What financial support it has given local authorities to implement the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.

From 1 April 2002 local authorities have been required to pay fees to the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission) to register their own care services. The transfer of authorities' regulatory functions to the Care Commission from that date necessitated a corresponding transfer of funds from local authorities to the Commission. The amount transferred (£5.68 million) took into account the fact that local authorities would have received income from registration fees paid by service providers. In addition, some of the funding was left with authorities to allow them to pay registration fees to the Care Commission for their own services, and to cover some residual staffing and accommodation costs. Care services are now inspected against national care standards. However, the Care Commission has discretion in applying those standards, taking into account the nature of the services being provided. For example, in the case of care homes for older people, where existing provision cannot meet the physical standards but is otherwise of good quality, specific criteria may be agreed with the Care Commission officers to allow existing rooms to remain in use. These arrangements apply equally to services delivered by local authorities and by the independent sector.The legislation and the national care standards require social care staff to be properly qualified and trained to carry out their roles in regulated care services. The £2.2 million Specific Grant for Social Work Training allocated to local authorities for 2002-03 was supplemented by an additional £3.5 million in the Action Plan for Social Services Workforce. This is specifically targeted at increasing the availability of training for social work and social care workers, as part of enhancing the qualifications of social work and social care staff in preparation for the establishment of the social services register, set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001. It will also assist providers to meet the relevant national care standards.In addition, £9.2 million was allocated for the expansion and development of the early years workforce from 2002-04, with a further £6 million per annum committed during the period 2004-06. This funding is allocated through child care partnerships, and can be used for workforce expansion and development in the local authority, private and voluntary sectors.