The numbers of localauthority and housing association lettings are provided intable 1, along withtheir respective total normal letting stock at March of each year. The normalletting stock includes both vacant and occupied dwellings.

Consistent, centrally heldinformation is not available prior to 1999-2000. However lettings informationfor local authority dwellings is available from Housing Revenue Account (HRA)returns for the period 1984-85 to 1998-99. This information is provided intable 2.

Table 1: Local Authority andHousing Association Lettings and Letting Stock

Year	Local Authority Lettings		Housing Association Lettings
	Permanent Lettings Made	Normal Letting Stock	Permanent Lettings Made	Normal Letting Stock
1999-2000		544,345	18,397	128,908
2000-01		531,135	21,040	135,661
2001-02	53,187	509,656	22,427	137,335
2002-03	52,535	493,806	22,878	148,391
2003-04	39,136	368,171	30,544	245,726
2004-05	33,883	353,183	29,299	246,515
2005-06	31,894	343,877	28,346	245,229

Source: lettings and stock1returns provided by local authorities to the Scottish Executive, housingassociation data provided by Communities Scotland through the AnnualPerformance and Statistical Returns.

Notes:

1. Data is not available for local authoritylettings in 1999-2000 and 2000-01. Prior to 1999-2000, local authority lettingsdata was obtained from Housing Revenue Account returns to the ScottishExecutive Development Department: Housing 1. This return was discontinued after1999-2000 to be replaced with a new form (LETTINGS) collecting information from2001-02 onwards.

2. In 2003, large scale stock transfers of councilhousing to housing associations took place in Dumfries and Galloway, Glasgowand Scottish Borders. These are included in the housing association data from2003-04 onwards.

3. Lettings figures include estimates where datanot available.

Table 2: Local Authority Lettings,1984-85 to 1998-99

Year	Local Authority Lettings
1984-85	70,701
1985-86	69,688
1986-87	74,781
1987-88	77,217
1988-89	79,024
1989-90	74,842
1990-91	76,316
1991-92	70,612
1992-93	66,939
1993-94	65,344
1994-95	63,955
1995-96	63,113
1996-97	67,973
1997-98	67,918
1998-99	66,365

Source: Housing Revenue Account (HRA) returns by local authorities tothe Scottish Executive.

Note: figures includeestimates where incomplete information was provided.

This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to replydirectly to your enquiry.

The average total cost forconstructing a home for social rent in 2006-07 was £117,762.

The percentage of pensionersliving in relative poverty in Scotland each year since 1994-95 is published in ScottishHouseholds Below Average Income 2005-06 – Revised a copy of whichhas been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 43209).

Information on thepercentage of pensioners living in relative poverty in Scotlandprior to 1994-95 is not held centrally. However, the percentage of pensionersliving in relative poverty in the UK in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1998-99, 1990-91 –1995-97 is published in Households Below Average Income: An Analysis of theIncome Distribution – 2005-06 (Revised) a copy of which has beenplaced in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 42543).

The percentage of childrenliving in relative poverty in Scotland each year since 1994-95 is published in ScottishHouseholds Below Average Income 2005-06 – Revised a copy of whichhas been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 43209).

Information on thepercentage of children living in relative poverty in Scotlandprior to 1994-95 is not held centrally. However, the percentage of childrenliving in relative poverty in the UK in 1979, 1981, 1987, 1998-99, 1990-91 –1995-97 is published in Households Below Average Income: An Analysis of theIncome Distribution – 2005-06 (Revised) a copy of which has beenplaced in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib .number 42543).

Information on Audiologistsis captured under Medical Technical Officers (MTOs) and Scientific and Professionalin centrally held data. Of these, Audiological Scientists and AudiologicalTechnicians can be explicitly identified. Headcount numbers in each staff groupemployed in NHSScotland are shown in the following table, by grade anddiscipline at 30 September 2006. There is a list shown in the table by WhitleyGrading and the new Agenda for Change Bands. Table 1 outlines this information.

AudiologicalScientists and Audiological Technicians Employed by NHS Scotland by Head Count andWTE at 30 September 2006

AudiologicalScientists Audiological Technicians

	Head Count	Head Count
Total	5	138
Whitley Grades1
Grade 1	-	7
Grade 2	-	4
Grade 3	-	53
Grade 4	-	24
Grade 5	-	9
Assistant	-	16
Grade B	5	-
Senior Assistant	-	15

 

Agenda forChange Bands¹

	Head Count	Head Count
Band 2	-	4
Band 5	-	4
Band 6	-	1
Band 7	-	1

Source: ISDScotland.

Note: 1. Agenda for Change is the new national NHS pay system and will introducenew pay bands and harmonised terms and conditions for NHS workers. It replacesthe previous Whitley Council system.