Chamber and committees

The current intention is that the task force will meet towards the end of January 2002 to consider an issues report based on the first stage of its work. I hope that it will be possible to publish the report for wider consultation shortly thereafter.

In line with the recommendation of the research commissioned by the Scottish Office on the discretionary licensing schemes, the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation) Order 2000 which introduced mandatory licensing throughout Scotland, made explicit provision for authorised officers to the licensing authority to have powers of entry and search of unlicensed premises. The lack of a power of this nature was identified as a particular weakness in the previous discretionary licensing schemes, which prevented local authorities from obtaining information to be used as evidence for the prosecution of an owner who failed to apply for a licence when one was required or continued to operate after a refusal of a license.The Guidance on the Mandatory Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation, which was issued by the Scottish Executive also drew the attention of local authorities to the need to establish good relations with the police and procurator fiscal and suggested that local authority officials might want to meet the procurator fiscal to discuss any possible problems. It specifically referred to Reports to Procurator Fiscal - A Guide for Non-Police Reporting Agencies first published by the Crown Office in 1999 which gives guidance on the information that should be provided in reports to the procurator fiscal. The Scottish Executive has also provided advice on the Houses in Multiple Occupation licensing scheme to allow the Crown Office to update and reinforce its guidance to procurator fiscals. The procurator fiscals are responsible for deciding whether to prosecute cases referred to them by local authorities, subject to guidance issued by the Crown Office on timescales for taking and implementing decisions on cases.

In considering a report of an offence in relation to houses in multiple occupation, as in considering any report of any offence, procurators fiscal are under a duty to be satisfied that there is evidence available which is sufficient in law to prove the offence. Further information is given in the Prosecution Code and no special requirements apply in relation to houses in multiple occupation.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20345.

I published the Adult Literacy Team's report in July. It provides a comprehensive strategy for raising levels of adult literacy and numeracy in Scotland.Funding of £22.5 million between now and 2004 will enable an initial 80,000 people to be helped.£18.5 million of this is being allocated through local authorities to Community Learning Strategy Partnerships where all providers can access the funding. The remainder will be used to establish a national "Development Engine" or centre of excellence, eight pathfinder projects and a national training programme.

The most recent figures for exclusions from school were published by the Scottish Executive on 15 February 2001, and cover the academic year 1999-2000. Copies of the News Release Exclusions from Schools, 1999/2000 are available from the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 11531).

The Scottish Executive has now concluded its review of the Grants for Rent or Owner Occupation (GRO) scheme, which included detailed discussion with the European Commission. As a result of these discussions the commission has given formal approval that the GRO scheme is compatible with state aid rules. I have asked Communities Scotland to consider proposals for funding projects under the scheme.

The Scottish Health Plan, Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change, has as one of its core aims the achievement of better, fairer access to services.Making best use of professional skills such as those in physiotherapy is key to providing patients with a more accessible more responsive service and the Scottish Executive is working with a wide range of individuals and organisations to make good practice the norm.

Physiotherapists are already expanding and developing their roles in response to the modernisation of NHSScotland, and the executive supports and encourages them to continue to do so.The Scottish Executive Health Department is currently developing a Strategy for Professions Allied to Medicine including Physiotherapists, which is looking at a number of key issues such as recruitment and retention, education and training.

Physiotherapists make an important contribution to healthcare in NHSScotland and their numbers have increased by 7% over the last four years. The Scottish Executive Health Department is currently developing a Strategy for Professions Allied to Medicine including physiotherapists, which is looking at a number of key issues such as recruitment and retention, education and training.