Chamber and committees

In accordance with the original direction, a review is being carried out. The Minister for Communities and Sport asked the Scottish Housing Regulator (the Regulator) to carry out the review and, in January 2009, the regulator issued a consultation paper setting out the proposed terms of its review of directions under Section 68A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), the local housing associations (LHOs) and other interested parties were asked to provide feedback on the Regulator''s proposals by 27 February 2009. Feedback is currently being considered by the Regulator and a finalised paper will be issued by the end of March.

Management-Only LHOs

CCHA LHOs

The SPS is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all young offenders and where possible seeks to provide young offenders with access to a wide variety of learning opportunities tailored to their needs. For example our education providers have access to a wide range of educational tools which enable them to respond to individual learning requirements.

A very specific example of how HMYOI Polmont has supported young offenders with learning disabilities is through the provision of an on-site speech and language therapy service, which is provided two days a week. Local NHS Community Speech and Language Therapy Services provide similar support to young offenders located at HMP and YOI Cornton Vale and Friarton young offenders annex at HMP Perth. The primary role of the speech and language service is to provide direct intervention for communication disorders.

(b) No statistics are available to show whether Taser guns have been used within 10 metres of a child.

In January 2009, the Scottish Housing Regulator issued a consultation paper setting out the proposed terms of its review of directions issued under section 68A of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. The paper sets out proposals for issuing new directions to Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and local housing organisations (LHOs) when their current management arrangements come to an end between April and September 2009.

We asked GHA, the LHOs and other interested parties to give feedback on our proposals by 27 February. We are currently considering this feedback and will issue our final proposals by the end of March.

2006 “ 1 day

2007 “ nil

2008 “ 24 days.

The period of 24 days in 2008 was due to the closure of one of the secure units which resulted in a temporary loss of 30 places in the secure estate.

It is the joint responsibility of local authorities and Scottish Government, as the purchasers of secure accommodation, to ensure sufficient places to meet the needs of young people in Scotland. The Scottish Government are continuing to work closely and imaginatively with providers and local authorities to ensure that this first class accommodation continues to be put to good use in improving the outcomes of young people and their communities.

(b) This information is not held centrally.

We published our report on our inspection of Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) on 18 September 2007. In accordance with our published guidance, we required GHA to submit an improvement plan to us within eight weeks of publication of the report. An initial version of the plan was submitted within this timescale, on 13 November 2007.

We provided GHA with our comments on the plan, as is usual practice. GHA produced subsequent revisions and a final version was submitted on 1 February 2008. This version of the plan was then agreed by us.

Progress with each SST is a matter for GHA and the respective Local Housing Organisation. The timescales need to be realistic and reflect a pace of activity which both parties can meet.

The Scottish Executive welcomes the first five transfers which are due to take place later this month and is keen to see this momentum maintained.