Chamber and committees

We are already consultinginformally through our engagements across Scotland over the summer recess. We will announce the terms and timescale of thereview of our antisocial behaviour strategy in due course.

The Scottish Governmenthas had preliminary discussions with the Head of the Home Civil Service, the Headof the Northern Ireland Civil Service, UK Government Permanent Secretaries withan interest and staff unions about the issues relevant to a discussion on the creationof a devolved Scottish civil service.

Consideration of theissues and further discussions with relevant colleagues and stakeholders are continuing.

I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:

The SBSA is in theprocess of finalising the membership of the expert panel to report on the changesneeded to develop a strategy for low carbon building standards and improve buildingregulations to increase energy efficiency standards towards those that exist inScandinavia.

We have begun consultingstakeholders, through the Community Council Working Group, on developing the roleof community councils. This will including identifying pilots for supporting communitycouncils to play a greater role in Community Planning and also for allowing themto have some control over existing spending in their area to meet specific localpriorities.

We are currently consideringthe appropriate performance management arrangements that should be implemented oncewe have reached final decisions on the Strategic Spending Review. Our thinking isbeing informed by the approach taken in Virginia and I recently held helpful discussions with Bill Leighty, Chief Emeritus,Virginia, to learn from their experience.

We remain committed to our pledgeto abolish NHS prescription charges and plan to inform Parliament shortly on howwe intend to deliver that commitment.

It is my intention to begin awide ranging consultation on proposals for a local Healthcare Bill during theautumn and to engage with all those interested to help shape our final proposals.The consultation will seek views on how best to secure our objective of achievinggreater patient and community involvement in the delivery of local health services.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-246 on 14 June 2007 which is available on the Parliament’s website:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor0614-02.htm#Col781.

I intend to introduce legislationto abolish the graduate endowment fee in the autumn of this year. A consultationon the proposed bill was launched on 13 July 2007 and is due to close on 7 September2007.

The Scottish Government is committedto ensure that it builds a health service that is genuinely focused on the needsof patients. The government’s new action plan for 2008-09 and beyond, which willbe developed through widespread public and clinical consultation, will include anew whole journey waiting time target of 18 weeks. The government is also committedto greater involvement of local people in the planning of health care, and an elementof direct election to NHS boards. It will consult on the legislation that is necessaryto meet that aim. The government will also begin consultation on a Patients’ RightsBill during the next year.