Chamber and committees

Delivering for Health (Bib. number 37847), The Scottish Executive’s response to the Kerr Report (Bib. number 36608), makes it clear that we now expect NHS boards and Regional Planning Groups to use the Kerr Report to drive their service improvement. The document contains timelines which set out the actions we now expect from the constituent parts of the NHS by particular dates.

The Health Department’s new Delivery Group will monitor the full sets of commitments made in Delivering for Health and will publish progress reports.

The needs of frail older people will continue to be assessed by GPs, health visitors, OTs and social workers as required. However Delivering for Health (Bib. number 37847), the Scottish Executive’s response to the Kerr Report (Bib. number 36608), commits the Health Department to the development of a risk prediction tool by 2006 which will allow for the identification of those liable to hospitalisation. NHS boards will then be expected to provide comprehensive, integrated care for those with the most complex health care needs and greatest vulnerability to emergency hospital admission.

The Executive provides fundingfor flood protection only to local authorities, as they are best placed to assessthe local need. Funding is in the form of specific capital grants for confirmedflood prevention schemes and revenue support for other operations to protect non-agriculturalland. However, local authorities can contribute towards the costs of anyone carryingout flood prevention measures, that the local authority is empowered to do, underthe Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961. Such contributions are entirely a matter forthe local authority concerned.

The fees for such applications,as amended by The Electricity (Applications for Consent) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations2005 (2005 No. 295), which came into effecton 1 July 2005, are as follows:

Subject Matter of Application for Consent	Fee
1. Construction or construction and operation of a generating station of megawatt capacity -
(a) not exceeding 100	£15,000.00
(b) exceeding 100 but not exceeding 200	£20,000.00
(c) exceeding 200 but not exceeding 500	£30,000.00
(d) exceeding 500	£50,000.00
2. Extension or extension and operation of a generating station resulting in increase in megawatt capacity -
(a) not exceeding 100	£15,000.00
(b) exceeding 100 but not exceeding 200	£20,000.00
(c) exceeding 200 but not exceeding 500	£30,000.00
(d) exceeding 500	£50,000.00
3. Any other extension of a generating station	£1,000.00
4. Operation only or change to manner of operation of a generating station	£1,000.00

 

These fees replace those in placesince 1990 and are shared between the Executive and the relevant planning authorityin order to contribute to the costs to each of processing these applications.

The Executive has responded witha conditional offer of financial support for the council’s rescoped PPP project.

Care services defined in theRegulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001, whether in the public, private or voluntarysectors, are regulated by the Care Commission. Providers are required by regulationsto ensure that their employees receive training appropriate to the work they areto perform and to give suitable assistance for the purpose of obtaining furtherqualifications appropriate to their work. The National Care Standards also providefurther guidance on staff training requirements where appropriate.

The Scottish Social ServicesCouncil, established under the same at, is the regulatory body for the social serviceworkforce. To register with the council, workers will be required to meet conditions.These include meeting the qualifications criteria for the job they are doing, asset by the council. Registration of the workforce is being carried out in phases.The next groups of workers to be registered are Managers of Adult Care Homes andManagers of Adult Day Care services. Registration of these workers will commenceby 1 January 2006.

All the road safety and Route Accident Reduction Plan measures in the plan have been implemented as have the traffic calming and traffic management measures at various communities along the route. The provision of overtaking opportunity schemes is being developed.

Guidance on the provision of equipment and adaptations to people of all ages is summarised in Using the Law to Develop and Improve Equipment and Adaptation Provision published by The Scottish Executive in 2003, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 28304).

No; the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002 specifies the services that people can receive as free personal care and these do not include meals on wheels.

Our guidance indicates that meals on wheels services are not included in free personal care. The guidance issued to local authorities explicitly states this, and the free personal care leaflet and the Scottish Executive website, which are aimed at members of the public, both exclude meals on wheels from the services listed under free personal care.