Scottish Government

General enquiries about the social inclusion research programme should be addressed to

Linda Nicholson,
Head of Social Inclusion Research Branch,
Scottish Executive Central Research Unit, 2J,
Victoria Quay,
EH6 6QQ,
tel. 0131 244 7571, e-mail :linda.nicholson@scotland.gov.uk

General enquiries about social inclusion policy should be addressed to

Social Inclusion Team,
The Scottish Office Social Inclusion Division,
2-G, Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ,
tel. 0131 244 7376, email: socialjustice@scotland.gov.uk

Area Regeneration & Social Inclusion Divisions
Ongoing Work

Women's Issues in Local Partnership Working
Contractor: Scottish Poverty Info. Unit
Due Date: November 1999
Contact: Nicola Edge [0131 244 7371]
Exploratory research study in four partnership areas to identify and explore women's issues in relation to partnership working.

The Role of Sport in Regenerating Deprived Areas
Contractor: Centre for Leisure Research
Contact: Karen MacNee [0131 244 7570]
Due date: January 2000
Jointly funded with Sports Scotland, Sports Policy Unit and Public Health Policy Unit to identify case studies and evaluate the impact of sports projects in urban areas at an individual and community level.

The Role of the Arts in Regeneration
Contractor: Blake Stevenson
Contact: Karen MacNee [0131 244 7570]
Due date: February 2000
Jointly funded with Scottish Arts Council to investigate the 'hard' and 'soft' impacts of arts projects in regeneration areas and identify the linkages between them.

Working for Communities: Baseline Study and Evaluation Framework
Contractor: Cambridge Policy Consultants
Due date: December 1999
Contact: Linda Nicholson [0131 244 7571]
Research to establish a baseline position in each new pathfinder area and to develop a framework for evaluation of the initiative.

Listening to Communities: Evaluation of New Ways of Testing Community Opinion
Contractor: George Street Research
Contact: Nicola Edge [0131 244 7371]
Due date: January 2000
Evaluation of the effectiveness and use made of citizens' juries, panels, forums etc. as a means of eliciting community opinion.

Consultation on Index of Deprivation
Contractor: Prof. Gillian Raab, Napier Uni.
Contact: Karen MacNee[0131 244 7570]
Due Date: September 1999
Assessment of the responses to the recently published Index of Deprivation and to produce a summary report with recommendations.

Cities, Competitiveness and Cohesion - A Scottish Case Study
Contractor: Department of Urban Studies, Glasgow University
Due date: ongoing
Contact: Karen MacNee [0131 244 7570]
Part of ESRC Cities programme of research. Scotland case study aiming to improve the understanding of factors influencing economic performance of cities and smaller urban centres.

Enterprise Creation by the Unemployed: The Role of Microfinance
Contractor: National Institute of Economic and Social Research
Due Date: UK report, March 2000; international comparative report,Sep 2000
Contact: Linda Nicholson [0131 244 7571]
International Labour Organisation cross national study to better inform those responsible for enterprise programmes of existing support mechanisms for microfinance; to consider evaluation criteria for microfinance programmes and to suggest ways to improve sustainability of microfinance provision.

Good Practice Note on Strengthening Community Capacity
Contractor: School of Planning & Housing/Heriot Watt University
Due date: March 2000
Contact: Anita Morrison [0131 244 7100]
Second in series of Good Practice Notes. Aimed primarily at SIPs and covering approaches to community involvement and partnership in multi-agency partnerships. Includes training and information needs analysis.

Area Regeneration & Social Inclusion Divisions: Forthcoming Research Studies
Forthcoming Research Studies

Working for Communities: Review of Innovative Approaches to Service Delivery
Contact: Karen MacNee[0131 244 7570]
To support the new pathfinders in developing their approaches to local service delivery.

Networking in Local Communities
Contact: Linda Nicholson [0131 244 7571]
Exploration and evaluation of the formal and informal networking channels in local communities; to identify effective practice for different sectors of the community; to identify those issues relating to community empowerment/capacity building.

Research Relating to Social Inclusion Partnerships
Contact: Karen MacNee [0131 244 7570]
Programme of research to focus on issues raised by new Social Inclusion Partnerships that are of general applicability and relevance to ARD.

