Chamber and committees

I have asked Bob Millar, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company provides the support team for the Paisley Partnership, and as such its strategic objectives and operational targets flow from the priorities of the partnership itself. In relation to the strategic objectives of the Paisley Partnership specifically, these are not set by the Executive or Communities Scotland centrally. Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) across Scotland are expected to formulate and implement their own strategies locally, based on their understanding of the particular needs of their own community. As a partner on the Paisley Partnership, Communities Scotland would be expected to contribute to the process of formulating and implementing SIP strategy in that area. This would also apply to any non-departmental public bodies on the SIP board. In relation to operational targets, this would be a matter for the Paisley Partnership and Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company with, as above, no central role for either Communities Scotland and the Executive, but with a local input as partners on the SIP.

The preferred bidder has started preliminary site preparation work this week, covered by a pre-contract agreement in advance of the formal contract.

Responsibility for essential functions, such as National Occupational Standards and Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks, for sectors which are not be covered by an individual Sector Skills Council rests with the Sector Skills Development Agency.

The information requested is given in the following table.Mortality Rates from Coronary Heart Disease¹ Per 100,000 Population², 1996-2001

Year	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
Hamilton North and Bellshill	274	314	259	286	266	232
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	309	359	292	327	263	256
Scotland	286	274	262	261	245	235

Notes:1. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes 410-414 (1996 to 1999) and Tenth Revision codes 120-125 (2000 and 2001), ischaemic heart disease.2. The rates for the parliamentary constituencies were calculated using population data from the 2001 Census. The rates for Scotland have been calculated using the latest available mid-year population estimates. Those for 1996 to 2000 are subject to revision to make them consistent with population results from the 2001 Census. The rates have not been age standardised.

There is no information on which to base such an estimate. Any local authority stock in these postcode areas which currently lacks central heating should have it by 31 March 2004. Any housing association stock which currently lacks central heating should have it during March 2004. Owner-occupiers and private renters who lack central heating will be given every encouragement to apply and all eligible households should receive it by 31 March 2006 at the latest.

Guidance on the development of service provision for psychostimulant users, including cocaine and crack cocaine, was issued last August by the Executive's Effective Interventions Unit, based on the work of the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse. Training modules on dealing with those with psychostimulant problems have been available from STRADA (Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol) since November 2002. It is for Drug Action Teams and their local partners to assess the level of need in their areas and to ensure that the treatment needs of their local drug using population are met. Individual Drug Action Teams will be asked to detail the work they have undertaken on psychostimulants in this year's Corporate Action Plans.I understand that, whilst the areas in question have not identified a need for specific services for cocaine and crack cocaine users, training has been commissioned for staff of existing services to ensure that they are able to meet the needs of users, should they present to services.

Staffing issues are, in the first instance, for the appropriate NHS boards and trusts. However, at a national level, action has been taken to tackle shortages in dentistry.In April last year, I announced a £1 million package of measures to encourage the recruitment and retention of the newly qualified dentists in Scotland. Earlier this month, I then announced a further £6 million package of measures to improve access to NHS dental treatment and modernise Scotland's dental practices, broken down to provide £3 million for new and enhanced incentives to support recruitment and retention in NHSScotland, and £3 million for dental improvements to NHS dental practices.

The role of the Sector Skills Development Agency is to guide, core-fund and monitor the evolving sector skills council network. Its role is independent of that of other bodies such as Sector Skills Alliance Scotland.

Any collective representation of the interests of sector skills councils is a matter for those employer-led councils to determine for themselves.

There are presently five Trailblazer Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in place, provisionally licensed to March 2004, and a further nine aspirant SSCs in development. The Sector Skills Development Agency expects to have (a) 10 SSCs licensed by September 2003, (b) a further eight by March 2004 and (c) a further five by March 2005.