Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom government on a wide range of issues including the proposed changes to the Race Relations Act 1976.

Funding has been provided as follows:

1995-96: £7,214,576

1996-97: £7,599,394

1997-98: £8,594,881

1998-99: £7,950,973

1999-2000: £8,545,442

In addition, in 1996-97 payments totalling £3.5m were made from a Transitional Fund set up to provide assistance to local voluntary organisations as one-off financial support to take account of the effects of local government reorganisation in Scotland.In 1998-99 £0.8m was paid in addition to voluntary organisations to compensate for late decisions on ESF Objective 3 Grants.

A pilot exercise to assess the reasons for delayed discharges from NHS care has not yet produced the comprehensive detail required to provide the information requested. Work involving the key agencies is continuing to develop information systems that will provide the necessary detail.

On the basis of information currently available for 13 of the 15 health board areas, in the 35,524* average available staffed beds in Scotland, there are 2,015 patients whose discharge has been delayed, for a variety of possible reasons, by more than the two days referred to in the pilot definition. (* Source ISD Scotland, 1998-99 provisional figures-excluding joint user and contractual beds)

The information is laid out in the table below.Gross Expenditure^(1)(2)(3) on Community Care by Local Authorities (£'000s)

Client Group(4)	1993-94(5)	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97	1997-98(6)
Adults with mental health problems	15,280	25,920	33,151	40,988	39,522
Adults with learning difficulties	85,199	93,182	116,239	129,103	141,543
Physically disabled adults	51,218	55,169	60,502	62,237	45,890
Older people(5)	308,316	208,531	230,364	226,166	319,336
Substance misuse	5,407	10,659	11,797	10,829	9,658
HIV/AIDS	1,154	1,822	2,161	1,269	1,906
Services for all community care client groups	n/a	209,344	253,870	313,237	273,852
Total Expenditure	466,575	604,627	708,082	783,829	831,707

Source: Data supplied by local authorities on statistical form Local Financial Return (LFR3 Social Work).

1. The gross expenditure includes an estimated apportionment for revenue contributions to capital and support services costs.

2. Loan charges are excluded.

3. All inter account and inter authority transfers are deducted from expenditure.

4. The Social Work client groups have been updated in line with the new CIPFA guidelines on accounting for social services.

5. The introduction of a new category "services for all community care client groups" in 1994-95 may have caused discontinuity in the time series. Care should be taken when comparing figures before and after this period. For example, a significant amount of the expenditure classified as for 'older people' in 1993/94, will have been recorded as 'Services for all community care client groups' in 1994-95 onwards.6. 1997-98 data are provisional and may be subject to revision.

I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-720.

I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-720.

The commitment to examine the provision of interpreting and translating services in the criminal justice system featured in The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry - An Action Plan for Scotland. It will be for the Deputy First Minister's Steering Group on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry to decide an appropriate programme of work and to set achievable target dates. His Group will also take into account responses to the consultation on the action plan.

Consultation involving the key enforcement agencies is continuing. When a programme for setting up the Drug Enforcement Agency has been agreed, an announcement will be made. It is intended to make this before the end of the year. The agencies involved in the discussions are the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the Scottish Criminal Record Office and the Crown Office.

I refer the member to page 11 of "An Action Plan for Scotland", the Scottish Executive's response to The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry which was launched on Tuesday 20 July, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. In the report we have acknowledged that the current provision of interpretation services to victims of crime and their families is not consistent in its delivery. As a consequence, the Scottish Executive, in consultation with ACPOS, COSLA and other interested parties, will be examining the provision and standard of interpretation and translating services across the criminal justice system.

Entry requirements for the Scottish Premier Division are a matter for the Scottish Premier League. Government Ministers would not normally seek to intervene in matters that are the responsibility of the relevant football authorities.The then Secretary of State did, however, grant Falkirk Football Club planning permission in May 1996 for the development of a 15,000 all-seater football stadium and associated facilities at Westfield Farm, Falkirk. Following a recent meeting with Falkirk Council I understand that Falkirk FC now intends to build a 10,000 seater stadium. This would require Falkirk FC to submit a fresh planning application to the local authority.