Research and Evaluation of Regeneration Initiatives
General enquiries about the evaluation of programmes designed to regenerate disadvantaged communities should be addressed to Cynthia Peden, Scottish Executive Area Regeneration Division, 2F, Victoria Quay, EH6 6QQ, tel. 0131 244 0789, e-mail: cynthia.peden@scotland.gov.uk

Publications

An Examination of Unsuccessful Priority Partnership Area Bids (1999)
Taylor T., Turok I., and Hastings H., Dept. of Urban Studies, Glasgow University
Study to identify and establish progress of partnerships that were unsuccessful bidders for PPA status: to identify lessons for selection of PPAs and the impact of the bidding process.

New Life for Urban Scotland - final evaluation (1999)
Cambridge Policy Consultants
Contact: Linda Nicholson [0131 244 7571]
Evaluation of the impact of the government's policy set out in the New Life for Urban Scotland initiative. To consider lessons learned and look forward to the sustainability of the achievements.

Guidance on Monitoring and Evaluation for Social Inclusion Partnerships (forthcoming 1999)
Cambridge Policy Consultants
Contact: Nicola Edge [0131 244 7371]
A review of the existing monitoring and evaluation framework for Priority Partnership Areas, making revisions to accommodate the change in focus to Social Inclusion Partnerships.

City Wide Urban Regeneration: Lessons from Good Practice (1999)
Carley M. & Kirk K., School of Planning and Housing, Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot Watt University.
Contact: Karen MacNee [0131 244 7570]
To establish best practice in citywide urban regeneration in 5 English and 4 continental case studies.

Experiences of Social Exclusion- Research Findings (1999)
Lewis, J., and O' Connor W., national Centre for Social Research.
Contact: Nicola Edge [0131 244 7371]
Qualitative research aimed at exploring key policy questions and issues. Interviewing of target groups and 'opportunity influencers'.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Children, Young People and Social Work

Ongoing Work

Throughcare & Aftercare for Looked After Children under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995
Contractor: York University
Due Date: August 2001
Contact:Caroline Thomas [0131 244 3759]
Study to examine effectiveness of local authorities in supporting young people who have been looked after as they move towards independence.

An Evaluation of an 'Open Doors' Programme for Mentally Disordered Offenders
Contractor: Edinburgh University
Due Date: 1999
Contact: Fiona Paterson [0131 244 5427]
Evaluation of a programme for throughcare of mentally disordered offenders within a Scottish prison and on their release.

Evaluation of CAPS (Community Alternative Placement Scheme)
Contractor: Glasgow University
Due Date: October 2000
Contact:Caroline Thomas [0131 244 3759]
Evaluation of the implementation of a fostering scheme designed to provide an alternative to secure accommodation.

Evaluation of the Airborne Initiative (Scotland)
Contractor: SWRC, Stirling University
Due Date: January 2000
Evaluation of effectiveness of an Initiative to reduce re-offending and enhance employment prospects of offenders.

Evaluation of Fine Enforcement and Supervised Attendance Orders (SAOs)
Contractor: SWRC, Stirling University
Due Date: September 2000
Describes the use, efficiency and impact of SAO schemes on offenders and on the use of imprisonment for men and women in default of their fine.

Publications

Looking After Children in Scotland (1999)
Wheelaghan S., Hill M., Borland M., Lambert L., Triseliotis J., Glasgow Uni.
Contact:Caroline Thomas [0131 244 3759]
Evaluation of a pilot of the use of Looking After Children materials.
Social Work Research Finding No. 30

Education and Care Away from Home: A Review of Research, Policy and Practice (1998)
Moira Borland M., Pearson C., Hill M., Tisdall K. & Broomfield I., Glasgow Uni.
Published by SCRE
Contact:Caroline Thomas [0131 244 3759]
Reviews research literature on issues about education of children and young people looked after away from home.

Supporting Parenting in Scotland: A Mapping Exercise (1999)
Henderson S., Reid -Howie Associates
Study that identifies range of services and initiatives to support, develop and promote parenting in Scotland.

