Scottish ministerial appointments normally run from 1 January and may last from one to five years. Appointments to the Children''s Panel Advisory Committees usually last for a three-year term.

As part of the consultation on the reform of the Children''s Hearings System the Scottish Government has proposed transferring the functions of the Children''s Panel Advisory Committees (CPAC) from local authorities to a new national body. On that basis, and until the future position is confirmed, the terms of appointments to CPAC have been limited to the end of December 2010. This does not affect the potential for extending the terms of appointment if appropriate.

The single outcome agreements (SOA) reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. Copies of all 32 SOAs which were agreed with local authorities on 30 June can be obtained via the Improvement Service web site by following the following link

http://www.improvementservice.org.uk/component/option,com_docman/Itemid,43/task,cat_view/gid,561/.

The Scottish Government will commission a major piece of research for early 2010 to look at how The same as you? has improved the quality of life for people with learning disabilities and their families.

The Scottish Government collects annual statistical returns about the provision of services for people with learning disabilities. From 2008 this information will be collated through the eSAY project, which outlines a set of national data standards to ensure information is recorded and measured in the same way across Scotland. The Scottish Government is working with the partnership in practice network, which includes representatives from local authorities and health boards, to support the measurement and demonstration of outcomes at a local level through eSAY.

The Social Work Inspection Agency and Care Commission will also continue to have a role in evaluating the delivery of services and monitoring regulated care settings.

Local authorities will now be accountable for the outcomes they agree to deliver through single outcome agreements. The single outcome agreements reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. We would expect them to be working with their partners and service users to ensure the outcomes reflect the expectations of all service users.

The same as you? implementation group will continue to work on identified priorities specific to people with learning disabilities. This will be complimented by work to develop an approach to Independent Living, with a focus on ensuring choice and control for all disabled people, enabling independence and inclusion.

Action has been taken on each of the 29 recommendations in The same as you? resulting in a significant shift in the balance of care from people living in institutional settings to community based support services. Annual returns have been submitted from all local authorities on implementation of the review, which demonstrate an increase in tenancies, personal life plans, local area coordination and alternative day opportunities. The 2007 return can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/20154612/0.

The overall aim of the review was to ensure that people with learning disabilities are included in our communities and involved in decisions about their lives. It recognised that general community services should be accessible where possible with specialist services available as required.

It is for individual local authorities to identify and meet the eligible needs of people in their area within a reasonable timescale according to relevant welfare and housing legislation and guidance. If individual clients are unhappy about the timescale or any other aspect of the delivery of services or equipment, they can raise this through the local authority''s complaints procedures.

We have provided £9.5 million of funding to date to housing associations in 2008-09 for medical adaptations. Total spend in 2008-09 for medical adaptations will be available during April 2009.

Discussions are currently being held with the existing health and social care bodies to help establish the relevant scrutiny bodies and decisions on their structure and functions have yet to be made.