Chamber and committees

If an applicant consideredthat an application had not been properly considered then that applicant mightchallenge the grant made on the basis that it should have been made in terms of the regulations made under Part 13 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (asamended). A person who was not the applicant might challenge the award ofhigher grants than provided for in the regulations on the basis that it was anunfair or improper use of the council’s resources. In either case, the personshould in the first instance complain to the local authority in accordance withits formal complaints procedure and if that did not resolve the issue could,depending on the circumstances, make a complaint to the Scottish PublicServices Ombudsman. The person might choose to initiate a judicial review.

The authority’s auditorscould also qualify the authority’s accounts if they found that it had madepayments that were not in accordance with the regulations.

Most grants are funded byPrivate Sector Housing Grant given by the Scottish Executive to localauthorities. If a local authority was not operating in accordance with thelegislation, appropriate funding could be clawed back in terms of theconditions on which Private Sector Housing Grant had been made.

All localregistered bus services and long-distance scheduled coach services in Scotland arepart of the Scotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people. All busoperators will be paid at the rate of 73.6% of the average adult single fare toensure that they are no better and no worse off through taking part than they wouldbe if there was no scheme.

The latest available informationis from the 2001 census. The number of  all-pensioner households in the DG postcode andScotland were 17,797 and 514,692, respectively.

Funding is available forlearners resident anywhere in Scotland to set up individual learning accounts, including inthe Dumfries and Galloway area.

The delivery agenciesresponsible for enabling learners to set up individual learning accounts arethe Student Awards Agency for Scotland and learndirect scotland.

Chapter 7 of the Review ofUrban Gulls and their Management in Scotland outlines the wide range of powersavailable to local authorities to deal with the various problems caused by urbangulls. Chapter 8 provides best practice recommendations, including guidance on variousmitigation techniques.

As the report already providesextensive information and guidance, I should like to hear the views of the PetitionsCommittee and local authorities before considering whether further guidance fromthe Executive could contribute anything further.

The Confederation ofPassenger Transport and local authority and disability representatives wereincluded on task groups set up to advise on the development of theScotland-wide free bus scheme for older and disabled people. These task groups consideredaspects of equity of access, including which coach and bus services would beeligible in the scheme and the eligibility criteria for individuals.

Portable oxygen has been availableon prescription since 1 April 2004.

The preferred cylinders for thesupply of portable oxygen at present on the Scottish Drug Tariff are 300 litresPD and 430 litres B2i cylinders.

The Environmental Statement,which has to be published with the draft orders, required additional work to meetthe quality requirements of Transport Scotland.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:

Private Sector Housing Granthas only been available as direct grant since 2004 and has achieved full spendin the last two years.

Dumfries and Galloway’s baseline allocations were £0.652 million for 2004-05and £0.652 for 2005-06. These were based on their average expenditure on thisprogramme from 2001.

These allocations wereincreased during the course of these two years as follows:

Year	Baseline	Additional funding for specific bids	Additional funding for Disabled Adaptations	Additional funding for Care and Repair	Total
2004-05	£0.652m	£2.478m	£0.000m	£0.125m	£3.255m
2005-06	£0.652m	£2.478m	£0.300m	£0.125m	£3.555m

 

None of this was from end-yearflexibility but from ministerial approval to increase spend in what they regardas a priority programme. This was done for all councils.

The specific fundingallocated for drug and alcohol treatment services in Scotland andDumfries and Galloway since 2000-01 is detailed as follows.

Year	Scotland		Dumfries and Galloway
	Drugs	Alcohol	Drugs	Alcohol
2000-01	£12,352,000	-	£124,000	-
2001-02	£14,973,000	-	£298,000	-
2002-03	£16,952,000	-	£258,000	-
2003-04	£16,952,000	-	£258,000	-
2004-05	£19,752,000	£3,000,000	£271,000	£108,000
2005-06	£23,769,000	£9,900,000	£482,000	£359,000
2006-07	£23,769,000	£9,900,000	£482,000	£359,000