Children in Focus: The Evaluation of Children's Hearings in Scotland. Vol. 3 (forthcoming 1999)
Waterhouse L., McGhee J., Loucks N., White W., Kay H., Edinburgh University.
Longitudinal study of 1995 cohort of children referred to hearings.
Social Work Research Findings No. 31

Evaluation of the Bridges One Door Initiative (forthcoming 1999)
Hunter. S & Whyte B., Edinburgh Uni.
Contact:Kathryn Goodwin[0131 244 5430]
Evaluation of joint working model on youth homelessness.

Understanding Offending Amongst Young People (forthcoming 1999)
McIvor G., Jamieson J. & Murray C., SWRC, Stirling University
Contact:Kathryn Goodwin[0131 244 5430]
Study of factors that influence young people's offending behaviour.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Community Care

Ongoing Work

Children's Experiences of Disability
Contractor: SWRC, Stirling Uni.
Due Date: Sep 2000
Contact: Charlotte MacDonald [0131 244 5429]
Qualitative study involving children with a range of impairments.

Hospital Discharge for People with a Mental Illness
Contractor: Nuffield Centre for Community Care Studies, Glasgow University
Due Date: April 2000
Contact: Charlotte MacDonald [0131 244 5429]
Identification of how good outcomes can be achieved.

Publications

Support at Home: Views of Older People about their Needs and Access to Services (1999)
Charlotte MacDonald
Contact: Charlotte MacDonald [0131 244 5429]
Comparison of older people's views with those of service providers.
Social Work Research Findings No. 35

Perceptions of Need & the Availability of Support at Home: A Parallel Study of South Asian Elderly People (forthcoming 1999)
Bowes A. & Dar N., Stirling University
Contact: Charlotte MacDonald [0131 244 5429]
Focuses on the support needs of South Asian elderly people and the extent to which they are met.

Support for Majority and Minority Ethnic Groups at Home- Older People's Perspectives (forthcoming 1999)
Bowes A. & Macdonald C.
Contact: Charlotte MacDonald [0131 244 5429]
Compares needs and service provision from perspectives of older people from majority and minority ethnic groups from findings of studies described above.
Social Work Research Findings No. 36

If You Don't Ask You Don't Get - The Views of People with Learning Disabilities who use Services and Carers (forthcoming 1999)
Contact: Charlotte MacDonald [0131 244 5429]
Exploration of experiences and aspirations relevant to support within the community and social integration - commissioned to inform the Learning Disabilities framework.

The View from Arthur's Seat: Literature Review of Housing & Support Options Beyond Scotland (forthcoming 1999)
Simmons K. & Watson D., Bristol Uni.
Contact: Charlotte MacDonald [0131 244 5429]
Literature review of research & developments beyond Scotland - commissioned to inform the Learning Disabilities framework.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Criminal Justice

Ongoing Work

Evaluation of Freagarrach
Contractor: Lancaster University
Due Date: September 2000
Contact: Diane Machin [0131 244 2219]
Monitoring and evaluation of 5 year project within former Central region providing individualised intervention for persistent young offenders.

Young Offender Mediation Project
Contractor: System Three
Due Date: April 1999
Contact: Joe Curran [0131 244 2118]
Study of a SACRO run mediation project for young offenders in Fife.

The Experience of Violence & Harassment of Gay Men in Edinburgh
Contractor: The T.A.S.C. Agency
Due Date: April 1999
Contact: Denis Oag [0131 244 2115]
Study of the nature and extent of violence and harassment against gay men to inform development of a safety strategy for the gay community.

Repeat Victimisation in Scotland
Contractor: Applied Criminology Group, Huddersfield University
Due Date: October 1999
Contact: Denis Oag [0131 244 2115]
Identification of repeat crimes with the aim of reducing crime against the most vulnerable.

Scottish Partnership on Domestic Violence
Contractor: Reid-Howie Associates
Due Date: developmental
Contact: Denis Oag [0131 244 2115]
The Scottish partnership brings together a range of relevant agencies to review services and policies in relation to domestic violence and to decide upon minimum standards of service provision. The Partnership is supported by research.

Enforcement of Financial Penalties
Contractor: George Street Research
Due Date: November 2000
Contact: Diane Machin [0131 244 2219]
Study of the nature and effectiveness of methods to enforce payment of penalties.

