- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 5 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase public awareness of the National Child Protection Line.
Answer
We are currently consideringhow best to increase public awareness of the national Child Protection Line andwill be discussing proposals with the national working group for this project andwith Child Protection Committees.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 5 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the operation and effectiveness of the National Child Protection Line.
Answer
The operation of theChild Protection Line is under review and development through a national workinggroup, whose membership includes representatives from Child Protection Committees(including police and social workers) and out-of-hours and phone-based child protectionservice providers. See
www.scotland.gov.uk/childprotectionfor further information.
We plan to commissiona rigorous independent evaluation of the service after it has been operational for18 months, in August 2008.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce red tape for the voluntary sector.
Answer
The Independent Reviewof Scrutiny, led by Professor Lorne Crerar, is examining how regulation, audit,inspection and complaints are functioning in Scotland’s public services. The review is developing recommendations for a bettersystem of scrutiny which should reduce the burden of regulation on third sectorbodies which deliver such services.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to encourage local authorities to provide three year funding arrangements to voluntary organisations.
Answer
We support the principlesof the Scottish Compact, which was explicit that Government should apply best practicein funding and in the administration of grants. We support the practice ofthree-year funding for the voluntary sector across the public sector and encouragethe use of longer term funding agreements, where possible, to provide a stable andefficient operating environment for the sector.
Within that context,we are considering what more can be done to enable local authorities and voluntaryorganisations to develop contracts which ensure effective delivery of services whilenot jeopardising the sustainability of the service provider.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the role of the voluntary sector in delivering public services.
Answer
We recognise the importantcontribution that third sector bodies can make in delivering public services. Inmany areas they are already substantial suppliers of service. Overall, it is clearthey have capacity to do more and we are considering work to improve commissioningby local authorities and public bodies which should enable third sector bodies toplay their full part.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that terms and conditions of staff working for voluntary sector public service contractors are maintained at the same level as equivalent public sector staff.
Answer
Voluntary sector employersare independent of government. Staff terms and conditions are a matter for staffand the employer, within the boundaries of employment law.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the terms and conditions of staff working for voluntary sector public service contractors.
Answer
Voluntary sector organisationsare independent of government.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the implementation among local authorities of the principle of full cost recovery for voluntary organisations delivering public services.
Answer
Ministers are clearthat all costs for providing a service should be met, and that the third sectorshould not subsidise, or be expected to subsidise, public services.
We are committed toworking with the sector and local government to ensure all are aware of the consequencesof not providing for full cost recovery.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional funding would be required by local authorities to implement full cost recovery for voluntary organisations delivering public services.
Answer
Local authoritiesare fully funded to provide services at local level and all organisations shouldbe paid the costs for delivering any given service.
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional funds to local authorities to implement the principle of full cost recovery for voluntary organisations delivering public services.
Answer
Organisations shouldbe paid the full costs for providing a service, and we expect local authoritiesand third sector organisations to conduct suitable negotiations for service deliverythat take all costs into account.
