Chamber and committees

This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0122-01.htm

This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0115-01.htm

The following question was answered in the Chamber on 8 January 2009. For the text of this answer please see the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0108-01.htm

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor1204-01.htm

At the latest validated census (July 2008) there were no East Lothian residents delayed as a direct result of awaiting funding.

At the latest validated delayed discharge census (July 2008) there were 22 East Lothian residents delayed in hospital awaiting an appropriate care package, four of whom had been delayed outwith the agreed six week discharge planning period.

The next census (October 2008) will be published on 25 November and available at:

http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/information-and-statistics.jsp?pContentID=2359&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&.

The Scottish Government, and bodies funded by the Scottish Government, will issue guidance and information to local authorities on a number of issues, working closely with the COSLA. Waste Aware Scotland have just issued a report on recycling advisers at:

http://www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk/pdf/Scottish%20Government%20Recycling%20Advisor%20Report.pdf.

REMADE Scotland have recently published an analysis of Scottish recycling schemes at:

http://www.remade.org.uk/files/KerbsideReport2008%20Final.pdf.

The Scottish Government will include material on waste management in the forthcoming national planning framework, including material on the cap on the use of energy from municipal waste. We also intend to issue guidance on the use of the zero waste fund. During the preparation of the new national waste management plan for Scotland, we will consider, with COSLA, what further guidance might be helpful for local authorities.

The settlement for each local authority provides a single budget within which authorities can exercise flexibility to reach decisions on how to achieve agreed outcomes as set out in the concordat between the Scottish Government and local government. This means that local government should have sufficient resources not only to maintain, but also improve front-line services. It is the responsibility of individual schools and local authorities to decide which subjects and qualifications to offer and to match opportunities to the needs of their students and local circumstances.

Our published efficiency guidance is quite clear. Efficiency is about enhancing value for money, improving public service delivery and raising productivity. There are two types of efficiency:

Cash-releasing efficiencies are achieved by delivering an actual resource efficiency because the organisation or function delivers the same service at a reduced cost which might be demonstrated by delivering the same outcome(s) or output(s) for a reduced input, for example costs, people, procurement, assets etc, or delivering a reduced unit cost allowing an increased volume of service for the same cost.

Time-releasing or productivity efficiencies are defined as efficiency measures which do not release cash but allow public services to deliver better services with the same money (for example, through workforce reform or better support).

Certain types of activity do not count as efficiency gains:

· Cuts that result in poorer or reduced public services.

· Increased income from higher fees and charges to the public.

All efficiencies should be supported by quality based assessments to demonstrate they are efficiencies and not cuts.

This guidance is reiterated in the introduction to our Efficiency Delivery Plans. Both of these publications are available on the internet at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/PublicServiceReform/efficientgovernment/EG08-11.

This Scottish Government, as part of its new relationship with local government, is investing record levels of funding in local government. The settlement for each local authority provides a single budget within which authorities can exercise flexibility to reach decisions on how to achieve agreed outcomes. This new agreement is built on mutual respect and partnership, and reinforces the need for local authorities to balance local needs and priorities across their area. This means that local government should have sufficient resources not just to maintain, but also improve front-line services.

One of the national outcomes towards which we are working is that our young people should become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens; as part of this, local authorities and the Scottish Government are committed to the development and implementation of Curriculum for Excellence. The draft experiences and outcomes for Curriculum for Excellence which have been released over the course of the school year contain rich opportunities for schools and other educational establishments to encourage activities outwith the normal school day. Building the Curriculum 3: a framework for learning and teaching, also restates a definition of the curriculum as comprising: the ethos and life of the school as a community; curriculum areas and subjects; opportunities for personal achievement, and interdisciplinary learning. This definition enables many different approaches to learning and teaching and can include, for example, outdoor learning, work-related activities, out of school hours learning as part of a young person’s curricular experience.