Forthcoming Research Studies

Evaluation of the Communities That Care Initiative in Scotland
Contact: Denis Oag [0131 244 2115]
Evaluation of the implementation and long term impact of 4 pilot schemes in Scotland.

Publications

Working with Persistent Juvenile Offenders: An Evaluation of the Apex Cue Ten Project (19 99)
Lobley, D and Smith, D
Contact: Diane Machin [0131 244 2219]
Evaluation of 3 year project in Fife focusing on improving skills and attitude to help persistent young offenders acquire training and employment.

Attitudes Towards Crime, Victimisation and the Police in Scotland: a Comparison of White and Ethnic Minority Views (1999)
Ditton J., Scottish Centre for Criminology
Contact: Ian Clark [0131 244 1777]
Investigation of the experiences, victimisation and attitudes of ethnic minority households.
Crime & Criminal Justice Research Finding No.28

Evaluation of Strathclyde Police Witness Protection Project (1999)
Fyfe N., Strathclyde University
Contact: Diane Machin [0131 244 2219]
Evaluation of the operation and impact of the witness protection programme.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Education

Ongoing Work

Pre-school Provision in Rural Areas
Contractor: Aberdeen University
Due Date: August 1999
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907]
Follow-on work related to previous pre-school provision research.

Literature Review of pre-5 Education & Childcare Provision
Contractor: London Institute of Education
Due Date: September 2001
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907]
Summary of research on pre-5's provision.

Evaluation of Early Intervention Initiative
Contractor: Moray House Institute/KPMG
Due Date: February 2001
Contact: Brian Semple [0131 244 0906]
Evaluation of an initiative to raise attainment in literacy and numeracy in early school years.

School Improvement in Deprived Areas Provision
Contractor: Prof. John MacBeth,
Strathclyde University
Due Date: December 2001
Contact: Brian Semple [0131 244 0906]
Action research aimed at raising pupil attainment in 2 secondary schools.

Special Analyses of Scottish School Leavers Survey
Contractor: Prof D Raffe, Edinburgh Uni.
Due Date: November 2000
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907]
Series of analyses in relation to sub-groups of young people (see publications).

New Entrants to FE
Contractor: J Gallacher,
Glasgow Caledonian University
Due Date: January 2000
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907]
Study of new entrants - especially on courses designed to attract people back to learning.

Distribution of FE
Contractor: Prof G Raab, Napier Uni.
Due Date: March 1999
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907]
Mapping of patterns of accessibility of FE provision.

All Day Provision for 3 & 4 Year Olds
Contractor: Stirling University
Due Date: October 2000
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907]
Study of factors contributing to a beneficial experience for 3-5 year olds.

Good Practice in the Care of Very Young Children
Contractor: London Institute of Education
Due Date: November 1999
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907]
Development of self-evaluation tools for the provision of care for 0-3 year olds.

Early Numeracy
Contractor: Scottish Council for Research on Education
Due Date: March 2000
Contact: Brian Semple [0131 244 0906]
Review of factors influencing development of early numeracy.

Delivery of the Curriculum to Disaffected Young People
Contractor: National Foundation for Educational Research
Due date: December 2000
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907]
Study of the delivery of curriculum to disaffected young people.

Forthcoming Research Studies

Learning Gains from Education for Work
Contact: Brian Semple [0131 244 0906]
Study of learning gains both within and outwith school intended to educate them for work.

Youth Transitions: Patterns of Vulnerability and Processes of Social Inclusion
Contact: John Tibbitt [0131 244 0907] or Linda Nicholson [0131 244 7571]
Cross-cutting research between Social Inclusion and Education research branches combining quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Twenty-07 West of Scotland longitudinal youth cohort to investigate the transitional experiences young people and explore the relationship between vulnerability and marginalisation. The analysis will provide data relevant to education, training and social inclusion.

