Chamber and committees

The number of new social homes started in quarter 1 2008 was the highest since comparable records began in 1992. While the number of social housing starts in quarter 1 2009 was 175 lower than this figure, this was still the second highest number of social housing starts since 1992.

Attempting to draw a distinction of the value of housing based on whether it has been provided by Registered Social Landlords (RSL) or a local authority serves no purpose. What is important is that there is sufficient affordable housing provided to meet the needs of the people of Scotland in the right place and of the right quality. That is why we are investing in support for both local authorities and RSL to provide additional housing.

The following table details the number of homes completed and made available for purchase for first-time buyers under the Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers scheme (LIFT) for the years requested. Marketing of LIFT properties is primarily targeted at first-time buyers, but other buyers are often eligible, such as people in the armed forces or veterans and people living in social housing. The schemes can also help people who are looking for a new home after a significant change in their household circumstances, people who have a disability and own a house which does not suit their needs or owner occupiers who are affected by demolition plans as part of a regeneration scheme.

We do not centrally collate details of purchasers for all LIFT products. For the products that we do collate this information the proportion of first-time buyers is around 90%.

LIFT Homes Completed and Made Available For Purchase

	2007-08	2008-09
New supply shared equity/shared ownership	602	802
Open Market Shared Equity Pilot	654	512
Rural Home Ownership Grants	71	49
Grants for Owner Occupation	102	125
Total	1,429	1,488

 

It is for each health board to plan and deliver services to meet the needs of its resident population. As I have made clear in the past, I do not intend to review their previous decision.

However, I have made clear to NHS Lothian that I expect it to maintain three acute/emergency hospitals.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24416 on 4 June 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

NHS Lothian has assured me that it has not shelved its plans to review the catchment zones for emergency medical admissions.

I have been advised that the Board is now working with council partners and transport colleagues to ensure there is equitable access to public transport and social services. The rezoning plans will be implemented once these issues are addressed.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23818 on 18 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Scottish Government circulated a best practice guide on taxi and private hire car licensing in December 2007, Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48083). This includes information on disabilities and accessibility. In addition, the then Scottish Executive wrote to licensing authorities on 6 February 2001, encouraging them to increase provision of accessible taxis.

Local authorities, as facilitators, have a statutory duty to consult and co-operate with communities, including voluntary organisations, in the Community Planning process. The way in which this is done should reflect the circumstances of their particular communities. The Accounts Commission audits councils'' achievements in relation to their statutory duties, including Community Planning, as part of the audits of Best Value and Community Planning.

COSLA, Scottish Government, Society of Local Authority Chief Executive (SOLACE), and Scottish Council Voluntary Organisation (SCVO) have committed to working together with the strategic aim of renewing and improving the relationship between the third sector and the public sector, locally, in the context of the new relationship between the Scottish Government and Local Government. The Joint Task Group taking this forward includes third sector representatives.

The Scottish Government, with the full engagement of third and public sector partners, will shortly commission work to map and understand CPPs'' engagement with third sector organisations. The fieldwork will begin in autumn 2009 and will report in summer 2010.

New draft regulations on the disposal of land by local authorities are currently under discussion with representatives of local government. Once the regulations are finalised, they will be laid before Parliament. Guidance would follow subject to the regulations being approved by Parliament.