Chamber and committees

The Weeds Act 1959 placesresponsibility for control of certain weeds, including ragwort, on the occupierof the land. The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Departmentinvestigates all written complaints received about the presence of injuriousweeds, including ragwort, on land, and where necessary will advise the occupierto carry out control measures to prevent the weeds from spreading. The act alsoempowers ministers to serve notice requiring the occupier to take action toprevent weeds from spreading. Failure to take action following service of anotice is a criminal offence under the act.

The Weeds Act 1959 placesresponsibility for control of certain weeds, including ragwort, on the occupierof the land. The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Departmentinvestigates all written complaints received about the presence of injuriousweeds, including ragwort, on land, and where necessary will advise the occupierto carry out control measures to prevent the weeds from spreading.

SEERAD recently revised itsguidance leaflet on the control of injurious weeds which has been prepared forthe benefit of occupiers of land and other persons who may be affected by thespread of weeds, particularly the injurious species specified in the Weeds Act1959. Copies of the leaflet are available from all SEERAD area offices.

Through a comprehensiveprogramme of training, members of Children’s Panels are informed about servicesand programmes available to address the needs of children and young people. the Scottish Executive publishes annually youth justice mapping returns withinwhich local authorities are asked to include information on the evaluation oftheir youth justice services. The mapping returns are available at: http://www.childrens-hearings.co.uk/youthjustice.asp

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3875. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

On 1 June local authoritieswere given a new duty to provide direct payments to eligible people who wantthem. Executive guidance to local authorities states that all eligible peopleshould be made aware that direct payments are an option and should be givenaccess to local support.

The Executive has also setup Direct Payments Scotland to work closely with local authorities and localsupport organisations to help them set up direct payment schemes in their areas,including help with the establishment of local support services. This workinvolves increasing local awareness of direct payments and providing supportand information, as well as identifying and addressing local training needs.

Under existing arrangements general practitioners cannot opt-out of providing out of hours health services.GPs currently have responsibility for their patients 24 hours a day, seven daysper week.

Under the terms of the newgeneral medical services contract, and subject to Parliament approving thePrimary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill, GPs will, from 1 April 2004, be able toapply to transfer responsibility for out of hours care to NHS boards. They willhave a right to transfer after 31 December 2004 subject to an alternativeprovider being available.

Annual check-ups forover-75s have not been postponed pending consultation on the new GP contract.

Currently, The terms ofservice for general practitioners require them each year to invite each oftheir patients aged 75 or over to participate in a consultation to assesswhether the patient has any need for general medical services.

Local authorities are ingeneral free to set their own expenditure priorities. In many cases these willbe set in order to pursue statutory obligations, national standards or policiesand priorities agreed with the Executive. Where Executive objectives andtargets are concerned, monitoring focuses on outcomes rather than expenditure.In some cases, local authorities are funded by specific grants to securespecific activities and expenditure of these grants is monitored by theExecutive.

Neighbourhood compacts are afeature of the “Building strong, safe and attractive communities”funding programme. All local authorities receiving funding under this schemewill be required to develop a neighbourhood compact in the areas where they aretargeting funding. Funding for this programme runs from 2004-06.

As outlined in APartnership for a Better Scotland the Executive is committed to extendingconcessionary fares schemes on public transport, including a national freeoff-peak bus scheme for older people and people with disabilities;progressively introducing a scheme of national bus, rail and ferryconcessionary travel for young people, initially for all in full-time educationor training; and assessing improved public transport concessions for peoplewith disabilities.

Work is taking place toprogress these commitments, including discussions with key stakeholders. Thiswill be followed by a formal consultation process and substantial research andimplementation work.