Chamber and committees

Following a public local inquiry, the Scottish Ministers accepted the Reporter's recommendation that a planning application for wheelchair access at the west door of St Giles Cathedral be refused. This decision was intimated in the Scottish Executive Development Department's letter of 10 September 1999. It is for the applicants to come forward with acceptable alternative proposals for wheelchair access.Significantly, Disability Scotland, which aims to be the national voice of the disabled movement in Scotland, are also in favour of an alternative point of access. In their view, alternative means of providing access for disabled people, most notably at the north door, would be reasonable access and would also provide a sociably acceptable, independent point of access into the cathedral, as well as being more acceptable in planning terms.

Government funding for sport is channelled through sportscotland and decisions on priorities are a matter for them within the overall grant-in-aid allocation provided by the Department. Speedway is not recognised as a sports activity for the purposes of grant aid and other services. sportscotland has no record of discussions or correspondence about this project.

The Healthy Homes Initiative reflects our commitment to tackling dampness and is a national priority for housing investment. Under our programme substantial resources are available through capital allocations to local authorities for their own stock and for improvement and repairs grants in the private sector. New Housing Partnerships will also result in significant improvements in stock condition. The Warm Deal is central to the Initiative and 100,000 low-income households will benefit during the lifetime of this Administration.

In addition to the Domestic Abuse Service Development Fund, details of which I announced on 27 October 1999, there are other sources of funding for domestic abuse projects. For example, a number of projects are being funded through the Social Inclusion Partnerships that target issues concerning violence against women. In the current financial year £982,940 has been allocated for such projects. Local authorities financial settlement is the most generous for 7 years with spending set to rise by £840 million over the next 3 years to 2001-02. Next year local authority spending (GSE) is set to rise by 3.6% with the total available for Social Work Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) rising by nearly 4%.

The Healthy Homes Initiative reflects our commitment to tackling dampness and is a national priority for housing investment. Under our programme substantial resources are available through capital allocations to local authorities for their own stock and for improvement and repairs grants in the private sector. New Housing Partnerships will also result in significant improvements in stock condition. The Warm Deal is central to the Initiative and 100,000 low-income households will benefit during the lifetime of this Administration.

We announced our intention to set up the Task Force on 17 June and the remit and membership on 15 August. The group met for the first time on 25 August. The Task Force has been asked to produce an initial report within 6 months so that any proposed amendments to the homelessness legislation can be considered for inclusion in next year's housing bill.

We announced our intention to set up the Task Force on 17 June and the remit and membership on 15 August. The group met for the first time on 25 August. The Task Force has been asked to produce an initial report within 6 months so that any proposed amendments to the homelessness legislation can be considered for inclusion in next year's housing bill.

Health Boards continue to work with their local authority partners in addressing all avenues to reduce and, where possible, remove delays in discharge from NHS Care.We are aware that an increase in referrals from St Johns Hospital for residential and nursing home places has resulted in an increase in the number of patients awaiting discharge in West Lothian. Lothian Health Board, the West Lothian Healthcare NHS Trust and West Lothian Council are working together to address the issue.The Trust is considering additional funding to facilitate the placement of a number of patients currently occupying orthopaedic beds and West Lothian Council is looking to temporarily increase the number of places in its residential care homes to meet the needs of 10 patients currently awaiting places in Council residential homes.

Home owners with a mortgage are currently benefiting from low interest rates. To reduce the cost of house purchase we are keen to support sellers surveys. We are also currently studying whether legislation could help to safeguard those with mortgages who get into temporary financial difficulties.

Home owners with a mortgage are currently benefiting from low interest rates. To reduce the cost of house purchase we are keen to support sellers surveys. We are also currently studying whether legislation could help to safeguard those with mortgages who get into temporary financial difficulties.