Chamber and committees

The Council has sent us a copy of their Business Plan and are awaiting endorsement of the plan from their external consultants. Once we have the consultant's view we will provide any comments on the plan to the Council.

According to combined data from the Family Resources Survey for 1996-97 and 1997-98, approximately one third of lone parents in Scotland had a total income after tax and National Insurance contributions of less than £140 per week. Income is from all sources including employment, Social Security Benefits and investments.

This information is not currently available. The Scottish Executive Central Research Unit are reviewing the potential for the extension of existing studies of the circumstances of lone parents to accommodate the collection of more detailed health data for this group. However, Health Boards, when preparing their Health Improvement Plans are required to address such health inequalities as may exist within their respective areas, and to take account of the needs of specific population groups, including lone parents, along with other priority topics.

There are no published figures on overall job loss or job creation for Scotland.Civilian Workforce Jobs series data, which are available quarterly on a seasonally unadjusted basis, show that the number of manufacturing jobs in Scotland fell by 10,000 to 306,000 between March 1997 and March 1999.

There is no clear definition of malnutrition. Malnutrition can mean both under nourishment as well as over nourishment. The programmes for monitoring the nutritional status of children throughout the UK has shown that most children are adequately nourished, but that there is a persistent rise in the numbers overweight and obese. For adults, Scottish Health Survey data indicate that, whilst only 6.9% of Scots in the 16-64 age group were classed as underweight, 51.4% were classed as either overweight or obese. Eating a healthy and balanced diet and keeping physically active together help people to maintain appropriate body weight. The Scottish Executive is pursuing a range of initiatives to encourage and support the population to make the necessary changes to their diet and physical activity levels.

The Scottish Executive provides support costs to allow partnerships to set up dedicated teams to improve programme delivery and co-ordination, totalling £1.2 million. Furthermore up to 2.5% of Social Inclusion Partnerships' revenue budgets can be allocated to meet administration costs. The Scottish Executive does not require Social Inclusion Partnerships to report itemised details of expenditure.

Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations, as indicated in the answer to S1W-1367 (also answered today). Information about the evaluative analysis regarding Full-Time Education and Training is included in that answer.

Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations, as indicated in the answer to S1W-1367 (also answered today). Information about the evaluative analysis regarding the Environment Task Force is included in that answer.

Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisations at local level also provide New Deal Services under contract or provide funds and other resources, including training funds to enhance the quality of New Deal in their areas. The public and voluntary sector organisations which contribute to the New Deal in this way fall within the remit of the Scottish Executive.

The evaluation of the New Deal, including all individual strands, is conducted on a national (GB) basis. Samples are designed to be as representative as possible and evaluation reports are published by the Employment Service. Copies of the twelve reports published to date have been placed in the Parliament Reference Centre. In addition, a major quantitative survey of New Deal participants has been commissioned in Scotland and a report of the findings should be available in January 2000.Some further evaluation work of the Full-Time Education and Training Option in Scotland is being undertaken by HM Inspectorate of Schools in conjunction with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Island Enterprise. The outcome of this work will not be available until early in the New Year.

Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations, as indicated in the answer to S1W-1367 (also answered today). Information about the evaluative analysis regarding the Employment strand of the New Deal is included in that answer.