Chamber and committees

It is for NHS boards to implement Agenda for Change in partnership between management and staff side locally. However, the Scottish Government monitors progress closely and has put the Blocked Matching process in place to ensure that any disputes which cannot be resolved locally can be addressed through an independent national partnership process. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have accessed this process for a number of reviews, including for some pharmacy posts. I understand good progress is being made in resolving these and that it is hoped letters confirming the outcome of outstanding reviews will be issued by the end of March 2011.

I understand from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde that there are a total of 44 review submissions relating to pharmacy posts for which there has not yet been a final outcome.

It is for NHS boards to implement Agenda for Change in partnership between management and staff side locally. However, the Scottish Government monitors progress closely and has put the blocked matching process in place to ensure that any disputes which cannot be resolved locally can be addressed through an independent national partnership process. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have accessed this process for a number of reviews, including for some pharmacy posts. I understand good progress is being made in resolving these and that it is hoped letters confirming the outcome of outstanding reviews will be issued by the end of March 2011.

The Scottish Government has not set a deadline for resolving outstanding reviews in Greater Glasgow and Clyde as it is important that the staff/management partnership processes put in place to resolve local disputes are allowed to run their course. However, we continue to work closely with the board to monitor progress and I understand it is hoped that letters confirming the outcome of outstanding reviews will be issued by the end of March 2011.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35845 on 27 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Chairman of the Inquiry, Sir Anthony Campbell is understood to be now preparing his final report but has not yet notified Ministers of the intended date of publication.

On 6 March 2008 I wrote to Sir Anthony Campbell, stating:

I have also considered your comments about publication of the inquiry''s report. I agree that it would be appropriate and in keeping with the independence of the inquiry for the Chairman to have responsibility for arranging publication and I hereby notify you of that responsibility¦

Publication is therefore the responsibility of the chairman, in terms of Section 25(2) of the Inquiries Act 2005.

The publication of the final report of the Fingerprint Inquiry is not a matter for ministers, it is a matter for the inquiry chairman.

However, should the chairman decide to publish during the dissolution of the Parliament, there is no impediment in law to the publication of the final report of the Fingerprint Inquiry in that period.

Section 26 of the Inquiries Act 2005 requires the report to be laid by the Minister, either at the time of publication or as soon afterwards as is reasonably practicable, before the relevant Parliament or Assembly.

If the chairman decides that the report is to be published when the Parliament is dissolved, it could reasonably and practicably be laid before the Parliament when Parliament reconvened.

The Scottish Child Law Centre supports children and families in Scotland through the provision of free, expert legal advice. Children and young people can seek advice through the centre''s free-phone line, email and text services. In 2010-11 the Scottish Government provided funding totalling more than £95,000 through the Unified Voluntary Sector Fund to support the centre''s work.

We are also providing the centre with funding to support the delivery of Take Note “ the national advocacy service for children and young people who may need support, including representation, when they are appealing to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland. Where appropriate, this support can include the provision of legal advocacy.

It is not for ministers to comment on correspondence between third parties.

The new Additional Support Needs National Advocacy Service will be delivered by a partnership between Barnardo''s and the Scottish Child Law Centre.

Barnardo''s, which submitted the application on behalf of the partners, was informed that the application had been successful on 15 October 2010. A short introductory meeting was held with Barnardo''s and the Scottish Child Law Centre on 21 October 2010 to provide feedback on the application, meet key individuals who would be involved in delivering the service and discuss key actions in disseminating information. The Scottish Government was represented by Rachel Sunderland.

Meeting participants recognised that whilst it was important to move quickly in establishing the new service it was essential that information remained confidential until all applicants had been informed of the outcome. A timetable for disseminating information was therefore provisionally agreed and key contacts identified in the event of further queries. Discussion also focused on the importance of ensuring minimal disruption in the service provided to parents and young people during the transition to the new national advocacy service. It was agreed that early meetings between Barnardo''s, the Scottish Child Law Centre and organisations currently providing advocacy would be helpful.

The issue of whether the transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) regulations (TUPE) applies is a matter of law to be determined by the relevant parties or failing that by an Employment Tribunal. Such issues do not form part of our consideration of awards of grants, nor is it for ministers to speculate on the implications of such issues, nor comment on them, in relation to any specific case.