Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that the third sector makes to supporting our economic recovery, creating employment and skills opportunities as well as improving public services and supporting communities. There is a range of support provided by the Scottish Government to third sector bodies to support their business activities and development, some of which support core costs.

Approximately £7 million a year has been made available through the Unified Voluntary Sector Fund (UVSF) since 2004 to support such third sector bodies; this includes Adoption UK Scotland.

The UVSF has recently been reviewed and the Review Group’s report and recommendations are now with the Minister for Children and Young People. The Scottish Government’s response to this report will be published in due course.

The Scottish Government’s priority for all children who are at risk of, or are in care is to provide them with a safe, stable, nurturing and permanent home at the earliest opportunity.

For children whose needs are best met by being adopted, the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 makes clear the need to assess and provide for the ongoing needs of each child.

Where this is done well a child should not need to be subject to further corporate parenting.

Data on the number of families who have been unsuccessful in adopting in each of the last 10 years is not held centrally.

Data on the number of families who have adopted in each of the last 10 years is not held centrally.

The total number of adoptions from 2002 to 2010 is 3,886 including familial adoptions.

The Scottish Government does not routinely monitor the delivery of post adoption support. This is the responsibility of each local authority. However, the Scottish Government is currently reviewing the Adoption Services Plans provided by local authorities in advance of the forth coming children’s legislation, in part to determine whether changes are needed to how adopters are supported.

Data on the number of adoptions that have broken down in each of the last 10 years is not held centrally.

The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 requires local authorities to assess the need for support, including accessing education.

Monitoring of this is a matter for local authorities and this information is not held centrally.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills are currently producing Sector Skills Assessments (SSAs) containing sectoral information at the Scottish level.

The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils will continue to work on a UK-wide basis. In its revised form the alliance will continue to position SSCs effectively by:

Promoting SSCs as the primary voice of employers on skills issues

Representing SSCs’ interests in skills policy and strategy development

Articulating the collective impact of SSCs

Serving as a single point of contact for external partners and stakeholders

Keeping members abreast of relevant strategic developments.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills are producing Sector Skills Assessments (SSAs) containing sectoral information at the Scottish level.

Modern apprenticeships in the gas industry are not being replaced. Energy and Utility Skills, the Sector Skill Council for the gas industry, are currently developing new qualifications which will be submitted to the Scottish Qualification Authority for accreditation. It will be for Energy and Utility Skills to consult with employers about the development of a modern apprenticeship framework including the new qualifications.