Chamber and committees

Scotland''s Population 2007: the Registrar General''s Annual Review of Demographic Trends is published today. The report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A copy of the report is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46111), or from the Registrar General''s website at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.

The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings requires that energy performance certificates (EPCs) are made available to prospective buyers and tenants from 4 January 2009. This will be done by various means. For example, it is intended that, for marketed dwellings, the EPC will accompany the Home Report. In all cases, however, it is intended that EPCs will be affixed to buildings.

Responsibility for ensuring compliance for all buildings lies with the local authority. Where cases of non-compliance occur, the local authority will be in a position to serve a notice in order to address contraventions.

Information from energy performance certificates for new, non-domestic buildings is currently placed on the building standards register maintained by local authorities. We are endeavouring to identify an appropriate register for existing non-domestic buildings.

The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive allows for certification based on the assessment of another representative apartment in the same block. This has been taken into account in developing software for the generation of energy performance certificates.

I have today written to the convener of the Finance Committee with an update of the actions that the Scottish Government has taken since we published our response to Professor Crerar’s review. The update sets out a number of actions that are under way. They will help to deliver a more proportionate system of scrutiny which gives more trust and responsibility to service delivery bodies to deliver and improve services but maintains the assurances that independent assessment of key services provides.

A copy of the letter has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib 45957).

This information is not held centrally.

Guidance for the provision of medicines for people in receipt of end of life care is included in HDL (2003) 18 http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2003_18.pdf which describes the costs which will be met by NHS boards.

NHS boards are responsible for the planning and provision of NHS services and work closely with a range of organisations, including hospices. Palliative care and end of life services are delivered through managed clinical networks and palliative care networks which seek to ensure integration of specialist and general care.

Good quality, accessible palliative and end-of-life care is fundamental to those living with and dying from any advanced, progressive or incurable disease, and for their carers. An action plan will be published this year which will ensure a consistent approach in the provision of these services across all NHS boards, reflecting best practice. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care have produced standards regarding care in the NHS and the independent sector. Monitoring of individual care plans takes place within the context of these standards, and other guidance produced by professional bodies and is a matter for NHS boards and those organisations providing palliative and end of life care.

Hospices in Scotland are independent organisations operating on a charitable basis. As such they receive funding from a range of sources including donations. With regard to adult hospices, the NHS in Scotland provides funding for up to 50% of agreed operating costs in accordance with guidance contained in HDL (2003) 18:

http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2003_18.pdf.

The Children''s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) receive 12.5% of annual running costs from the NHS in Scotland and also receives grant funding through the Children, Young People and Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund.