Chamber and committees

It is intended that the steering group will meet for the first time in the autumn. It will be chaired by the head of the Criminal Justice Group in the Justice Department and will involve representatives from the Crown Office, local authorities, the police, the health service, the Scottish Prison Service, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Courts Service and the voluntary sector.

Research is being carried out in Scotland by the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science at Glasgow University in relation to the detection of benzodiazepines, in particular flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), in hair.

In Scotland, the curriculum is not prescribed by statute and delivery is a matter for local authorities and schools. The Scottish Executive's policy is to ensure that guidance to education authorities and schools and the framework of national qualifications provide opportunities for raising awareness of child sexual abuse and domestic violence at every level of the school curriculum.All education authorities in Scotland have guidelines and procedures for child protection to ensure the safety and well being of children and young people and to protect those adults working with them.There are no plans to change current policy.

Allocations for each local authority area (2002-03) are noted in the table. Proposals have been received against all 32 allocations. The overall aim of the Changing Children's Service Fund is to encourage better integration of all resources available for children's services across the statutory and voluntary sectors. Proposals are therefore expected to demonstrate evidence of genuine partnership working across these sectors.

Local Authority	Allocation 2002-03(£000's)
Aberdeen City	871
Aberdeenshire	1,123
Angus	539
Argyll and Bute	463
Clackmannanshire	258
Dumfries and Galloway	814
Dundee City	910
East Ayrshire	675
East Dunbartonshire	343
East Lothian	408
East Renfrewshire	300
Edinburgh, City of	1,966
Eilean Siar	173
Falkirk	688
Fife	1,712
Glasgow City	4,488
Highland	1222
Inverclyde	483
Midlothian	380
Moray	406
North Ayrshire	823
North Lanarkshire	1,747
Orkney Islands	116
Perth and Kinross	638
Renfrewshire	928
Scottish Borders	515
Shetland Islands	148
South Ayrshire	514
South Lanarkshire	1,513
Stirling	416
West Dunbartonshire	632
West Lothian	787
Scotland	27,000

Data is only available for the last three years.Records indicate that there have been no reports of offences involving child prostitution in that period.

Voluntary organisations will normally be enrolled within three weeks of receipt of the completed enrolment form. This is the case as long as the appropriate documentary evidence, such as confirmation of the lead signatory's identity and relevant policy statements (covering child, or vulnerable adult protection, rehabilitation of offenders details and secure handling and storage of information and details of the organisation's structure, management and funding), are provided at the time of application.Delays can occur where any of these items are incomplete or unavailable.

Disclosure Scotland has a working agreement to process and return 90% of applications for a disclosure within 10 working days.

Following the appointment of the Head of the Central Registered Body Scotland (CRBS) and the Information and Training Officer on 3 January 2002, a number of measures were taken to transmit information to the sector about the work of the unit. This included:

1. Leaflets were produced and disseminated to Volunteer Centres throughout Scotland during the first weeks of January 2002 advising interested parties of the contact details of the unit and giving a brief outline of the purpose and function of the unit.
2. A register of interested organisations was opened on 3 January 2002 and a substantial number of organisations have since registered.
3. Staff of the CRBS participated in a series of 11 seminars arranged by Disclosure Scotland, which were held throughout the country during February and early March 2002.
4. In addition CRBS also held 55 seminars and briefings for organisations throughout the country up to the end of May 2002.

During this time CRBS has also had to address the needs and requirements of national UK organisations by holding briefings and training sessions. CRBS has its own web page within that of Volunteer Development Scotland. Articles have also been prepared and have appeared in Keeping You Posted, the newsletter of Volunteer Development Scotland, and in various other newsletters.

The reasons why young people become involved in prostitution are many and complex. Some surveys have shown linkages between child abuse and prostitution. In one reported survey by the Children's Society 50 young adults who were, or had been, involved in prostitution were interviewed. 50% said that their first sexual experience had been of abuse and a quarter had been abused before they reached the age of 10.

The Scottish Executive has received three representations regarding the licensing of lap dancing clubs.