Chamber and committees

No meetings have been heldwith the Community Transport Association (CTA) regarding the formulation andimplementation of single outcome agreements. Officials have recently discussed the effects of the Strategic SpendingReview 2007 on the funding of community transport by telephone with the CTA’sDirector for Scotland. However, he neither raised the issue of singleoutcome agreements nor requested a meeting with officials.

Further information onsingle outcome agreements can be found at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publication/2007/11/13092240.

No meetings have been heldwith the Community Transport Association (CTA) regarding the formulation andimplementation of the national indicators and targets. Officials have recently discussed the effects of theStrategic Spending Review 2007 on the funding of community transport bytelephone with the CTA’s Director for Scotland. However, he did not request a meeting with officialsto discuss national indicators and targets.

Further information on nationalindicators and targets can be found at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publication/2007/11/13092240.

No meetings are planned withthe Community Transport Association (CTA) regarding the formulation andimplementation of national indicators and targets. Officials have recently discussed the effects of theStrategic Spending Review 2007 on the funding of community transport bytelephone with the CTA’s Director for Scotland. However, he neither raised the issue of nationalindicators and targets nor requested a meeting with officials.

Further information on nationalindicators and targets can be found at:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publication/2007/11/13092240.

Our historic concordat with localgovernment means that central and local government have, for the first time, a sharedset of national outcomes and indicators. Each council will develop a Single OutcomeAgreement with the Scottish Government, and we are working to have these in placeby April 2008. Local and central government will work in partnership to deliverthese shared outcomes.

The concordat details those grantswhich will no longer be ring-fenced. The removal of bureaucracy and regulation aroundthese will allow local authorities to operate more efficiently and with greaterflexibility and freedom than ever before. Reinstating the ring fencing would bea very last resort only if the partnership was failing to deliver. I have no reasonto anticipate that will happen.

The meeting referred to was undertakenby Mr Salmond in his capacity as constituency MSP. I was not consulted nor was itnecessary to do so.

The Scottish Government has metnumerous housing organisations to discuss the wide ranging proposals set out inFirm Foundations, including tenant representative organisations, the Conventionof Scottish Local Authorities, Shelter, the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland,the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the West of Scotland Forum of HousingAssociations, Registered Social Landlords, the Association of Local Authority ChiefHousing Officers and Employers in Voluntary Housing. Further meetings with tenantand housing organisations are planned to take place before the end of the Firm Foundationsconsultation period.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7589 on 20 December 2007. All answers to written questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be foundat http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Firm Foundations does not proposea single regional registered social landlord (RSL) developer. Rather, it proposeschannelling subsidy to one developer who would take the lead in delivering new housingfor a number of RSLs across a specified area, over a period of several years. the Scottish Government will consult on its proposals for introducing large scalecompetition for subsidy next year.

No meetings have yet been heldwith organisations representing disabled or older people about the removal of thering fence on Supporting People, but discussions with a wide range of stakeholdersare planned between now and March 2008. Local authorities will continue to havea responsibility to support the most vulnerable people in their communities, ensuringfor example that their needs are reflected in local housing strategies. We expecthousing support services to have an important role to play in helping to achieveseveral of the new national indicators, and removing the ring fencing will allowmore flexible construction of support packages for individuals.

However, we recognise concernsexist in any transition period. We therefore look forward to discussing with COSLA,local authorities, providers and others how to best ensure that vulnerable peoplecontinue to be effectively supported, looking for example at how the interests of the most vulnerable in our society can be appropriately reflected in single outcomeagreements with local authorities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7593 on 20 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.