Publications

Interchanges:

50 Early Intervention: Key Issues from Research

51 Youth Work & Vulnerable Young People

56 Schools & Community Education for the learning age

57 Accelerating Learning Attainment: the effectiveness of synthetic phonics

Contact: Jane Ogden-Smith [0131 244 0167]

Scottish School Leavers Survey Special Analysis: Gender and Low Achievement (1999)
Biggart A., CES, Edinburgh University
Contact: John Tibbit t[0131 244 0907]
Investigation of the relationship between gender and low achievement based on the results of the Scottish School Leavers Survey.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Health

Poor health has been identified as a significant barrier to inclusion, and health inequalities have been shown to be worst where deprivation is at its most intense.

The second edition of this bulletin provides coverage of a range of current health research projects, and includes information on a programme of work to develop methods for assessing the impact of interventions to reduce health inequalities and improve the life circumstances of socially excluded groups.

Ongoing Work

The Healthy Old People in Edinburgh Study: physical, psychological and socio-economic predictors of successful ageing
Principal Investigator: Dr John Starr, Centre for the Study of the Ageing Brain, University of Edinburgh
Due date: November 2000
Contact: Mr John Duffy [0131 244 2254]
Collection and analysis of data from a cohort of elderly people to identify the physical, psychological and socio-economic factors, including occupational class and area of residence, that predict good and bad health in advanced old age.

Evaluating the impact on population health and inequalities in health of (mainly) non-health sector policies, programmes and projects in Scotland
Principal Investigator: Dr Mark Petticrew, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow
Due date: ongoing
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
Programme of work to develop methods to assess the impact of interventions to reduce health inequalities, and to develop, implement and evaluate interventions to improve the life circumstances and health of disadvantaged or socially excluded groups through changes in social and physical environments.

Social deprivation and health: area and individual effects in the 1995 Scottish Health Survey
Principal Investigator: Prof Gillian Raab, Napier University
Due date: September 2000
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
Secondary analysis of the 1995 Scottish Health Survey using multilevel modelling techniques to examine the influence on health of characteristics of areas as well as individuals.

Does social deprivation increase cardiac hospitalisations in patients with established chronic heart failure?
Principal Investigator: Prof Allan Struthers, Dept. of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Dundee

Due date: To be confirmed
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
Analysis of hospital admissions data to determine whether social deprivation influences the rate of hospitalisation independently of disease severity.

Health impact of rapid social and economic change
Principal Investigator: Dr Steve Pavis, Research Unit in Health and Behavioural Change, University of Edinburgh
Due date: ongoing
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
A programme of work to explore the health consequences of changes in employment and working practices, the widening dispersion of incomes and growing divide between two-earner and no-earner households.

Drug misuse in Scotland: routes into, out of and local prevalence
Principal Investigator: Prof Neil Mckeganey, Centre for Drug Misuse Research, University of Glasgow
Due date: April 1999
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
Surveys of schoolchildren, interviews with recovering drug addicts and application of mark-recapture methods to identify factors associated with initiation of drug misuse, successful routes out of drug misuse, and the development of methods for establishing prevalence of drug misuse.

Smoking and disadvantage: a qualitative exploration of current smoking behaviours, attitudes and beliefs among disadvantaged smokers
Principal Investigator: Dr A Amos, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh
Due date: June 2001
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
Depth interviews with men and women in areas of social deprivation to determine why people smoke by examining attitudes and beliefs about smoking and the place of smoking within daily routines.

A participatory approach to developing community-based indicators and measures relating to health improvement: a feasibility study
Principal Investigator: Dr Jane Jones, West Lothian Council
Due date: March 2000
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
Participative research involving residents of a deprived community in developing a Health Improvement Instrument.

Measuring health, variations in health and determinants of health in Scotland
Principal Investigator: Dr A Leyland, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow
Due date: ongoing
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
Programme of work to explore the social and spatial patterning of health, including development of measures of inequality, and factors influencing rural disadvantage.

Assessing sexual health needs and family planning services for Chinese women in Glasgow
Principal Investigator: Sue Laughlin, Dept. of Public Health, Greater Glasgow Health Board
Due date: September 1999
Contact: Dr Peter Craig [0131 244 2077]
Depth interviews with Chinese women to explore sexual health and lifestyles, and reasons for the low uptake of breast cancer and cervical screening services of Chinese women compared to the general population.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Housing

Ongoing Work

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Rough Sleepers Initiative
Contractor: School of Housing & Planning /Heriot Watt Uni. & Stirling Uni.
Due Date: autumn 1999
Contact: Richard Evans [0131 244 7625]
Evaluation of the early outcomes of the Initiative.

