Chamber and committees

Since April 1996, the amount set aside for improvement and repairs grants has been for each local authority to determine. The table sets out the actual expenditure by local authorities on improvement and repairs grants for private sector houses, for Scotland and Glasgow for 1996-97 to 2000-01. The figures for 2000-01 are based on provisional outturn figures. No estimates are available for the local authorities estimated expenditure for the next five years.

Year (£000s)	1996-97	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01
Glasgow	8,045	6,240	7,896	6,932	6,390
Scotland	70,931	48,921	44,628	41,177	39,572

Our policy is that Private Finance Initiative (PFI) should only be used where it represents best value for money. To test for value for money, bids received are compared to a Public Sector Comparator (PSC) which represents an estimate of the whole life cost of procuring of the specified services by conventional means. A study by Arthur Anderson on behalf of HM Treasury showed that average estimated saving against the PSC of the projects examined was 17%.

Protection against measles, mumps and rubella in the UK is recommended through the combined MMR vaccine. This policy is based on independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the Committee on Safety of Medicines, and was set out in letters from the Chief Professional Officers in the Scottish Executive Health Department to GPs and other health professionals on 22 December 2000 and 12 March 2001. Single vaccines leave children at risk of disease while they wait, unprotected between vaccines, for no additional benefit. They also expose children to an increased risk of local reactions at the injection site. An MMR discussion pack, leaflet and poster are being issued to health professionals in September. These materials will help inform discussion between GPs and parents on MMR and single vaccine issues.

Guidance on the curriculum recommends one hour's physical exercise per week for all pupils up to the age of 16. The Scottish Executive has encouraged schools to promote physical exercise in recent years through a range of sport scotland initiatives which include: the TOPS programmes (resources for schools and training for teachers), the Active Primary Schools programme (being piloted in a number of education authorities) and the School Sport Co-ordinator programme (currently in over half of secondaries).

Schools and local authorities also have to implement the national priorities for education, which were approved by the Scottish Parliament. These priorities stress the need to teach pupils respect for self and to equip them with the attitudes necessary to prosper in a changing society. Physical exercise and education can play a central part in making these priorities a reality.

Local authorities are expected to have plans on the implementation of the national priorities in place by December 2001. Schools must do so by June 2002.

This information is not held centrally.

The information requested is not held centrally. The organisation of, and contracting for, the school meals service is a matter for local authorities. The Model Nutritional Guidelines for Catering Specifications for the Public Sector in Scotland issued in 1996, as part of the Scottish Diet Action Plan, contain a number of general principles concerning the qualifications of staff. Amongst these is the suggestion that dieticians should be part of the formal advisory structure, in both the preparation and monitoring of specifications; that menus should be analysed by a dietician or nutritionist; and that training of all levels of staff should be delivered by suitably qualified staff, such as dieticians.

Information on the number of Home Economics teachers employed in each year is not available.

The periodic Teacher Census estimates that in 1994-95 there were 1,251 (FTE) teachers in publicly funded secondary schools who recorded Home Economics as their main subject qualification. In 1998-99, there were an estimated 1,276 (FTE) teachers in publicly funded secondary schools who recorded Home Economics as their main subject qualification.

This information was not collected in other years.

As part of the Teacher Workforce Planning exercise the Scottish Executive have taken steps to improve the quality of data collected from local authorities this year. It is believed this will provide more accurate information on a range of areas, including subject coverage, on an annual basis.

Model Nutritional Guidelines for Catering Specifications were provided to local authorities together with Eating for Health, The Scottish Diet Action Plan, published by the Scottish Office in 1996. The implementation and subsequent monitoring of any arrangements put in place as a result of these guidelines is a matter for local authorities. However, we are currently considering what else needs to be done to ensure improved uptake and better quality.

No. The policing of the Govanhill protests, and the subsequent investigation to identify those responsible for the violence and disorder that occurred, are operational matters for Strathclyde Police.

The use of covert surveillance is a matter for relevant public authorities, including police forces. Its use, oversight and associated complaints procedure is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000. Under section 23 of the 2000 Act, any person who is aggrieved by any conduct to which the Act applies may complain to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal if they believe that the conduct took place in relation to them or their property in challengeable circumstances.