Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does not directly fund the Scottish Muscle Network.

The Scottish Muscle Network is one of 23 national managed clinical networks (NMCN). Each NMCN is individually commissioned and performance managed by National Services Division on behalf of the Scottish Government Health and Social Care directorates and NHS boards.

All National Managed Clinical Networks (NMCNs), including the Scottish Muscle Network, are provided with performance management support through NHS National Services Scotland, National Services Division. The formal mechanism for this is a service agreement and a closely monitored annual work plan of activities.

The Scottish Muscle Network has reported significant progress against its goals which are included within its latest annual report. the Network has most recently:

arranged a multidisciplinary educational conference on 6 September 2012;

completed a myotonic dystrophy audit the findings of which will be included within its 2012-13 annual report;

hosted a forum on neuromuscular cases on 13 September 2012. A further forum is planned for May 2013; and

audited the uptake and use of transitional care resources.

The network is currently developing seven information sheets on neuromuscular conditions for NHSScotland’s primary care services.

The £9 million additional Opportunities for All funding, given to six local authorities in 2012, will help support 3,447 young people.

The delivery of this support will be complete by September 2013.

This programme of activity, being delivered by six local authorities, will reach its conclusion in September 2013 and will help support 1,369 job opportunities, through wage subsidies and 2,078 employability opportunities, in the form of training.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) uses a range of mechanisms to develop a clear picture of employer and industry skills needs, including their recently launched Our Skills Force. In a bid to provide greater, more direct support to help Scotlands small and medium sized enterprises compete in the current economic climate, SDS has now introduced a new employer services team to provide direct skills support for employers and their representative bodies.

The employer services team will work on a regional basis with local partners, such as business Gateways, chambers of commerce and local authorities. Included within this service will be the opportunity to investigate the appropriateness of Modern Apprenticeships to their business or recruitment needs.

The Scottish Government is developing policy around a shared apprenticeship model. The aim is to make it easier for small and micro sized businesses, in the construction industry in the first instance, to engage with the modern apprenticeship programme.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is currently finalising details of an action plan to support the SDS evaluation strategy 2012-15. This will include a three to four year rolling plan to ensure that all future evaluation is adequately planned and resourced. Scottish Government will be better placed to assess whether any additional independent evaluation of its employability programmes is required following publication of the SDS action plan.

The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides the preferred measure of youth unemployment. The latest data covers October 2011 to September 2012.

Of the 85,100 young people who are unemployed approximately 11% (10,000) have been unemployed for at least two years. As the APS is a sample survey there is an amount of variability in this estimate.

Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for National Statistics.

Notes:

1. Levels are rounded, proportions calculated using unrounded figures and based on economically active population.

2. Duration breakdown excludes those where duration was unknown (for this period the duration of unemployment was unknown for approximately 1,700 young people).

3. The subgroup of interest here is relatively small and therefore this estimate is not as reliable as that for the overall population aged 16 to 24 years.

This information is not held centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you on this matter.

This information is not held centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you on this matter.

The production of an action plan to support the delivery of Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) Evaluation Strategy is the responsibility of SDS. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the Member.