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I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31799 on 11 December 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31799 on 11 December 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: .

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31799 on 11 December 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: .

At present, local authorities receive a single capital allocation for borrowing consents relating to capital expenditure on all areas except their own housing stock. It is for each local authority to decide how much of the single capital allocation is spent for private housing sector purposes. For the current year, the forecast for local authorities' total expenditure for these purposes is approximately £45 million.

Of the sum of £215 million announced on 7 November, £170 million will be allocated to local authorities on the basis of up to £50 million in financial year 2003-04 and £60 million in each of the following two years. The method for allocation between authorities is currently the subject of consultation with COSLA and figures for each authority are therefore not yet available. These resources will be available for local authorities to provide grant assistance to owners of private sector housing and for other purposes related to the improvement of housing conditions in the private sector.The remaining sum of £45 million, which includes £10 million per year announced following the 2001 Spending Review, will be used by the Executive directly or through local authorities to take forward other priorities arising from the recommendations of the Housing Improvement Task Force and for related matters. I will take decisions on the allocation of the funding once I have had the opportunity to consider the recommendations of the task force. In the meantime, none of this funding has been earmarked.

No. The resources specifically earmarked to assist owner-occupiers affected by housing transfers are included elsewhere in the Social Justice budget. No final decisions about the allocation of the funding have been taken. These will be made in the context of individual transfer proposals.

In 2001, the Scottish Executive established a £1,000 child care grant for lone parents in higher education and over 1,600 lone parents have already accessed this grant. The Executive provides a range of services, such as Sure Start Scotland, that meet the needs of disadvantaged families, including those headed by lone parents.

I have been concerned for some time about this issue. Yesterday Cabinet agreed to establish a Cabinet Sub-committee on flooding to be chaired by the Deputy First Minister.The committee will meet soon and will consider what additional steps can be taken to minimise disruption in both the short- and long-term.

The Best Value task force was set up to provide guidance for local authorities in the operation of their new statutory duties under the Local Government in Scotland Bill. It consists mainly of local authority representatives, but also representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Consumer Council. The Scottish Executive has been careful to consult directly representatives of the voluntary sector and private sector about the provisions of the bill and will continue to consider their interests in its engagement with the task force.

The Executive is tackling poverty through ensuring that opportunities are available for all to work where appropriate, to participate in society and to benefit from the provision of responsive public services. We are reducing the levels of poverty in Scotland through creating a fair and inclusive society, supported by the UK Government's commitment to make work pay through the minimum wage and tax credit system, and to raise the income of pensioners.The Executive is also tackling poverty through a range of programmes, such as Sure Start Scotland, New Futures Fund, and concessionary bus fares.