Chamber and committees

The information requested can be found in Table 2.11.1 of the Scottish Policing Performance Framework Annual Report, 2010-11, which can be found on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/25105642/0.

We are aiming to publish the analysis of responses in the spring.

<>We estimate that, in Scotland, 43% of households in the social rented sector and 42% in the private rented sector under-occupy their property. This estimate uses information from the Family Resources Survey and is based on the Department for Work and Pension’s definition of under occupation. This definition of under occupation can be found here http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/lha-guidance-manual.pdf

The under occupation penalties in the Welfare Reform Bill will affect only households in the social rented sector who are (i) under-occupying, (ii) contain working age adults and (iii) who are in receipt of housing benefit. Using the DWP’s definition of under occupation, analysis from the Family Resources Survey shows that around 41% of working age households in the social rented sector on housing benefit will be affected by the under-occupancy penalties.

The Scottish Government has not adopted the DWP’s definition of under occupancy. Such an inflexible approach runs counter to our policy approach to give social landlords the flexibility they need to take into account individual needs when allocating properties.

Further information on the impact of the under-occupancy penalty in the social rented sector can be found here:

http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/supply-demand/chma/Benefitchanges

Health For All Children (Hall 4) sets out the core programme of contacts with a health professional for all babies and children. It is intended to ensure that every child and family receive a consistent minimum core programme of contacts wherever they live in Scotland. The core programme of contacts with a community midwife and a Public Health Nurse – Health Visitor are set out in the following tables.

 

Contacts by a community midwife

first 24 hours of life

within first 10 days of life

 

Contacts by a Public Health Nurse – Health Visitor

6 to 8 weeks of life

3 months of age

4 months of age

12 to 13 months of age

24 to 30 months of age (currently being introduced)

 

A Public Health Nurse – Health Visitor would normally make a home visit shortly after the case is transferred to them. The visit would usually take place within the first 11 to 14 days of life. The number of home visits would be tailored to the needs of the family. As such the number of visits provided to new mothers may vary in response to the support required.

Estimates of the dwelling stock by tenure in Scotland are published annually on the Scottish Government Housing statistics for Scotland website. The latest available estimates, covering the period 1993 to March 2010 are available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/KeyInfoTables

Within the Scottish Government core directorates, all permanent job vacancies, where the annual salary is less than £40,000, are advertised in the most local job centre as well as on the Jobcentre Plus website.

Scottish Government agencies have delegated responsibility for recruitment but they too are required to advertise vacancies widely and most do use local job centres as a way to attract potential candidates.

The Scottish Government receives advice from a range of specialists on an unpaid basis. This advice is often given on an individual basis or as part of an advisory group/panel.

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) sets out the Scottish Government’s policy on nationally important land use planning matters. SPP recognises that vacant and derelict land and obsolete commercial and industrial property has an impact on the economic health of towns and cities. It therefore recommends that: "authorities should adopt a proactive approach to encouraging the reuse of buildings and previously developed land, making use of land assembly and compulsory purchase powers to enable redevelopment opportunities".

The Scottish Government has recently delivered a comprehensive programme to improve the compulsory purchase process. As part of this, the government published Planning Circular 6-2011. This contained guidance for local authorities to help them use their compulsory purchase powers effectively, including using compulsory purchase to bring empty properties back into residential use.

The Property and Asset Management Strategy for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirms that the building condition of the Glasgow Dental Hospital was assessed as category C, not satisfactory/major change and/or investment needed for the physical condition facet. However, the quality facet of the Glasgow Dental Hospital building was determined as category B, which is satisfactory/only minor change or investment needed.

The Glasgow Dental Hospital facilities were assessed as category F, fully utilised, for the space utilisation facet and C, not satisfactory/major change and/or investment needed with regard to the functional suitability facet.

Over the years 2007-08 to 2011-12 NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has invested capital and revenue funds amounting to £10 million to improve the quality of the Glasgow Dental Hospital and upgrade its supporting mechanical and electrical services infrastructure. Investment is ongoing for the refurbishment of Levels 2, 6 and 7 and for the provision of new plant space and boiler systems. In addition, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde plans further investment in the Glasgow Dental Hospital as part of its statutory compliance and backlog maintenance requirements. This will be directly related to the Board’s Property and Asset Management Strategy developed for 2012-16 and will be funded from within the boards capital formula allocation.

The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers is currently under review as part of the new Model Contract for Special Advisers. The opportunity has been taken to incorporate amendments made necessary as a result of the Constitutional Renewal and Governance (CRAG) Act 2010. It is expected that the final version will be laid in both the UK and Scottish Parliaments in the next few months. In the meantime special advisers have been asked to work within the spirit of the new code.

As temporary civil servants, special advisers are required to abide by the conduct provisions of the Civil Service Code as they relate to the declaration of interests. All staff are expected to record interests on the electronic HR self declaration system. The information held is not publicly available as it is considered personal information, release of which would be a breach of the data protection principles.