Chamber and committees

Information on localauthority testing of the public water supply is not held centrally by the Scottish Executive.

Fifty-seven of the 1,742 testsfor lead, carried out by Scottish Water on samples of water taken from customers’ taps in2005, exceeded the European Drinking Water Directive standard of 10 microgrammes per litre thatcomes into force in 2013.

Scottish Water carriedout 1,742 tests for lead, on samples of water taken from customers’ taps, in 2005.

Twenty-one of the 1,742 testsfor lead, carried out by Scottish Water on samples of water taken from customers’ taps in2005, exceeded the current standard of 25 microgrammes per litre.

I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

The number of Rural Empty PropertyGrants approved in each of the last three financial years is as follows:

Year	No. of Grants
2003-04	3
2004-05	2
2005-06	2

 

This information is not heldcentrally.

Figures for demolitions oflocal authority and registered social landlord dwellings are shown in thefollowing table.

Demolition of LocalAuthority and Registered Social Landlord Dwellings: 2000-01 to 2004-05

	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05
Local Authority	3,384	3,458	2,389	2,087	1,488
Registered Social Landlord	1,006	1,500	944	1,876	2,786

Source:Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (HousingStatistics). Registered Social Landlord data provided by Communities Scotland.

Information on the average pricepaid for properties by tenants exercising their right to buy in each local authorityarea is accessible on-line through the data library in the publications and datasection of the Scottish Executive housing statistics branch website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/14844/4334(sales to sitting tenants, table 14).

Evidence from reviews of theSupporting People programme in England and Scotland confirmed the scope for significant efficiencysavings with the price Waterhouse Coopers report indication wide variation inthe cost of services across Scotland and the way they were configured. Unit costs in Scotlandappeared considerably higher than England where similar levels of efficiency saving have beensought. The Scottish Executive put in £60 million of additional funding beyondthat provided by Treasury to protect services and some authorities gain fromthe new distribution system.

Local authorities in Scotland areperforming service reviews of all services provided under the Supporting People programme and all service reviews are to be completed by March 2007.The Scottish Executive believes that significant efficiencies are achievable inthe programme and will expect to see evidence of that for the next spending review,but monitoring arrangements will also allow local authorities to record anyadverse impact of budget changes on services and service users. The informationin the monitoring returns will be made available to the Supporting People Service Review Impact Group to inform their report to ministers on theimpact of the service review process. Monitoring returns will be twice a year andstarted in October 2005. Initial indications are that services are generallybeing maintained in the current year.

Funding is now distributed ona fairer basis against a new formula and although some councils lose funding ofup to 18% over three years others gain significant increases in resources.

Evidence from reviews of theSupporting People programme in England and Scotland confirmed the scope for significant efficiency savings,and unit costs in Scotland appear higher. We expect councils wherever possible todrive out inefficiencies rather than cut services. Services should only be cut asa last resort and after a review of the strategic relevance, quality and value formoney of all services and a rigorous review of the scope for efficiency improvementson management and administrative overheads.

However, the monitoring and evaluationarrangements, agreed with COSLA and other external stakeholders, will ensure thefull impact of the budget changes is properly assessed to inform decision makingon future funding in the next spending review.