Chamber and committees

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:The working group has advised me that they expect to report by 26 April 2002 on whether withdrawal of the subsidy might jeopardise the viability of individual RSLs or lead to problems in their making adequate provision for future repairs.

The position of children of asylum seekers and refugees, as regards provision in pre-school education, is the same as for any other child of pre-school age resident in a local authority area. Prior to 1 April 2002, local authorities had the power to provide nursery education for all such children whose parents wish it and from that date are under a duty to do so. As the provision is not compulsory and claims are made on a numerical basis, information relating to asylum seekers provided with pre-school education is not available centrally. I can, however, confirm that asylum seekers are resident in the following authorities:Aberdeen CityAberdeenshireDumfries and GallowayDundee CityEast AyrshireEast DunbartonshireEast LothianEast RenfrewshireCity of Edinburgh, FalkirkFifeGlasgow CityInverclydeNorth AyrshireNorth LanarkshireRenfrewshireStirlingWest Lothian.

Resources amounting to £137 million were made available in financial year 2001-02 to meet the commitment to provide free part-time pre-school education for eligible children whose parents wish it. As far as pre-school education is concerned, children of asylum seekers and refugees are treated in the same way as children born in this country and, as such, would have formed an element of the total number of children for whom grant was claimed. The significant resources available, proved to be sufficient to meet the total level of claims for pre-school education in financial year 2001-02.

Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust presently provide a range of clinical services on the Stonehouse Hospital site. With the opening of new District General Hospitals at Hairmyres and Wishaw, management responsibility for Stonehouse transferred to Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust which will replace the facility with a new build development for the existing 40 continuing care beds and a range of out-patient services.The Primary Care Trust advertised the Stonehouse Hospital project as a Public/Private Partnership project in the Official Journal of the European Community (OJEC) on 4 March 2002. Closure date for expressions of interest is 9 April 2002.

As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-13602, the proposals for a Tenement Bill will require to be redrafted in the light of the Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill as it is passed by Parliament. Some technical redrafting has already occurred, and it is likely that more will be required once the Title Conditions Bill is passed. As intimated in the answer given to question S1W-14294, we hope to bring the Title Conditions Bill before Parliament as soon as an opportunity arises in the legislative programme. It is envisaged that a Tenement Bill will be introduced after the Title Conditions Bill is passed, but it is impossible to predict an exact date as it will depend upon legislative time being found. The updated version of the Tenements (Scotland) Bill is available on the Scottish Law Commission's website at http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/index-1.htm

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21605 on 26 March 2002.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:As at 2 April 2002 there were no persons awaiting deportation held by the Scottish Prison Service.

Under the terms and conditions of Social Inclusion Partnership funding, local authorities as grant recipients are required to keep a register of interests, available on request for inspection by Communities Scotland.

The terms and conditions of Social Inclusion Partnership grant funding place a requirement on the local authority, as grant recipient, to maintain a register of interests which must be made available for inspection by Communities Scotland on request.

The Chief Executive of Communities Scotland is the accountable officer for Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) funding provided by Communities Scotland, and is answerable to the Minister for Social Justice. SIP boards are responsible for making funding allocation decisions, and for ensuring that these decisions are made in the public interest. Financial guidance on this has been provided by the Executive to SIPs, and the terms and conditions of grant funding issued to local authorities as the grant recipients include guidance on conflict of interest. This includes the requirement to hold a register of interests, which must be made available for inspection by Communities Scotland on request.