Chamber and committees

Estimates for the number of economically inactive people are taken from the Labour Force Survey. As the Labour Force Survey is based on a sample of the population all estimates are subject to sampling error. Due to this sampling error it is not appropriate to present the estimates as exact figures and the estimates are therefore rounded. The level to which the data are rounded (i.e. thousands) is decided by the Office for National Statistics, who conduct the Labour Force Survey.

The recommendations in the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland report Adult Renal Services: National Overview, and its associated local reports contain important recommendations to NHS boards about ways in which the availability of renal dialysis facilities can be improved, as well as examples of local initiatives designed to help. The Centre for Change and Innovation has provided funding to the Scottish Ambulance Service to improve the level of service to renal patients, of which £50,000 has been allocated to Highland Region. Satellite renal units exist in Caithness and Shetland, and a unit is planned in Fort William. Plans are also under discussion for the Western Isles.

The measurement of the business start-up rate, as referred to in Smart Successful Scotland, is based on the VAT Registration Rate per 10,000 of the Adult Population, aged 16 and over. This information for Scotland, the UK and other UK regions is reported in Table 1.

Table 1 - VAT Registration Rates per 10,000 of the Adult Population, aged 16 and over

Region/Country	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
United Kingdom	38	38	36	37	40
North East	21	21	20	21	23
North West	32	32	32	32	35
Yorkshire & Humberside	30	30	29	31	34
East Midlands	34	34	33	35	37
West Midlands	35	34	33	34	37
East of England	40	41	38	41	42
London	65	60	57	56	62
South East	45	44	42	44	47
South West	39	39	36	38	40
Wales	26	27	26	27	29
Scotland	28	28	27	27	29
Northern Ireland	28	26	27	27	29

 

Sources: Mid-year population figures from General Register Office for Scotland,

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency,the Office of National Statistics

and VAT registration data from the Small Business Service.

These issues are highlighted in NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s report on its review of its standards for adult renal services, which calls for innovative and flexible options to be available to patients on dialysis in remote and rural areas. NHS boards are working to address this point, in particular by expanding the number of satellite dialysis units throughout Scotland which will bring services closer to patients. The re-imbursement of expenses to patients who have to travel considerable distances to dialyse is a matter for the NHS board concerned.

The NHS Quality Improvement Scotland standards for renal services include as a desirable criterion “Within constraints of population density and geography, a unit is available within half an hour’s travelling time for patients.” This is intended to ensure that renal units are considering the possibility of satellite units where appropriate, to minimise travelling times. The NHS QIS report, Adult Renal Services: National Overview recognised that the impact of travelling is greatest in remote and rural areas, but noted that many units were developing plans for more satellite dialysis units.

We expect to publish a white paper on planning reform in the spring of 2005.

Business and public bodies – as well as individuals - were invited to contribute their views on third-party rights of appeal in a consultation paper – Rights of Appeal in Planning, which the Executive published in April this year.

The paper attracted over 1,600 responses from a wide range of individuals and organisations. A report of an analysis of these responses by an independent consultant was published by the Executive on 15 December.

In reaching any decision on third party rights of appeal, we will consider carefully all responses. Any decision will be taken by Cabinet in the context of planning modernisation as a whole.

The Scottish Executive is aware that registration numbers pertaining to the native Eriskay pony are issued by two organisations, the Eriskay Pony (Mother Society) – Comann Each nan Eilean, based in the Western Isles, and The Eriskay Pony Society, a daughter society which is based on the mainland. Both organisations have been approved to register these ponies under The Horses Zootechnical Standards Regulations 1992 and owners apply to the appropriate organisation.

The question as to whether any information submitted to the Scottish Executive is confidential or not depends on the circumstances under which it was supplied and the nature of the information.

You will be aware that the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 comes into force on 1 January 2005. From that date we will, under the act, consider requests for information held by the Scottish Executive. Information will be disclosed unless the public interest in disclosure is outweighed by one or more of the exemptions detailed in the act. The exemptions include information where disclosure would prejudice substantially the commercial interests of any person or where disclosure would constitute a breach of confidence.

This information comes from the Office for National Statistics publication “Regional Trends”. The latest figures published for Scotland are for 2002. The table shows the businesses research and development expenditure for 1998 to 2002 by Government Office Region:

Estimated Government Office Regional Breakdown of Expenditure on Research and Development in the Business Sector (BERD)

1998 to 2002	(£ Million)
1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
United Kingdom	10,133	11,302	11,510	12,336	13,110
North East	178	164	164	119	128
North West and Merseyside	1,216	1,476	1,451	1,512	1,661
Yorkshire and the Humber	287	309	304	298	357
East Midlands	775	838	933	951	1,063
West Midlands	708	724	576	662	695
Eastern	2,367	2,559	2,758	2,916	2,741
London	643	735	810	738	950
South East	2,497	2,916	2,964	3,317	3,268
South West	898	887	867	1,025	1,274
England	9,569	10,607	10,827	11,538	12,138
Wales	125	203	144	136	182
Scotland	358	393	400	512	640
Northern Ireland	81	99	139	150	149

Source: Office for National Statistics Regional Trends

Scotland’s employment rate was compared, using Labour Force Survey and OECD figures, against OECD countries. Further details of this are provided in the Measuring Progress Towards a Smart, Successful Scotland 2004 report.