Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive has not published any further research on very sheltered housing since its 1991 report entitled The Housing Needs of Elderly People in Scotland and is not aware of any other research on this specific area of housing. There are no plans to commission any further reports at this time while we consider the various elements of care mosaic through the work of the Care Development Group, the Regulation of Care Bill, the consultation on the Long Term Care Bill and the implementation of Supporting People. All have implications about how and where care is offered to older and disabled people and will inform expectations about future needs for sheltered and very sheltered housing.

Councils are independent of central Government control and are locally accountable.The Scottish Executive expects local authorities to manage their budgets on the resources available to them.The Accounts Commission for Scotland has the overall responsibility for issues concerning the accounts of local authorities in Scotland. The Controller of Audit may decide to make a report to the Accounts Commission on a particular matter arising out of or in connection with the accounts of any local authority, or the Accounts Commission may ask him to produce such reports as it requires. This is a matter for them.I understand that the council are considering a range of measures which might be taken to address the deficits they have identified. There are no plans to make additional funds available to Scottish Borders Council.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16415.

No specific criteria are set for children with special educational needs (SEN) to be included in mainstream. Under section 15 of the Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc Act 2000, education authorities will be required to include all pupils with special educational needs in mainstream schools except under certain specified circumstances.The needs of all children with SEN are assessed by the relevant education authority to ensure the most appropriate educational provision is made. National circular 4/96 provides advice to education authorities about the statutory arrangements for providing education and undertaking assessments of children and young people with special educational needs.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16415.

Scottish Enterprise Borders have been awarded an additional £6.096 million for the period 1999-2002 to support economic development in the area and the Scottish Executive is continuing to work closely with local agencies to secure sustainable economic development. Since the Scottish Borders was included on the Assisted Areas map in July 2000, £4.1 million in Regional Selective Assistance have been offered to companies in the area, involving the planned creation and safeguarding of some 900 jobs.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16253.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16253.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16253.

The allocation of funding to Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust for the provision of sleep disorder services is a matter for the health boards that commission such services from the Trust. I understand, however, that Lothian Health Board and Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust are conducting a review of the sleep apnoea service provided by the Sleep Centre.Information relating to the numbers of people suffering from sleep apnoea, or on waiting lists for treatment of the condition, is not available centrally.