Chamber and committees

I refer you to my answer of 11 February 2000 about Scottish Executive support for Neighbourhood Watch and other initiatives. Many of the major crime prevention initiatives undertaken by the Scottish Executive are evaluated for their effectiveness. However, some benefits are indirect and others may take several years to feed through to making a direct impact on other parts of the criminal justice system.

Based on the most recent information available, it is estimated that around £1,500.163 million will be raised in non-domestic rates for 1999-2000. We estimate that £1,550 million will be raised in 2000-01, the same in real terms as 1999-2000 after taking into account expected losses from appeals and transitional relief.

RSG is one element of aggregate external finance (AEF), the total central government grant available to local authorities. AEF allocations will increase for 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 from £5,331.557 million to £5,344.734 million, also in real terms.RSG is the balancing factor that makes up each council's share of AEF after specific grants and non-domestic rate income have been allocated. Non-domestic rate income is forecast to increase by up to £190 million in 2000-01 causing a corresponding drop in RSG. Revenue support grant (RSG) for these two years, expressed in real terms using the March 2000 GDP Deflators with base year 1998-99, is therefore £3,443.140 million and £3,252.191 million respectively. Such savings in RSG will remain in the Departmental Expenditure Limit as a provision to cover requirements for additional RSG arising from the impact of NDR appeals, and for other adjustments.

Local authorities provide match funding from within their overall section 94 resources to access capital grants from the European Union. On receipt, the grants automatically enhance a local authority's section 94 capital allocation.

Tenants will be fully involved in the preparation of any proposal for transfer of Glasgow's housing into community ownership, including decisions about future investment and demolition programmes. A transfer will take place only if a majority of tenants vote for it.

The document published on 10 April by the Glasgow Steering Group provides the framework for tenants to take the lead in developing a transfer proposal which delivers housing investment and sustainable communities on an integrated basis. The details of the investment programme, including demolition proposals, of the Glasgow Housing Association will be based on extensive consultations between tenant-led landlords, tenants and others at both city-wide and local levels.

I refer to my answer to S1W-2318.

Raising awareness amongst GPs is the key issue, since early reporting of symptoms and rapid referral to a urologist are essential when symptoms of the disease occur. The Scottish Cancer Group is discussing with GPs and urologists the issuing of guidelines on the urgent referral of these cases.

I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-5615.

The information requested is not held centrally, but will be held locally by each Trust.

As recommended by the Occupational Health and Safety Service Strategy, Towards a Safer Healthier Workplace, a Minimum Dataset working group has been set up to identify minimum datasets relating to health and safety, such as violence. These will set employers a minimum standard of data collection, strengthen local monitoring and provide a platform on which to base local decisions and local action. The group is expected to report to NHS Scottish Partnership Forum at the end of this month.