The start date of 2014-15 for the refurbishment of Clyde Valley High School was based on the Scottish Future’s Trust’s (SFT) assessment of North Lanarkshire Council’s readiness to commence the project. However, changing the project from capital to revenue funding may allow the project to commence sooner than originally envisaged. The precise date for commencement is a matter for the Council and the SFT to determine.

On costs, the Scottish Government has indicated to local authorities that, under a revenue funded project, their total contribution towards design and construction will be no more than it would have been under a capital funded project. There will be no additional costs for authorities moving from capital grant to revenue funding for the school building programme.

On 20 June 2011, the First Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and I represented the Scottish Government at the 16th Summit of the British-Irish Council in London. The summit was attended by all eight member administrations and was hosted by the UK Government.

The meeting began with a significant discussion on economic growth where the First Minister made the case for flexibility particularly in relation to capital expenditure and for the fiscal levers necessary to help economic recovery in Scotland. The Council acknowledged the challenging economic circumstances facing its members and considered how member administrations could continue to learn from each others successes.

The Council then welcomed a paper on an all islands approach to energy resources and had a very positive discussion about greater cooperation on renewables and improving connection and transmission between member administrations and other European nations, including developing the North Sea grid.

Member administrations discussed the establishment of the Standing Secretariat; the headquarters of which are due to be located in Edinburgh. The Council agreed to a target start date of 1 January 2012, subject to final details and related issues being agreed.

I am placing a copy of the Summit Communiqué agreed by the British Irish Council in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. (Bib. number 53002).

The Scottish Government works with partners to support independent living for older people through the development and realisation of new technology services across Scotland. Domestic safety continues to be an important element of Telecare services in Scotland, many of which link hard-wired smoke detectors to appropriate emergency services.

NHS24 is leading on Telecare service developments across Scotland and, with the Scottish Government, will continue its strategic dialogue with fire service representatives to monitor and where appropriate address particular concerns about the role Telecare can play in support of domestic fire safety.