Chamber and committees

Our discussions withthe sector on this subject indicate that the Marine Renewables Development Fund(MRDF’s) grant levels are viewed as insufficient and in need of review. There arealso calls for the eligibility criteria to be reviewed. We are in touch with theDepartment of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on these issues.

We are in regularcontact with the department on this issue. We have asked specifically for clarityregarding the availability and levels of grant funding for wave and tidal developmentin the light of BERR’s proposals for a banded Renewables Obligation.

Our approach tothe management of long-term conditions will be set out in our Action Planfor Health and Wellbeing, following the consultation on Better Health,Better Care.

We are alsoworking in partnership with the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland on along-term conditions action plan which will set out our approach to themanagement of long-term conditions, with a particular emphasis onself-management.

Grants areavailable under Section 16B of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 to voluntary organisations which operateon a Scotland-wide basis and which are engaged in health initiatives thatcomplement those required by statute.

This issue willbe looked at in the context of the long-term conditions action plan which weare developing in partnership with the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland.

More generally,we are currently implementing the December 2006 recommendations from theCommunity-led Supporting and Developing Healthy Communities Task Group. Thiswill deliver a range of measures designed to improve access for community-ledand voluntary bodies to skills and advice to enable them to improve delivery ofservices, to demonstrate effectiveness in improving health and to work betterwith funders in meeting the needs of the communities served. The work will alsoprovide advice and support to funders to enable them to work better with threesector service providers. This work has commenced with local discussionsbringing funders and service providers together with tailored support. Thesupport provided will not include additional funding for front-line activitiesfrom central government.

The ScottishGovernment understands that provision of educational materials and reliableinformation is particularly important for people with long-term conditions, andfor their families and carers. Developing a co-ordinated approach to theavailability of such materials will be an important aspect of the long-termconditions action plan which we are developing in partnership with the LongTerm Conditions Alliance Scotland.

The majority ofcare for people with long-term conditions is provided through primary careteams, with access to specialist care when needed. NHS boards and their communityhealth partnerships (CHP) are responsible for providing services for theirresident populations according to need. CHPs are expected to complete the long-termconditions toolkit issued in February 2007 in order to ensure that servicesprovided for people with long-term conditions are integrated, both withinhealth and with social care, responsive and of high quality.

There is also aclear role for the voluntary sector in providing information and support,whether for specific long-term conditions or more generally through the LongTerm Conditions Alliance in Scotland.

The ScottishGovernment continues to work in partnership with stakeholders to pursue theaction plan, which provides a focus for maximising the opportunities forgrowth, jobs and sustainability offered by the expansion of the biomass sectorin Scotland. Good progress is being made. Forexample, the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme is providing a significant kickstart to the biomass sector by supporting around 75 projects from a wide rangeof organisations, from the supply side through to boiler and plantinstallation.

It is a statutoryresponsibility of local authorities to provide adequate sporting facilities intheir area, maintaining existing facilities and building new facilities asdictated by the needs of the community.

The ScottishGovernment would like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will buildon work already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possibleare used as training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Games.

The ScottishGovernment would like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will buildon work already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possibleare used as training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Games.

Furtherinformation on how we intend to ensure that all parts of Scotland benefit from the Commonwealth Games will bepublished for consultation within the first 100 days of winning the bid.