Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive feedback on initial Partnership in Practice Agreements will shortly be available on the learning disability review website at www.scotland.gov.uk/ldsr, as will the revised Partnership in Practice agreements. There are no plans to publish an assessment of the revised Partnership in Practice Agreements.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31136. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31136 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Information about change funds allocated to each local authority in each year from 2001-02 to 2003-04 will shortly be available on the learning disability review website at www.scotland.gov.uk/ldsr. This will include information about the use of change funds in each area for 2001-02.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31129 on 11 November 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The proposed nutrient standards are one of a number of recommendations in the Expert Panel's interim report which is currently out for consultation. We will consider what action to take once we receive the panel's final report later this year.

The Minister for Finance and Public Services announced on 24 May support of £5.4 million to a consortium of local authorities led by COSLA to develop services to young people in the 12-18 age group, alongside the development of a young persons smartcard. The smartcard development will explore a range of applications including school meals and cashless vending. We look forward to receiving the consortia's final project plan by 30 September. This Modernising Government Fund two proposal builds on the pilot project in two Aberdeen City schools supported by the first round of the Modernising Government Fund.The proposal to introduce a school meals application for multiple use cards in secondary schools is one of a number of recommendations in the panel's interim report currently out for consultation. We expect the panel's final report later this year.

In addition to the work of The Same as You? National Implementation Group, the Scottish Executive is monitoring implementation of The Same as You? through contact with local authorities, Scottish Health Advisory Service inspections, the NHS Performance Assessment Framework, and statistical information collected by the Scottish Executive Social Work Statistics Division. The development of a Learning Disabilities database will also assist in future monitoring.

The process of appointing local area co-ordinators across Scotland has only begun recently, and will take some time. Most local authorities have given a commitment to appoint local area co-ordinators by the end of 2002.

Significant progress has been made with all 29 recommendations of The Same as You? review of services for people with learning disability. Particular milestones include the setting up of Learning Disability Change Funds with effect from April 2001, totalling £36 million in the first three years; establishment of the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability, launched on five October 2001, and preparation of Partnership in Practice agreements in every area in Scotland. Working with The Same as You? Implementation Group we will continue to work to ensure progress is maintained.