ministers during the financial year 2002-03.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29358 on 30 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29358 on 30 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29358 on 30 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The Executive is committed to preventing and tackling homelessness through delivery of the recommendations of the Homelessness Task Force. A key part of the action programme aims to reduce levels of repeat homelessness and the Executive wishes to ensure strong progress through local authorities in achieving this over the period to 2006.An extensive study into Repeat Homelessness by Heriot Watt University for the task force estimated that some 27% of current homelessness applications are repeat applications, and that most of these are separated by relatively short time periods between applications. In most cases, the inter-application period is six months or less, and in only three per cent of cases is it more than three years.Social Justice Target 6 will focus effort on preventing repeat homelessness, an area where there is a clear need to improve homelessness performance and which also lends itself to a target-setting approach. New statistical information from the Homelessness Electronic Data System introduced in December 2001 will for the first time enable measurement of the extent of repeat homelessness.The Homelessness Monitoring Group, set up to oversee progress in the delivery of the task force recommendations, will play a key role in monitoring progress against this target. The monitoring group will also monitor wider performance on homelessness against other homelessness indicators recommended by the task force in areas where the task force considered it was not appropriate to set specific targets.

The additional £10 million for free central heating for the over-80s forms part of the Social Justice spending plans for the three years beginning 2004-05. Full details, including the terms under which the central heating will be provided, will be announced nearer the time.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29392 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's Website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29391 on 30 September 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's Website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29392 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's Website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29392 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's Website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.