Chamber and committees

Clinical standards, professional regulation requirements, and public expectations of quality have all increased in recent years and the idea that a single professional could have all the skills required to look after patients with complex chronic conditions and multiple nursing needs, as well as give skilled ante natal, intra-partum, and post natal care has become unrealistic.

Each remote or island community is developing appropriate models to sustain services based on single duty personnel, sometimes covering wider geographical areas, and with greater use of telemedicine where appropriate.

There are currently two schemes in place to assist patients with the cost of travel to hospital in Scotland. The first is a means tested scheme to help those in receipt of certain DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) benefits; and the second a non-means tested scheme to help patients that reside in the Highlands and Islands area.

Therefore, patients attending hospital for counselling appointments may qualify for assistance under one of those schemes.

Curriculum for Excellence gives local authorities and schools the freedom and flexibility to design and deliver the curriculum in a way which best meets the needs of their local contexts and learners. This includes the development of individual curriculum models which take into account the expertise and resources available in a school. As a result we expect to see a range of different class structures in secondary schools.

The new contract for the Northern Isles ferry services will be published on the Transport Scotland website later this summer.

The Commission on the Delivery of Rural Education was established on 7 July 2011. Since that date the Scottish Government has issued no formal guidance to local authorities on school reform.

We will continue the successful programme of simplification, looking for further opportunities to streamline our public bodies. We will continue to take every opportunity to reduce costs and bureaucracy and improve service delivery. Our presumption is against the creation of new public bodies unless there is a need to do so.

The Scottish Government operates a presumption against the creation of new public bodies, except where there is a clear need to do so as in the following cases.

Through the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill we have announced our intention to establish the Scottish Police Authority, which will oversee the new Police Service of Scotland, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill passed Stage 3 of the Parliamentary process on 27 June and the legislation is moving forward to Royal Assent, which is expected in early August.

We have announced our intention to create a new Scottish Food Standards body. This will require primary legislation, and we plan to consult on options before end of this year. It would replace the UK-wide Food Standards Agency in Scotland.

Link to announcement question:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S4W-08273&ResultsPerPage=10.

We have announced our intention to create Revenue Scotland, which will be responsible for administering the devolved taxes that will replace the UK Stamp Duty Land Tax and Landfill Tax from 1 April 2015.

We recently published a consultation on proposals to create a new tribunals system in Scotland. The consultation can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/03/8967/0.

Historical information on public bodies in Scotland is available on the Public Bodies pages of the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/pubs/Information.

A list of current public bodies in Scotland is available in the National Public Bodies Directory at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/about/Bodies.

Current information is available for all schemes through the Scottish Government’s website and in paper form from all local offices of the Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID). In addition, we make available guidance two months in advance of the application deadline for the completion of the form that underpins the majority of schemes attracting subsidy, including the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support Schemes. At that point, we draw potential applicants’ attention to any key changes. Applicants can also make use of the self-help facilities by using RPID’s telephone helpline (for those seeking help with online submissions) and by speaking to their local area office in relation to business-specific information.

Although my officials are continuing to make preparations on the basis that a new programme will come into force as soon as possible after the current one ends, due to the potential delay in agreeing the new regulations within the EU we are also considering contingency measures to ensure crucial funding in priority areas can continue.