No. We are aware that the costs of some of the survey reports were met at least initially by selling agents or surveyors.

On the basis of discussion with the Council of Mortgage Lenders it was expected that during the period of the single survey pilot, its members would accept the single survey valuation in all but exceptional circumstances. Purchasers were encouraged to ask their lenders if the survey transcript would be acceptable. We are aware of only one instance during the pilot where the lender was unwilling to accept the valuation. More information will be available in the evaluation report.

No. The decision to move towards the introduction of a mandatory scheme has been made by the Scottish Executive in the light of the progress of the voluntary pilot scheme and our conclusion following discussion with stakeholders that there are no alternative approaches which will deliver the objectives of the single survey. In making this decision we took account of discussion in the steering group about the progress of the pilot and of responses to the Housing Bill consultation. Our approach has also been informed by the recommendation of the Housing Improvement Task Force in March 2003 that the option of legislation to introduce the single survey should be held in reserve should this be required.

NHS boards are expected to fund services from the unified budgets made available to them by the Executive, which will be increased by an average of 7.6%, more than twice the rate of inflation, in the coming financial year. The Executive is however looking at ways to make a more efficient use of resources. We have made the report of an independent review of chronic pain services available to NHS boards and will be convening a conference to discuss best practice on pain management in the near future.

Yes. A report will be published once the evaluation of the pilot has been completed.

The Housing Improvement Task Force identified advantages of a single survey in three areas. Firstly, it will provide home sellers and prospective buyers with better information on property condition, to provide a mechanism to address disrepair in the privately owned housing stock. Secondly, it will remove the need for prospective buyers to pay for multiple condition surveys. Thirdly, it will discourage the setting of artificially low upset prices. The evaluation of the pilot will provide further information to inform the design of the final scheme.

Where the Scottish Ambulance Service assesses that an area should be served by an accident and emergency unit, then a double crewed unit is what should be provided. There may be circumstances where, for example, a member of staff reports sick at short notice and the service is unable to secure a relief member. In these circumstances a single-crewed unit may be used. Such cases should only arise in the most exceptional of circumstances.

We have been monitoring the use of single-crewed responses in the North and West Division and I can advise that during February 2005 the number of emergency calls which received a single-crewed response was 16 out of 1,063 calls – a total of 1.5%.

The Executive values the contributionof the voluntary sector in many areas of chronic disease management, and encouragesthe NHS to involve support groups in the planning and delivery of services.

Planning applications must beconsidered on their merits and determined in accordance with the development planunless material considerations indicate otherwise. Benefits, such as community facilitiesor trust funds, can be proposed by a developer or suggested by a planning authority.However, they should not form part of the overall assessment of whether a proposalis acceptable. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

There is no national protocol.Information on any local protocols is not held centrally.