Scottish Parliament e-Brief, Issue 299

Scotland in frame for Olympic training camps
Scottish sporting facilities are being asked to register their interest in hosting pre-Games training camps for teams preparing for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, it has been announced.

London 2012 organisers are producing a guide which will showcase the best sporting facilities the UK has to offer to Olympic and Paralympic teams across the globe. The guide will feature those sporting venues which can provide a complete training environment with support services.

Scotland's national sports agency, sportscotland, will co-ordinate applications from Scottish sports facilities which wish to apply to be part of the guide. Closing date for applications is the end of January 2007 and the guide will be issued in summer of 2008.

Emergency funding scheme to be streamlined
Improvements are to be made to the operation and scope of the Bellwin Scheme which was introduced in 1983 to provide financial help to local authorities in the aftermath of large-scale emergencies.

Changes proposed to make the scheme more streamlined, accessible and transparent include:

Increasing the financial support provided by the Executive under the terms of the scheme from 85% of eligible expenditure to 100%, together with a five fold increase in the allowance included for insurance excesses;
Cutting the bureaucracy associated with the scheme by simplifying the process councils use to make claims - with the aim of ensuring resources are released as quickly and efficiently as possible;
Simplifying and clarifying the guidance issued to councils; and
Consulting councils on revised financial thresholds for grant assistance which would more accurately reflect their budgetary position.