Chamber and committees

The Social Inclusion Partnership Programme was established in April 1999. The 26 new Partnerships were selected on the recommendation of an Advisory Group, drawn from membership of the Scottish Social Inclusion Network. The criteria used were listed in guidance provided to bidders.

I refer to the answer to question S1W-6640.

All Scottish local authorities and CoSLA were included in the Scottish Office's initial consultation exercise in 1998 on proposals to introduce mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation. Following the decision by Scottish Ministers to proceed with the proposals, CoSLA nominated two members of a Scottish Executive-led working group which was established to draw up guidance on the implementation of the Order on mandatory licensing. CoSLA and its nominees were also among those consulted on a draft of the Order, details of which they made known to local authorities. Glasgow City Council submitted useful comments on the terms of the Order, which were taken into account in its final draft. The final draft of the guidance on mandatory licensing has now been issued to all local authorities for comment.

Under the provisions of Schedule 1 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, local authorities are expected to charge such reasonable fees necessary to ensure that they receive sufficient income to cover the costs of their various licensing activities under that Act.

The employment of staff to implement the mandatory licensing system is a matter for local authorities.

I refer to the answer to S1W-6640.

If tenants vote against a transfer proposal, resources will continue to be made available for capital investment in Glasgow's council housing. However, this would not allow all tenants to enjoy the benefits offered by transfer to community ownership, which include some £1,600 million of housing investment.

Matters pertaining to the Ministry of Defence are reserved. The Cabinet Office has responsibility for monitoring Year 2000 issues for all UK Government Departments, including the Ministry of Defence and full details can be found on their website http://www.citu.gov.uk/y2000.htm.The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Cabinet Office on a wide range of issues, including the Year 2000.

Greater Glasgow Health Board is at present carrying out a public consultation exercise on its proposals to modernise acute hospital services across the city. The future of maternity and children's services form part of that process. The health board has also instigated a review of the role of Yorkhill NHS Trust which will also include a public consultation.

The outcome of both consultations will be known in the autumn. I will then be in a position to consider the future status of Yorkhill NHS Trust.

Our understanding is that local authorities have already licensed about 300 houses in multiple occupation under the existing arrangements for discretionary licensing schemes. On the assumption that the Parliament approves the Order which has been laid by the Scottish Executive to introduce mandatory licensing, it will be possible for local authorities to grant licenses under this Order from 1 October 2000. The number of houses in multiple occupation licensed by the end of October will depend on how quickly local authorities receive and process applications for licences.

There have been many research studies into the causes of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which have come to different conclusions. The Executive would only be likely to take any action on the basis of published research if and when some consensus among clinicians is reached.

The Department of Health in England is funding a major research project in association with the Working Group on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) established by their Chief Medical Officer. This project will review all recently published research on CFS/ME, in the hope of pointing the way towards consensus. The Scottish Executive Health Department, because of its observer representation on the working group, will be fully advised of the results of the research project.

The task of implementing an electronic records management system for the Holyrood building is the final stage of a records management project which addresses systems for the Mound and Holyrood.

The aim is to install an electronic records management system, not simply to minimise storage space in the new Parliament building, but also to ensure that the Parliament is in the forefront of best practice for electronic records management. As part of its research on best practice, the project team has already visited a number of public sector sites, and consulted with the National Archives of Scotland and the Public Record Office.