Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive receives bulletins of statistical data gathered by the Family Fund Trust, which it uses to inform policy development.

Comparing similar properties, office rentals in the centre of Edinburgh are usually higher than in other parts of Scotland. Whether a saving on office accommodation costs is achievable depends on the actual cost of existing accommodation and the cost of available alternatives elsewhere in Scotland. Given the range of variables it is not possible to provide a meaningful quantification of likely savings. Accommodation costs are only one part of the total running costs of an organisation. For example, the cost of moving existing staff can be significant. Whether there is an overall saving depends on the range of costs and savings identified. The Executive's policy therefore deals with real opportunities on a case by case basis ensuring that meaningful and realistic costings are considered.

Comparing similar properties, office rentals are lower in Tayside than in Edinburgh. Whether a saving on office accommodation costs is achievable depends on the actual cost of existing accommodation and the cost of available alternatives in Tayside. Given the range of variables it is not possible to provide a meaningful quantification of likely savings. Accommodation costs are only one part of the total running costs of an organisation. For example, the cost of moving existing staff can be significant. Whether there is an overall saving depends on the range of costs and savings identified. The Executive's policy therefore deals with real opportunities on a case by case basis ensuring that meaningful and realistic costings are considered.

General information on comparative rental costs for office accommodation in Edinburgh and Dundee is available from the Valuation Office Agency Property Market Report (which is updated every six months in the spring and autumn).

No specific information of this nature is currently available for Scottish Water, since it will depend on decisions which have still to be taken on the structure of the new organisation, including the extent of headquarters functions, the extent to which different functions may or may not be dispersed across the country and the availability of specific property.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16012.

Refugees and asylum seekers with permission from the Home Office to work on either a temporary or a permanent basis are eligible to benefit from European Social Fund grants available since 2000 under the Highlands & Islands Special Transitional Programme, the Objective 2 Western Scotland Programme and the Scottish Objective 3 Programme, provided that the individuals meet the eligibility criteria set out for each programme.In particular, Objective 3 Priority 2 aims to address social exclusion and has one Measure worth 71 million euros over seven years specifically to assist excluded groups such as refugees and asylum seekers.The EQUAL Community Initiative, of which Scotland has been allocated about 33 million euros, will also tackle issues relating to those groups most disadvantaged in the labour market. It will be delivered in Scotland through seven Development Partnerships, which will be operational from November this year. An additional strand - to be administered across the UK by the Department for Education and Employment and worth 19 million euros - will be devoted to action to promote the social and vocational integration of asylum seekers.

Funding of the Verdant Works is the responsibility of the Dundee Heritage Trust. However, I am making arrangements for a meeting with representatives of the Trust to consider their present financial difficulties.A national audit is currently being carried out to establish the relative importance of Scotland's museum collections, buildings and services and the results will inform the allocation of £3 million which we are providing over three years to help put the museum sector on a sounder footing.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15765.

A programme of action-oriented research was commissioned to establish the information and support needed by NHSScotland to meet the needs of people and families from ethnic minority communities. This was not ready for publication in November 2000.As part of this, an initial stocktake of work across Scotland was used to identify the distinctive needs of people and families from ethnic minority communities and the action required to address these needs in a proactive manner. Best practice guidance is currently being drafted and discussions are under way to establish how necessary national support can be delivered. This will be issued for consultation over the summer.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15765.