(f) To enable local authorities to provide nursing care elsewhere in the UK for those they are responsible for. (this is simply a matter of removing the restriction that a local authority may only place people in a nursing home registered under Scottish legislation)

Responses, or questions about the proposals should be addressed to George Whitton, Long Term Care Team, Scottish Executive, Community Care Division, Room 45, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh, EH1 3BA; 0131 244 5403; ltcteam@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. Further information is available on www.scotland.gov.uk/health/ltc/legislation.asp.htm

2. Care Development Group

The Care Development Group (formed in the context of the Parliamentary debates about the Sutherland Report) has a remit to bring forward proposals to ensure that older people in Scotland have access to high quality and responsive long term care, in appropriate settings, on a fair and equitable basis (including proposals for the implementation of free personal care). The Group mainly wishes to get views from recipients and providers of care.

To assist in preparing their report for August 2001, they seek responses by 1 June to Shaun Eales, Scottish Executive Community Care Division, Room 45, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh, EH1 3BA; 0131 244 5430; cdg@scotland.gsi.gov.uk, on the following issues:

(i) The availability and quality of existing services for older people, and suggestions for rectifying any deficiencies.
(ii) A definition of personal care, and how personal care needs can best be met
(iii) Deployment of resources from all funding streams to the care of older people and any recommendations for changes to be made to the current arrangements
(iv) Suggestions on what people see as the key challenges and priorities in the short and medium term, and how these challenges can be met and funded.

3. Carers' Legislation

This consultation paper is essentially looking for views on issues raised by the independent Carers' Legislation Working Group, which was set up to consider what legislation may be needed to implement the Executive's "Carers' Strategy". That strategy aims (a) to improve the information on help and support for carers (b) to improve local services that help carers to cope (c) to introduce new laws that will help carers (d) to ensure consistent national standards for the kind of short breaks carers need and (e) to check that carers are getting the help they need.

Once responses have been received from this exercise, Ministers will consider whether changes to current legislation and guidance are needed. Any such changes would be incorporated into a forthcoming Bill on long term care which will be introduced later this year when the Care Development Group has reported. Progress on this Bill can be followed on: www.scotland.gov.uk/health/ltc/legislation.asp.htm

Responses to the consultation should be sent, by 6 July, to: Mrs Val Peden, Scottish Executive Community Care Division, Room 52, James Craig Walk, Edinburgh, EH1 3BA; 0131 244 5488; Carerslaw@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.