Funds earmarked for the Empty Homes Initiative in this coming financial year have already been allocated to local authorities and there is currently no scope to reallocate these funds. However, we will be monitoring progress during the year.In terms of making funding available to tackle homelessness we have increased the funding for the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) for the five years from 1997-2002 to £42 million. In addition to this, over the next three years we have backed the legislative proposals on homelessness with £27 million and made a further £12.5 million available to decommission Glasgow's large hostels.

The New Housing Partnerships budget for 2000-01 amounts to £114.5 million. In addition, £25.3 million has been carried forward from last year. This reflects slippage in councils' expenditure on approved projects, largely resulting from their commitment to full consultation with tenants. On the basis of indications from councils, it is expected that approximately £70 million will be spent in this financial year. The arrangements for carry forward of resources into next year will be announced in due course.

An interim evaluation of the RSI was published in June 1999. During 2001 we shall be carrying out local rough sleepers prevalence studies alongside an assessment of services and accommodation available to people who are sleeping rough. This will enable an assessment to be made of the extent to which services are meeting needs.

In June 2000, through the Rough Sleepers Initiative, the Executive allocated £1.32 million to the City of Edinburgh Council, to provide additional interim and permanent direct access accommodation in Edinburgh. This allocation was in recognition that there were insufficient hostel places in the city. Temporary winter shelter arrangements have been in operation in the city pending the development of the interim direct access accommodation.

In May 1997 a streetcount of people sleeping rough in Edinburgh found 42 individuals. However streetcounts are generally regarded as unreliable as they depend on the number and local knowledge of those counting, the time of year and the areas covered by the count.I am aware that the Edinburgh Streetwork Project has recently published a report which indicates 87 individuals known to be sleeping outdoors in 2000 - a reduction from 125 individuals identified in 1999.

Information on the full range of facilities and services available to rough sleepers can be obtained from the City of Edinburgh Council. Projects in Edinburgh funded under the Rough Sleepers Initiative include the provision of integrated housing, social work and health services at the Single Access Point; a wet hostel providing accommodation and support for rough sleepers with alcohol problems; the Cowgate day and night centre; direct access provision; supported move-on accommodation, some with intense support for drug users; and resettlement and outreach.

I will be making an announcement shortly.

The working group concluded its business on 18 January and has made recommendations. These are being considered and an announcement will be made shortly.

We have been monitoring the progress of the two sellers survey market pilots - Surveys Online and Clyde Properties. Both of these initiatives have explored innovative approaches towards identifying new methods and working practices within the house purchase system in Scotland.

This information is not held centrally.