Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive are extremely grateful for the work of the group led by Richard Kerley and their report has been published and presented to the Executive today. Copies are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). The findings of the Renewing Local Democracy Working Group will now be considered by the Executive. That consideration will be taken forward initially by an ad hoc Ministerial Working Group chaired by the First Minister. The Ministerial Working Group will report to the Cabinet and the Cabinet's conclusions will be announced in due course.

Health boards do not have the power to appoint a Chairperson of a local Health Council. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of a Health Council are selected by the council members from within their own number and this procedure is enshrined within the establishment scheme for each Health Council.

The Scottish Executive is the major source of funding for Victim Support Scotland local schemes. For 2000-01, the Executive has made available grant of £1.213 million for local victim support services from central funds under the provisions of section 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. This represents an increase of 8.6% over the previous year's figure.

Youth work in the statutory and voluntary sectors already makes a major contribution to the personal and social development of many young people across Scotland. We believe it has the potential to do more. I expect to make a statement about this once we have completed our evaluation of Community Learning Strategies.

There is no central guidance on deferred entry although we have established a short-term working group to consider the matter further.

In Fife, and across Scotland, our policies are making a real difference to children in poverty. This year we are investing £880,000 in young children in deprived areas in Fife through the Sure Start Scotland Programme, and £14 million in Scotland as a whole. The Fife Social Inclusion Partnership is also tackling child poverty through projects on child domestic violence, teenage pregnancy and family support.

Each child and young person looked after by a local authority must have a care plan that addresses all individual needs, including mental health needs. The Looking After Children materials which we launched in Scotland last year require a detailed assessment of the child's emotional and behavioural development at different ages and stages of their lives and prompt action to overcome any difficulties identified.

Pension sharing will become available in actions for divorce or nullity which start on or after 1 December 2000.

We are today laying before Parliament the Scottish Executive commencement order and regulations in respect of the devolved aspects of the treatment of pensions on divorce provided for in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999.

The Scottish Executive is firmly committed to the principles set out in the White Paper. The provision of high quality statistics free from political interference is vital if there is to be informed decision-making and debate in the Executive, the Parliament and beyond. It is essential that official statistics are collected, analysed and made available in a way that has the trust and confidence of the Scottish people.

The Executive is working with the United Kingdom Government on this. In October, we published a Concordat on Statistics along with the Memorandum of Understanding. These set out the basis on which we will work with the UK Government. More detailed arrangements are being put in place to ensure that the needs of the devolved administration are met. Since the publication of the White Paper, we have been developing a Framework for National Statistics which takes account of these needs. We will be jointly publishing this in the near future. It will set out the roles and responsibilities of Ministers and officials both at a UK level and in devolved administrations. As Minister for Finance I will be responsible for co-ordination of National Statistics across the Scottish Executive.

Under National Statistics, we will introduce new planning arrangements, in which we will be actively seeking the views of users of statistics including MSPs on their needs and priorities. A Scottish Statistics Plan setting out a programme for the coming year is published today as a consultative document.

We expect the formal launch of National Statistics to take place in early June. The Statistics Commission will play an important role in ensuring the integrity and development of National Statistics. We will wish to have early discussions with the Commission on how it might operate in Scotland to ensure that Scottish interests are properly represented.

In addition, the Framework notes that the Parliament may if it wishes set up arrangements for enhanced scrutiny of National Statistics as a further assurance of their integrity and quality. I will be proposing dialogue on this matter in the near future.

I am placing a copy of the Scottish Executive Statistics Plan in the Parliament's Information Centre. Additional copies are available in the Document Supply Centre. The Framework for National Statistics will be added in due course.

My officials have regular discussions with all of the Scottish Water Authorities about the whole range of responsibilities relating to their water and sewerage duties and powers under the relevant legislation, including those responsibilities imposed by European legislation.

It is for the authorities to establish priorities within their areas, taking account of the size of their capital expenditure programmes, of the requirements set out in the Quality and Standards paper (ISBN 0 7480 8281 6) including those projects which require to be completed in order to meet the tight deadlines required under European Union environmental regulations.