Chamber and committees

Support for carers is for local authorities as part of their responsibility for community care. The Scottish Executive has allocated almost £800 million grant-aided expenditure to local authorities for community care this financial year. Within that, £5 million is notionally allocated for carers' services, including respite care. In addition, we have contributed about £220k this year to national voluntary organisations representing and supporting carers.As part of the Scottish Executive's Programme for Government a Strategy for Carers in Scotland was launched on 24 November 1999. The Strategy sets out new measures to support both adult and young carers and these are now being taken forward alongside other relevant initiatives already underway. New initiatives include doubling the allocated resources available to local authorities for carers' services to £10 million, the promotion of new and more flexible services, drawing up legislative proposals, and the provision of better and more targeted information for carers.

The methodology used to distribute grant-aided expenditure to police authorities in 2000-2001 was based largely on figures submitted to the Scottish Executive by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. The methodology took into account force needs including unavoidable costs such as pensions and commuted sums.

Adults with dysphasia have access to health and community care services. The promotion and provision of support services, including self-help groups, for adults with dysphasia is a matter for health boards and local authorities to determine in the light of local needs.

Currently, Career Service Companies already carry out work of this type by offering advice and guidance on higher education during individual interviews with pupils, and group interviews.

Links are encouraged by the organisation of special events such as Higher Education Fairs and visits to higher education institutions.I have recently announced a review of the Careers Service. The terms of reference for the review are "To examine the role of the careers service in Scotland and the scope for change and development of that role in the light of trends and initiatives in education, lifelong learning, and the labour market." Evidence is currently being collected from a wide range of organisations, including higher education institutions, for consideration by the review committee. The committee is due to report in mid 2000.

We fully accept the need to ensure that housing for rent is available in rural communities and will take this into account in the development of our housing policies.

The Woodschool in the Borders, which I visited recently, is a good example of how craft skills can be used to enhance the rural economy by adding value to Scottish timber. We aim to encourage such initiatives, particularly those using locally grown timber. The Forestry Commission has set up a Scottish Hardwood Timber Market Development Group to identify, encourage and facilitate the development of markets for timber from broad-leaved woodlands in Scotland.

In response to a question yesterday, I made available to Parliament the Scottish Executive's Carers' Strategy for Scotland, a package of measures aimed at supporting the many informal carers in our communities who look after friends or relatives who are frail, sick, disabled or vulnerable. The Strategy contains a commitment to draw up legislative proposals at an early date that will enable carers to have their needs met more directly than can be done at present. In doing so, we will ensure that carers aged under 16 will be entitled to an assessment of their care needs and will be able to receive support in their own right. The Strategy is scheduled for debate today.

In response to a question yesterday, I made available to Parliament the Scottish Executive's Carers' Strategy for Scotland, a package of measures aimed at supporting the many informal carers in our communities who look after friends or relatives who are frail, sick, disabled or vulnerable. The Strategy contains a commitment to draw up legislative proposals at an early date that will enable carers to have their needs met more directly than can be done at present. In doing so, we will ensure that carers aged under 16 will be entitled to an assessment of their care needs and will be able to receive support in their own right.

At present, under the existing legislation - section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 - it is solely for local authorities to determine their concessionary travel arrangements for pensioners. The Scottish Executive is carefully considering appropriate ways in which to encourage the improvement and integration of such schemes, including concessions for rail travel, for pensioners and those with special needs.

The Abolition of Feudal Tenure Bill will not affect current public law mechanisms for protecting the public interest in land. In particular the planning system will be unaffected. In addition the Bill expressly saves the right of the Crown Estate Commissioners on behalf of the Crown to enforce burdens over the foreshore and seabed which have been conceived in the public interest.