Chamber and committees

I refer the Member to my answer to her earlier question S1W-1327.

Fixed payments for summary criminal legal aid cases were introduced on 1 April 1999 to control a significant area of public expenditure, while maintaining access to justice.Statistical information on the effects of the introduction of fixed payments is reported to the Tripartite Consultation Group which comprises representatives of the Law Society of Scotland, the Scottish Legal Aid Board and the Scottish Executive. The Tripartite Group has been asked to monitor closely all aspects of the introduction of fixed payments. Monitoring information includes information from the Crown Office which is responsible for the Procurator Fiscal Service.

We greatly value the contribution that informal carers make to the care of vulnerable people, including those with dementia. Without their contribution, many people would need support - or more support - from the statutory services. It is not, however, possible to estimate the cost of this.Informal carers need services and support themselves. The Scottish Executive is considering how we should take forward a carers' strategy in Scotland, in consultation with carers' organisations.

The Scottish Executive is committed to meeting in full its human rights obligations under the Scotland Act and the Human Rights Act; and to promoting a human rights culture in Scotland in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals are widely understood and readily enforceable.

There are no plans for any such investigation at present. The Scottish Executive is well aware that disabled people need to have accessible transport available to them. A research study into the provision of transport for disabled people in Scotland has been completed recently and its findings will be carefully considered. Disabled people in rural areas are benefiting from the Scottish Executive's Rural Community Transport Grant scheme which is grant aiding many new community transport projects including the provision of wheelchair accessible minibuses.

The Scottish Executive does not hold the information requested. The administration of the Orange Badge Scheme of parking concessions for disabled and blind people is a matter for local authorities. However, we are aware from recent enquiries that all councils take some form of action in relation to alleged misuse of badges which have been issued. Most councils keep a record of alleged misuse and issue a warning letter.

I refer to my answer to S1W-1148. We shall also be inviting the Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission to participate in our lunchtime seminars.

A small working group has been established to look at developing an equal opportunities strategy for the Parliament. Information and briefing on this will be provided once it is in place. In the meantime, enquiries are being made of organisations such as Disability Scotland and the Equal Opportunities Commission with a view to organising lunchtime seminars to address issues such as disability awareness in the next few months.

It is not possible to directly specify how many day care places are intended for people with dementia. However, the following two tables show (a) the number of places available in day centres intended for older people, and (b) the number of clients with dementia attending day care centres for any client group. These tables are presented by local authority area and relate to March 1998.Number of Places in Day Care Centres Intended for Older People by Local Authority, Scotland 1998¹

Local Authority	Number of places in day centres for older people2
SCOTLAND	7,670
Aberdeen, City of	228
Aberdeenshire	639
Angus	116
Argyll & Bute	90
Clackmannanshire	115
Dumfries & Galloway	477
Dundee City	70
East Ayrshire	129
East Dunbartonshire	10
East Lothian	0
East Renfrewshire	50
Edinburgh, City of	599
Eilean Siar	70
Falkirk	170
Fife	382
Glasgow City	1,007
Highland, The	670
Inverclyde	84
Midlothian	10
Moray, The	96
North Ayrshire	103
North Lanarkshire	318
Orkney Islands	41
Perth & Kinross	142
Renfrewshire	346
Scottish Borders	309
Shetland Islands	120
South Ayrshire	461
South Lanarkshire	421
Stirling	76
West Dunbartonshire	179
West Lothian	142

Source: D1-B census form (Community Care Statistics Division)

Notes:

1. The census was undertaken in the week ending 29^th March 1998.

2. Figures relate to the maximum number of places available at any one time. They exclude centres with less than 4 places, as these are usually attached to residential homes.

Number of Clients with Dementia Attending Day Care Centres by Local Authority, Scotland 1998¹

Local Authority	Number of clients with dementia attending day care centres2
SCOTLAND	2,626
Aberdeen, City of	59
Aberdeenshire	112
Angus	56
Argyll & Bute	47
Clackmannanshire	29
Dumfries & Galloway	131
Dundee City	32
East Ayrshire	73
East Dunbartonshire	0
East Lothian	26
East Renfrewshire	45
Edinburgh, City of	114
Eilean Siar	33
Falkirk	73
Fife	168
Glasgow City	445
Highland, The	134
Inverclyde	55
Midlothian	4
Moray, The	14
North Ayrshire	73
North Lanarkshire	120
Orkney Islands	22
Perth & Kinross	48
Renfrewshire	140
Scottish Borders	55
Shetland Islands	15
South Ayrshire	124
South Lanarkshire	219
Stirling	27
West Dunbartonshire	86
West Lothian	47

Source: D1-B census form (Community Care Statistics Division)

Notes:

1. The census was undertaken in the week ending 29^th March 1998.2. Figures relate to the number of clients where dementia best describes their circumstances. They exclude those attending centres with less than 4 places, as these are usually attached to residential homes.

To be eligible for financial support higher education students must be attending a course. Students who are temporarily absent due to illness can continue to receive support until they have been absent for 28 weeks. At that point, a sick student becomes eligible for sickness benefit. A student who withdraws from his or her course, for whatever reason, is ineligible to receive assistance through the student support system and becomes subject to the arrangements under benefits system.Many further education students receive financial support from the bursary award scheme but there is no specific provision for students absent due to illness. Students experiencing particular financial difficulties can apply for assistance to the Access Fund operated by the Colleges. Generally there are no financial repercussions for short-term absences but, since bursaries are discretionary awards, each case is judged on its own merits. Where a student is on long-term sick leave the college will advise the student whether he or she should continue the course. If the student withdraws, the bursary is stopped and, if unemployed, the student reverts back to the benefits system for support.