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The AmbulanceService will use the services of the Ministry of Defence or HM Coastguard forincidents where the weather is below the minimum safe operating limits, asgoverned by the Civil Aviation Authority, and the patient’s condition has thepotential to be life or limb threatening.

There is growingevidence to suggest that hydrotherapy pools are beneficial to people witharthritis, who often report perceived benefit and improved quality of life. Asthere is still limited evidence around the cost-effectiveness and quantitativeoutcomes of this intervention when compared with other therapies, there is alack of clear evidence that hydrotherapy should be preferred over othertherapeutic interventions.

It is for NHS boardsand their local planning partners to determine the levels of services which areprovided for people with arthritis, including the provision of hydrotherapy.

The ScottishAmbulance Service and its constituent operating divisions, which includes theair ambulance service, are the subject of continuous performance management bythe Scottish Government.

NHS boards andtheir local planning partners are expected to provide facilities such as thesefrom the budgets available to them, based on their assessment of local needs.

This informationis not collected. However, where there is likely to be a delay due to weatherconditions, the Scottish Ambulance Service will discuss this with the clinicianwho is requesting transport. In circumstances where the clinician decides thatthe patient’s condition is life or limb threatening then the Ambulance Servicewill follow its contingency which is to task the Ministry of Defence (MOD) orHM Coastguard to carry out the mission. In 2005-06, MOD/Coastguard were used on115 occasions, in 2006-07, they were used 118 times and in the seven months tothe end of October 2007 this has occurred on 51 occasions.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6505 on 29 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Local authoritieshave discretionary powers to make payments to kinship carers of children who arenot looked after. These are:

1. Section 22 of theChildren (Scotland) Act 1995

2. Section 50 of theChildren Act 1975.

In addition, whena child becomes orphaned, the kinship carer of the child can apply for a Guardian’sAllowance paid for by the Department of Work and Pensions.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6505 on 29 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Currently local authoritieshave discretion to pay allowances to kinship carers of looked-after children.

I will be publishinga strategy for foster and kinship care later this year, which will address the provisionof a range of support, including financial, for kinship carers.

I intend to launcha consultation before Christmas on our proposals for the abolition of council tax,which will include discussion of the taxation of second homes.