Chamber and committees

The information requested is published by the Registrar General in Table 2.3 of his 1998 Annual Report, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-4163 in which I indicated that I had asked SNH for advice on the recommendations obtained in the UK Raptor Working Group Report and how they might be implemented in Scotland. The Scottish Executive has not held bilateral discussions on the report with interested parties, but I have asked SNH to consult relevant interests before offering advice.

There are no such plans at present. I have, however, asked SNH for advice on the recommendations contained in the UK Raptor Working Group Report, including the recommendation that scientific studies be undertaken on the range of possible means of reducing predation on racing pigeons.

The information available from the recorded crime statistics is given in the table below:

Drug crimes recorded by the Scottish police, 1996 - 1999
	1996	1997	1998	1999
				Jan-Sept
				(provisional)
Total drugs crimes:	23,992	29,386	31,460	24,376
Of which:
Illegal importation of drugs	35	27	30	8
Production, manufacture or cultivation of drugs	284	238	170	108
Possession of drugs with intent to supply	6,638	7,915	8,290	6,478
Possession of drugs	16,739	20,929	22,588	17,483
Drugs, money laundering related offences(1)	-	-	-	8
Drugs, other offences	296	277	382	291
1) Introduced with effect from 1 January 1995

Reference to numbers of jobs created and safeguarded is most frequently made in relation to projects recorded by Locate in Scotland. In this regard, the methodology used to determine the total number of such jobs is to aggregate the relevant employment forecasts made by the companies planning to undertake these projects. Locate in Scotland defines a "new" or "created" job as one which did not exist prior to the commencement of the planned project. A "safeguarded" or "saved" job is one which, had the planned project not proceeded, would otherwise have been lost.

There are no plans to do so. It is for the Accounts Commission to collect and publish Performance Indicator information under the Local Government Act 1992.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has funded Members on the following foreign trips:

Mr Michael Russell - India - Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference on "Parliament and the Media: Building and effective partnerships"

Mr George Reid - France - Academic Conference on "Europe United, the Kingdom Divided?"Rt. Hon Sir David Steel - Australia - 15th Annual Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding OfficersMr George Reid - Canada - International Conference on FederalismMr George Reid - Belgium - Opening of Scotland HouseRt. Hon Sir David Steel, Mr Andrew Welsh, Mr Robert Brown - Netherlands & Belgium - as members of the Corporate Body on an information gathering exercise on comparative parliament buildings.

The costs of these individual trips are not available, as this information is not held in this format.

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has put in place mechanisms to record the costs of Committees travelling and for delegations, but not for individual trips. However, the total cost of trips, both national and international, that have been approved by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be available at the financial year-end.There are no plans to place copies of the breakdown of trips in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Part V of the Police Act 1997 provides for extended access to criminal record checks. New certificates, which will be available next year, will be phased in. Our first priority is to improve child protection and the highest level of check, the Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate (ECRC), will initially be for those regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children. We intend to extend these checks to those caring for vulnerable adults. Applications for ECRCs will have to be countersigned by a registered body, so it will not be possible for an individual to obtain this level of check for care assistants or others. Registration is essential to protect the use of sensitive information. Under Part V, individuals will be able to apply for Criminal Conviction Certificates (CCC) which will contain details of any unspent convictions. Those employing care assistants will be able to ask to see a copy of their CCC although the information will not be as comprehensive as that on the ECRCs.

I have discussed local government finance with the leadership of East Ayrshire Council, including revenue support grant for 2000-2001.

It is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases. Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, local authorities have a duty to safeguard the welfare of children in need. This is especially the case when children are under the supervision of local authorities. Extensive guidance has already been issued to local authorities to help them discharge their duties under the Act.Proposals for legislation to regulate the social services workforce are contained in the consultation paper Regulating Care and the Social Services Workforce which issued in December 1999. The legislation will establish the Scottish Social Services Council which will register key groups of social work staff as a prerequisite before they can be employed or continue in employment. In developing this body, the Scottish Executive is seeking to ensure that users of social services have confidence in those who provide the services.