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Local Authorities'' Employee Costs 2007-08

Source: Local Financial Returns 2007-08

Note:

1. Police and fire expenditure is apportioned to councils using the amount that the Joint Boards requisition from them.

2. Expenditure on council tax and non-domestic valuation and registration of electors is apportioned to councils using the amount that the Valuation Joint Boards requisition from them.

3. Regional Transport Partnerships expenditure is apportioned to councils by population (GROS 2007 mid-year estimates).

The relatively low percentage of employee costs as a percentage of gross expenditure for Glasgow is due to the creation of a number of Arms Length External Organisations. These were created as part of the council''s on-going programme of service reform. The greatest impact on employee costs has been in relation to the transfers of Building Services and Culture and Related Services.

The information presented in the answer to question S3W-21586 was extracted after the February update to the national file when initial December 2008 data had become available. These 2008 data are provisional.

As stated in the questions S3W-21983 and S3W-21984, SMR01 data returns relating to the private sector are known to be significantly incomplete. In July 2008 NHS boards were asked to ensure submission of complete and accurate data. In addition the ISD data return relating to the private health care includes independent hospitals, hospices and care homes run by local authorities and charities.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21983 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

The following table details the number of clinical negligence cases that settled in 2007-08 together with the sums paid out in those settlements.

More specifically, as part of our international development programme maternal and neonatal health is an area which the Government of Malawi has highlighted as a priority for Scottish Government support. We have continued our support for this important area, working with key stakeholders in Malawi and Scotland, and in January this year we announced further funding for projects which will work to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

60 NHS continuing care beds staffed by the NHS;

60 care home beds;

16 very sheltered housing units, and

eight disabled housing units.

Negotiations with the bidder continue and, assuming these are concluded, it is expected that new NHS facilities will be available early, in 2012.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland also oversees the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Health in Scotland. This enquiry is conducted by a multidisciplinary committee of health professionals and examines all maternal deaths in Scotland. The committee reaches a consensus as to the cause of death and a view is taken about the standard of care provided and recommendations are made for practice where appropriate. This information contributes to the UK Confidential Enquiry which produces the triennial report Saving Mothers Lives under the auspices of the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health.

Measures with recommended standards to render childbirth as safe as possible for both mothers and babies are contained in guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives.

The involvement of a bereavement counsellor may be suggested and relatives may be referred to an appropriate voluntary sector organisation.

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Births, Marriages and Deaths - Preliminary Annual Tables for 2008 (published 12 March 2009):

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(a) Maternal fatalities. The numbers of women''s deaths for which the cause was pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium are shown in the Vital Events Reference Table 6.1 (1997 to 2007) and in Births, Marriages and Deaths - Preliminary Annual Table P4 (figures for 2005 to 2008).

(b) Neonatal fatalities. The numbers of live births, neonatal deaths (deaths in the first four weeks of life) and the neonatal death rate per 1,000 live births are shown in Vital Events Reference Table 1.2 (figures for 1996 to 2007) and Births, Marriages and Deaths - Preliminary Annual Table P2 (figures for 2008).