Chamber and committees

The appointed person's report is being laid before the Parliament and is also being published today.Copies of the report have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 28075).

I have written to the Convenor of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee advising that performance measures have been agreed for this year and enclosed these for the committee's interest. I have lodged copies of my letter and its enclosure with the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 27140).

I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:The information requested is given in the following table.

	1997-98(£000)	1998-99(£000)	1999-2000(£000)	2000-01(£000)	2001-02(£000)	2002-03(£000)	2003-04(£000)
Argyll and Bute
SIP budget	-	-	206	280	411	424	414
Other Regeneration	-	-	-	-	60	60	60
West Dunbartonshire
SIP budget	-	-	2,193	2,052	2,306	2,408	2,456
Other Regeneration	2,209	2,587	-	-	60	60	60"

The Central Heating Installation Programme for local authorities began in April 2000. Under the programme, West Dunbartonshire Council installed central heating in 72 dwellings in 2001-02 and in 36 dwellings in 2002-03. Argyll and Bute installed central heating in 28 dwellings in 2001-02 and in 31 dwellings in 2002-03. All council houses in the areas concerned will have central heating by 31 March 2004, except where the tenant has refused the offer or the building is to be demolished.Eaga administer the Central Heating Installation Programme for owner-occupiers and private renters. They collect statistics by postcode area. The main postcode area for Dunbartonshire is G and Eaga report that they installed free central heating in that area in 1,188 dwellings in 2001-02 and have installed it in 1,689 dwellings in 2002-03 to date. The main postcode area for Argyll and Bute is PA. Eaga installed free central heating in that area in 292 dwellings in 2001-02 and have installed it in 395 dwellings in 2002-03 to date. All owner-occupiers and private renters in the areas concerned who apply for free central heating will have it by 31 March 2006.

No such estimate has been made centrally. The answer given to question S1W-34508 today sets out the number of council dwellings in which central heating has been installed in West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute under the Central Heating Installation Programme in 2001-02 and 2002-03. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa. Both councils will be given sufficient resources for 2003-04 to ensure that all council dwellings have central heating by 31 March 2004, except where the tenant has refused the offer or the building is to be demolished.

Rolled forward targets, for the areas presently covered, have been arrived at following detailed consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Convenors of police authorities. These new targets are being set for the Scottish police to achieve by the year 2005-06.All of the police targets are intended to build on local plans and existing strategies and to provide a national focus for key areas. The Vehicle Crime target also encompasses the existing national target for car crime set by the UK Government in September 1998.These new targets are as follows:Serious Violent Crime:A reduction in the number of recorded incidents of serious violent crime of 5%.An increase in the detection rate of serious violent crime of two percentage points.(Baseline: annual average based on the three financial years 2000-01 to 2002-03)Vehicle Crime:A reduction in the number of recorded incidents of vehicle crime of 15%.(Baseline: annual average based on the three financial years 2000-01 to 2002-03)Drugs:An increase in the weight of Category A drug seizures of 10%.An increase in detection of offences for supply or intent to supply Category A drugs by 10%.(Baseline: annual average based on the three financial years 2000-01 to 2002-03)Housebreaking:A 5% reduction in domestic housebreaking.(Baseline: annual average based on the three financial years 2000-01 to 2002-03)Racist Incidents:An increase in the detection rate of five percentage points.(Baseline: annual average based on the three financial years 2000-01 to 2002-03)Road Policing/Safety:a reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 33%.a reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured by 40%. a reduction in the slight casualty rate by 10%.(Baseline: annual average of five calendar years 1994-98).

It is a matter for local authorities to determine local staffing requirements.

The agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century sets out an improved and simplified career structure for all teachers which is being implemented through the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. This committee includes representatives from COSLA, the teacher organisations and the Scottish Executive. It meets regularly to ensure effective implementation of the agreement.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34609 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The new promoted post structure is detailed in the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers - a tripartite body with representatives from local authorities, teacher organisations and the Scottish Executive is responsible for the implementation of the agreement. The agreement also provides for local bargaining and the responsibility for staffing structures is devolved to the local level. Within the framework provided by the agreement, it is for local authorities to decide what staffing structures best suit their local needs.