Chamber and committees

Proposals for improving arrangements for supporting pupils likely to have significant difficulties in the transition from school, are set out in the publication Assessing our children's educational needs - the Way Forward (Bib. number 19469). These proposals for change are now being developed further as part of the overall review of assessment and recording of pupils with additional support needs. This extends planning and support in the transition period to a wider group of young people than are currently entitled to a Future Needs Assessment (only those with a Record of Needs).

he Scottish Executive Education Department is currently developing Personal Learning Plans (PLP) for the 3-18 age group. The PLP Framework will be designed to be relevant to all sectors of education so that different records at transition points are unnecessary.Careers Scotland are also undertaking a range of work to improve the transition process and will shortly be consulting on an assessment framework to improve the transfer of information between agencies and which builds on the work outlined in the Beattie Report.

This work is currently under way. Three National Development Officers (equivalent to one full-time post) have been charged with developing the specification by March 2004.

Latest figures published by Direct Payments Scotland show that 17 local authorities are currently making direct payments.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28275 on 5 September 2002.Direct Payments Scotland will continue to work closely with local authorities and will monitor take up regularly. The Executive will continue to collect annual statistics to ensure that all local authorities are making direct payments available. Revised guidance will be issued by the Executive prior to 1 June 2003 to remind local authorities that from that date they have a duty to offer direct payments. We will also consider the need to repeat the research carried out in 2000, which would help determine whether the new legislation is being implemented fully.

The members of the Beattie National Action Group are:Ed Weeple Head of Lifelong Learning Group, Scottish Executive (Chair)Maggi Allan Executive Director, Education Services, South Lanarkshire CouncilChristina Allon Director, Careers Scotland, Scottish EnterpriseAlison Cox MBE National Co-ordinator and Centre Manager, The BRITE InitiativeNorman Dunning Scottish Director, ENABLEDouglas Fergus Scottish Manager, CITBAnne Middleton Deputy Scottish Secretary, UNISONFraser McCowan Managing Director, Argyll TrainingMorag McNeill Graduate teacher, young disabled person and former Student Out-reach Worker, Skill Scotland (National Bureau for Students with Disabilities)Des Ryan Director, Edinburgh CyreniansGordon Smith CBI ScotlandTom Watson Director, Fairbridge in ScotlandAlastair Goudie Association of Scottish CollegesMorag Campbell Scottish Funding Council for Further and Higher EducationAnne Marshall JobCentre PlusMarie Burns Scottish EnterpriseAnne McDonald Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Yes. The National Action Group was set up in September 2000 to develop, implement and action the Beattie Report recommendations.

The Financial Provision and Direct Payments Survey is intended to cover all payments made by local authorities under section 12B of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. The most recent survey covers the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 and results are due to be published on 25 September 2002. Statistics on the number of people who have applied for direct payments are not collected centrally.However, latest figures published by Direct Payments Scotland in its August Newsletter show that they are aware of 303 people who are receiving direct payments. The breakdown by local authority is as follows:

Aberdeen City	4
Aberdeenshire	7
Angus	24
Argyll and Bute	2
Clackmannanshire	5
Dumfries and Galloway	8
East Lothian	5
Edinburgh, City of	67
Fife	88
Glasgow City	15
Highland	11
North Lanarkshire	10
Perth and Kinross	5
Renfrewshire	3
Scottish Borders	22
South Ayrshire	20
West Lothian	7
Total	303

The Beattie Report recommendation referred to did not focus specifically on people with autism and Asperger's syndrome. The Beattie Recommendations are for the benefit of all young people with additional support needs which may include young people with autism and Asperger's syndrome. I refer the member to the answers given to the following questions:S1W-14015 on 12 April 2001;S1W-14952 on 20 April 2001;S1W-21136 on 10 January 2002;S1W-21818 on 28 January 2002, andS1W-26322 on 7 June 2002.

Consideration of the proposals for the national service network for children and adults with autistic spectrum disorders is still under way, and we do not yet know when a decision will be reached.