Chamber and committees

Funding specific to tackling running away and children abused through prostitution is not separately identified or monitored, but the Executive is providing resources for a wide range of initiatives focused on the overall development and well-being of children, to help address many of the underlying causes. These include the Changing Children's Services Fund, Sure Start Scotland and New Community Schools.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26268.

The intention is that the second report of the Housing Improvement Task Force should be published by spring 2003.

The Scottish Executive has awarded funding of just under £100,000 over three years to Aberlour Childcare Trust for their Running Other Choices project. This project aims to help young people to find solutions to the circumstances which have caused them to run away from home and to find alternatives to running. In addition, the Scottish Executive provides funding to a range of charities providing services for vulnerable children and young people including runaways.

The Scottish Executive funds a wide range of charities providing services for vulnerable children and young people including those abused through prostitution. These include ChildLine Scotland, Children First and Who Cares Scotland.

The working group hopes to reach initial conclusions by the autumn with a view to consulting on proposals by the end of the year.

The Working Group on Young Runaways and Children Abused through Prostitution consists of a number of officials from across the Executive and representatives from: Barnardo's Scotland; Aberlour Child Care Trust; ChildLine Scotland; the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland; Children's Panel Chairs' Group; Community Education Managers Scotland; Crown Office; Scottish Children's Reporter Administration; Child Protection Committees; The Big Step Social Inclusion Partnership, and the Association of Directors of Social Work. The initial work is being carried out in correspondence and meetings will be convened as required.

Local authorities already have powers under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 to provide short-term refuges for children. The need for flexible forms of refuge provision is one issue which will be considered by the Working Group on Young Runaways and Children Abused through Prostitution.

The recommendations are helping to inform the work of the Working Group on Young Runaways and Children Abused Through Prostitution. We are keeping in close contact with progress on the Social Exclusion Unit project and will consider which of the emerging conclusions are appropriate in the Scottish context.

Information is not readily available in the form requested. In Glasgow Sheriff Court from 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 a total of £893,454 was remitted to the exchequer in payment of fines. This will in part relate to fines imposed in previous years.