Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28565 on 4 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Local authorities generally havethe same powers to assist asylum seekers under the 2003 act as they do to assistany other person under the act. Local authorities have a number of functions inrelation to persons who are not in hospital and who have or have had a mental disorder.These are outlined in chapter 2 of part 4 to the 2003 act and include functionsfor making or securing provision for care and support services (section 25), providingor securing the provision of services designed to promote well-being and socialdevelopment (section 26) and providing or securing the provision of facilities for,or assistance with, travel (section 27) for such persons. Local authorities alsohave a duty under the act to inquire into individual cases in certain circumstanceswhere they believe that a person in their area who is aged 16 years or over hasa mental disorder (section 33).

Scottish Executive ministershave not written to the Home Office regarding the impact of immigration and asylumlegislation and Home Office practice on their responsibilities under the MentalHealth (Care and Treatment) (Scotland)Act 2003.

No. Section 115 of the Immigrationand Asylum Act 1999 provides that certain persons who are subject to immigrationcontrol are not entitled to specified benefits. Provision is made in regulation14 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (ConsequentialProvisions) Order 2005 that no services shall be provided by local authorities undersections 25 to 27 of the 2003 act to a person to whom section 115 of the Immigrationand Asylum Act 1999 applies solely because he is destitute or because of the physicaleffects, or anticipated physical effects, of his being destitute. However, thoseprovisions do not disapply the local authorities’ powers to provide services tosuch a person under the 2003 act.

The Scottish Executive has notissued guidance on the treatment of asylum seekers under the Mental Health (Careand Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

The Scottish Executive, throughits trade and investment arm Scottish Development International (SDI), has had part-timerepresentation in Australia since 2003.

In January 2006 SDI appointeda full-time country manager for Australia and New Zealand to increase Scotland’s involvement in the Australian market and to encourageAustralian companies to do business in and with Scotland.

SDI is currently engaging withmajor Australian companies at executive level to explore opportunities for investmentin Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28577 on 4 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Executive, throughits trade and investment arm, Scottish Development International (SDI), plans tospend £225,000 abroad in 2006-07 on advertising Scotland as a place in which andwith which to do business.

SDI’s total overseas marketingbudget for 2006-07, of which advertising is a subset, is £3 million. Other principalmarket activities funded out of this budget include direct and e-marketing campaigns,public relations, events and exhibitions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28568 on 4 October 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Six themed sub-groups contributedto the development of the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum (SRIF) action planincluding New Roots Scotland, a partnership of organisations involved in the economicintegration of refugees. New Roots Scotland considered a range of issues when draftingthe actions for the employment and training chapter including how to encourage entrepreneurshipin the refugee communities.In addition, the Ethnic Minoritiesand the Labour Market strategic group considered issues around Entrepreneurship,Finance and Business support in meeting three. The meeting note can be accessedby the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/18934/15832.

The Ethnic Minorities and theLabour Market strategic group have made recommendations around the meeting topics.

The key recommendations of boththe Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market Strategic Group and the Scottish RefugeeIntegration Forum will inform the National Race Equality Strategy and Action Planwhich will be published in November 2006. Both group action plans will be availableon the Scottish Executive website at the same time.