On 2 October 2013, I informed local authorities that the Scottish Government was making £20 million available for the purpose of adding to Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) budgets. In recognition of the fact that some local authorities may already have already topped up their DHP allocation to the maximum permitted, I stated that the funding is aimed not only at enabling topping up of DHPs, but also in recognition of the financial pressures that have been placed upon authorities by the UK Government’s welfare reforms.

The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution made by Care and Repair Services in helping older and disabled people to live safely and independently at home and by reducing delays to hospital discharge.

We have not commissioned research in this area but a Social Return on Investment report in respect of Care and Repair West Lothian published in June 2013 showed a social return of £4.53 for every £1 invested.

There is no statutory requirement on health boards to contribute to the cost of local Care and Repair services. However Orkney Care and Repair and Midlothian Care and Repair, for example, received additional funding from the Older People's Change Fund to, respectively, extend their information and advice service and support piloting a small repairs service.

The £20 million allocated to local authorities in 2013-14 will be paid as general revenue grant funding. Councils have been advised that this funding is for the purpose of adding to their Discretionary Housing Payment budgets. However, the Scottish Government does not have the powers to direct councils to make payments in respect of Discretionary Housing Payments.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12726 on 25 February 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19438 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

In line with the commitments contained within the Diversity Delivers strategy, the Scottish Government remains committed to the progression of the public appointments diversity agenda and to building on the work begun through Diversity Delivers. Following the publication of the Diversity Delivers – Three Years On report in November 2011, which provided an assessment of progress at that stage, responsibility for delivering the diversity agenda passed to the Scottish Government‘s Public Appointments Centre of Expertise (PACE).To support our progress, we created a dedicated public appointments website, www.appointed-for-scotland.org, in 2009. This was followed by the setting up of PACE in 2011, to advise on and to administer the regulated public appointments process across the Scottish Government. We have also undertaken a range of outreach activity and awareness-raising to promote understanding of what board positions are, explaining the work of non-executive board members and how to apply for opportunities. A variety of events have taken place every year since 2008, most recently, in 2013, sessions for the Scottish Housing Regulator to encourage applications from homeless people and those in rented accommodation. All events focused on groups under-represented on Scotland’s public boards. PACE continues to be actively engaged with our equality colleagues and others to identify suitable future events. In addition we have produced and distributed a DVD on public appointments and a short written guide on the work of boards jointly with the then Public Appointments Commissioner and a PACE Twitter account is planned by April 2014. This will promote public appointment vacancies and outreach events. The initial cost of the DVD was £2705: reprint costs are £248.73 per 100. There are no associated costs for the outreach programme and Twitter except staff costs.

We have also used a range of different application and selection methods to attract a wider pool of applicants. These have varied by individual appointment round. They have included shortened applications that test fewer criteria at application stage, tailored life/career history, personal statements, pre-set questions, notes of interest and bespoke application support and altered interview processes and assessment centre exercises. Some progress has been made in enhancing the diversity of our public appointments but we will continue to develop and monitor this.

To highlight the importance we place on this issue, a Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board was established late last year to drive forward a programme of activity in relation to enhancing the diversity of Scotland’s public appointments. Its first meeting was held on 9 December 2013, with a second on 11 February 2014. All of our current diversity activity is being delivered in line with the Public Boards and Corporate Diversity Programme Board programme.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19435 on 20 February 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.