Chamber and committees

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3789 on 11 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

We are currently consideringoptions for a publicity campaign to raise awareness of the new offence.

We would be preparedto discuss the review of sportscotland with the committee. I am meeting with the Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee on 19 September and this would be a timelyopportunity to explore the issues and listen to the committee’s views beforeany decisions are taken on the future of sportscotland.

I recently met membersof the former Adult Entertainment Working Group, including the former Chair, LindaCostelloe Baker, to discuss its report and options for taking its recommendationsforward. I plan to set out soon how we will take the recommendations forward.

The Scottish Government’sSkills Strategy, launched on 10 September, confirms our commitment to providingopportunities for everyone to contribute to Scotland’s prosperity, to encouraging the integration of employment and skills services,and to addressing the skills needs of people furthest from the labour market. Weare continuing to support Workforce Plus implementation plans in seven priorityareas and in other local authority areas implementing the strategy voluntarily.I will be reviewing longer term plans for the employability strategy in the comingmonths.

The primary purposeof the Housing Supply Task Force is to tackle blockages that are preventing theconstruction of housing across Scotland. The focus will be on action to address theseimpediments and at this stage it is not envisaged that specially-commissioned researchwill be a feature of the task force’s activities. Task force members will be contributingtheir in-depth understandings of the issues to the meetings and are best placedto inform discussion on these issues.

There is an expectation,however, that all research commissioned by the Scottish Government is publishedon the Scottish Government website as soon as a final report can be made available.Should any research be commissioned to support the task force, this would be publishedin the normal way.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3785 on 11 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Prostitution (PublicPlaces) (Scotland) Act 2007 will come into force on 15 October 2007.

The Scottish Governmenthas held a series of meetings with the chair and senior staff of sportscotland,the Scottish Institute of Sport and has had discussions with staff from the WelshAssembly Government. Further meetings are planned with the Scottish Sports Association,COSLA and VOCAL.

On 5 September 2007, Glasgow Works, the employability partnership in thecity, launched its Workforce Plus/DWP City Strategy Business Plan, which is supportedby Scottish Government funding. This ambitious plan to increase the city’s employmentrate and reduce the numbers dependent on DWP benefits will be implemented acrossthe city over the coming four years. Scottish Government officials will continueto work with and support the partnership throughout implementation.