Chamber and committees

We do not consider that there is a data gap following the suspension of the Scottish School Leavers Survey. Whilst this was a rich data source, there is no evidence that it was widely used. Latterly, its usefulness was also undermined by high attrition rates, which had a significant negative impact on the robustness and relevance of any findings.

Statistics on the positive destinations of young people are collected through a survey of leavers run by Skills Development Scotland. Individuals identified to be participating in higher education, further education, training, employment, voluntary work or on an Activity Agreement are considered to have achieved a positive destination.The source of funding for an episode of education or training does not affect whether it is counted as a positive destination.

Statistics on the positive destinations of young people are collected through a survey of leavers run by Skills Development Scotland. This identifies the destination of a young person, including whether they are participating in education or training. However, as the survey does not gather data on funding sources, the information you have requested is not available.

The London School of Economics in association with the University of St Andrews is conducting the independent evaluation of the Pilot Health Board Elections. Their report is due to be completed and laid before the Parliament during the autumn of 2012.

The Scottish Government will consider any recommendation made within the report regarding how any future health board elections may be conducted.

Civil servants are employed by the Scottish Government rather than particular units. Since 2008, no staff have moved from the units which co-ordinate policy on constitutional policy and the referendum on constitutional change to posts in Scottish Government agencies or non-departmental public bodies, either on secondment or permanent transfer.

The Scottish Government’s expenditure on public relations is a relatively small part of the overall expenditure on advertising which it supports, and has been published in recent years on the government’s website on request. The expenditure for 2010-11 and 2011-12 are published on the government’s website and I will publish future expenditure via the website on an annual basis.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Directorates/Communications/advertising-marketing/PR-Spend.

All Sodexo employees receive sick pay as part of their contractual terms and conditions which is linked to their length of service.

The Scottish Government Marketing Unit advertising spend for 2011-12 has recently been published on the Scottish Government website, for which the link is:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/People/Directorates/Communications/advertising-marketing/spend.

The provision of services is for each local area to consider, taking account of local needs, circumstances and resources. It is for individual Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, to ensure that person-centred prevention, support and treatment services are provided to meet the needs of their resident populations, and that GPs in their area are aware of these.

The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Drugs Forum to provide a Directory of Scottish Drug Services. The Directory contains information on over 200 drug treatment agencies in Scotland, including referral procedures and opening times.

http://www.scottishdrugservices.com/sdd/homepage.htm.

Alcohol Focus Scotland also provides details of local alcohol support services on their website.

http://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/local-organisations.

The Scottish Government has no proposals for self-directed support that are specific to people who misuse drugs and alcohol. The Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Bill places duties on local authorities around how care and support is planned and arranged following assessments under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and the relevant sections of the Children’s (Scotland) Act 1995. Many people who access services for issues related to problem drug or alcohol use will also be eligible for services provided through the 1968 Act and it is expected that local authorities will consider how their new duties and powers under the Bill can be used to best effect for those individuals.

Under the current regulations, people of certain descriptions are deemed ineligible to receive direct payments. This includes people who are required, by various
court-imposed orders, to submit to treatment for drug or alcohol dependency. The Scottish Government intends to consult on whether this and other restrictions should be omitted from new regulations.