Chamber and committees

Table 1 details the number of households with incomes below 50% mean GB income. Table 2 details similar information for households with income below 60% median GB income - the agreed standard definition used in poverty analysis.

Table 1 Households with Income below 50% Mean Income, Scotland 1996-97 and 1998-99

		%	Number
1996-97	Before Housing Costs	21	450,000
	After Housing Costs	27	580,000
1998-99	Before Housing Costs	20	440,000
	After Housing Costs	26	560,000

Table 2 Households with Income below 60% Median Income, Scotland 1996-97 and 1998-99

		%	Number
1996-97	Before Housing Costs	21	450,000
	After Housing Costs	27	570,000
1998-99	Before Housing Costs	18	390,000
	After Housing Costs	24	530,000

Source: DSS Households Below Average Income.Notes: 1 Income is net equivalised household income; equivalisation takes account of the number of individuals living in the household.2 Thresholds are based on GB mean and median income.3 Estimates are based on sample counts, and are therefore subject to sampling variability.4 Caution should be exercised in drawing conclusions about changes over time due to the small sample sizes in Scotland.5 Number of households has been derived by applying the proportion from the HBAI dataset to Scottish Executive estimates of the total number of households in Scotland.

The Executive wishes to see the maintenance of key features of the present arrangements, such as national quotas, based on Relative Stability, conservation boxes and access restrictions within national 6/12 mile limits. At the same time, we want to secure improvements to make the CFP a more effective instrument for conserving fish stocks; developing the regional dimension, integrating environmental considerations and reducing discards.

Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government. The New Deal for Disabled People is delivered in Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Executive and other Scottish organisations.The Scottish Executive has had no representations made from employers' organisations about the New Deal for Disabled People.

The information is detailed in the table.Percentage of Children in Specified Areas of the Income Distribution, Scotland 1996-97 and 1998-99

		Bottom Decile	Bottom Quartile	Below Median
1996-97	Before Housing Costs	16%	38%	62%
	After Housing Costs	11%	34%	62%
1998-99	Before Housing Costs	14%	33%	59%
	After Housing Costs	12%	31%	59%

Source: DSS Households Below Average Income.Notes:1 Income is net equivalised household income; equivalisation takes account of the number of individuals living in the household.2 Deciles, quartiles and medians are based on the GB distribution of income.3 Estimates are based on sample counts, and are therefore subject to sampling variability.4 Caution should be exercised in drawing conclusions about changes over time due to the small sample sizes in Scotland.5 Figures for the bottom decile should be treated with caution as the bottom decile of reported incomes cannot safely be construed as the bottom decile of living standards.

The most recent annual report of the Scottish Transport Group available at 15 May 2000 showed the value of the surplus at 31 March 1999 to be approximately £120 million (net of tax). While there is no legal entitlement for Scottish Transport Group pension scheme members to share in the pension schemes surplus funds, Scottish Ministers have agreed with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that up to £100 million is to be made available for ex-gratia payments in Scotland, so that these payments are broadly equitable with the final settlement to National Bus Company pension scheme members south of the border.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S1W-12980.

The First Minister announced on 18 December that up to £100 million would be available for distribution, subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Executive expects to be in a position to make ex-gratia payments in the second half of this year.

The Scottish Executive and its agencies support job creation and training for new employment through a variety of programmes. In the event of significant redundancies, a team of local agencies is quickly brought together under the Executive's Partnership Action for Continuing Employment framework to support all those affected find new work. I was pleased to note that in the recent restructuring announcement by Corus there were no plans to close or make significant job cuts at the company's steel works in Lanarkshire.

This information is not available centrally.

The UK Health Departments fund the National AIDS and Drugs Helplines, which already provide callers with information on hepatitis C where this is sought. The Executive proposes to review, with other UK Health Departments, whether there is a need to put a greater emphasis on hepatitis C in the services provided by these helplines.Information about hepatitis C is also provided by the NHS Helpline in Scotland and by services provided by voluntary organisations involved in hepatitis C issues, such as Mainliners.