Survey of Travellers' Views
Contractor: School of Housing & Planning
Heriot Watt Uni. & Ulster Uni.
Due Date: late 1999
Contact: Richard Evans [0131 244 7625]
Exploration of travellers' attitudes towards services and identification of needs.

Review of the Concept of Fuel Poverty
Contractor: Dept. of Urban Studies, University of Glasgow
Due Date: 1999
Contact: Diana Wilkinson [0131 244 0140]
Literature review and thinkpiece on the meaning of fuel poverty, completed earlier this year. Extracts will form part of a wider report including data from the Scottish House Condition Survey.

Evaluation of the Dundee Families Project
Contractor: University of Glasgow
Due date: summer 2001
Contact: Richard Evans [0131 244 7625]
Study to monitor and evaluate the operation and outcomes of an innovative project that seeks to address the problems of anti-social neighbour behaviour among local authority tenants with children through residential care, training programmes and outreach work.

Forthcoming Research Studies

Monitoring and Evaluation of the Empty Homes Initiative
Contact: Diana Wilkinson [0131 244 0140]
Study to evaluate the achievements of the first 3 years of the Empty Homes Initiative on meeting its objectives. The evaluation should examine the extent to which the structures set up in the early years of the EHI will enable local authorities to bring empty homes into use in future years.

Publications

Resolving Neighbour Disputes Through Mediation in Scotland (1999)
Dignan J. & Sorsby A, Sheffield University
Study describing the extent to which mediation was available in Scotland in Spring 1998 and describing the strengths, weaknesses and cost-effectiveness of mediation compared to other measures used to resolve disputes.
Development Dept. Research Findings No. 64

Poor Housing and Ill Health: A Summary of Research Evidence (1999)
Wilkinson. D, Central Research Unit

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Legal Studies

Ongoing Work

The Relevance of Family Mediation Services for Ethnic Minorities
Contractor: Family Mediation Scotland
Due date: June 2000
Contact: Dr. Sue Warner [0131 244 5229]
Examination of the referral of people from ethnic minority groups to family mediation services covered by FMS.

Scottish Child Contact Centres
Due date: December 1999
Contact: Louyse McConnell-Trevillion [0131 244 2983]
Examination of the services provided by the Scottish Child Contact Centres particularly in relation to parents with substance abuse/mental health problems.

The Operation of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984
Contractor: Alison Bean, Suzie MacPherson, Research Consultant
Due date: February 1999
Contact: Alison Bean [0131 244 2982]
An investigation of how the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 currently operates in the Scottish civil courts to assist the work of both the Millan Committee and the Mental Welfare Commission.

Recovery of Possession of Heritable Property
Contractor: Glasgow University
Due date: autumn 1999
Contact: Dr. Sue Warner [0131 244 5229]
Examination of the use of legal remedies to deal with anti-social behaviour.

Characteristics of People with Dementia as Users and Non-Users of the Legal System in Scotland
Contractor: University of Stirling
Due date: November 2000
Contact: George Duguid [0131 244 2094]
A study of the use of the legal system by persons who suffer from dementia, prior to the passing of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Bill.

Evaluation of the Pilot In-Court Advice Project: Phase 2
Contractor: Edinburgh University
Due date: February 2000
Contact: George Duguid [0131 244 2094]
An evaluation of the Edinburgh Sheriff Court In-court Advice project and its mediation component.

Resource Database
Contractor: George Street Research
Due Date: January 2000
Contact: George Duguid [0131 244 2094]
Preparation of a database of advice agencies and similar organisations which provide legal advice and/or assistance to members of the public.

Health Effects on People Affected by Disputes
Contractor: Fife Community Health Project & RFC Total Quality Consultancy
Due date: September 1999
Contact: George Duguid [0131 244 2094]
Small-scale study into health effects on people affected by disputes with which Fife Community Mediation Project has become involved.

ESRC CASE Studentship in Socio-Legal Studies
Contractor: Edinburgh University
Due date: October 2002
Contact: Dr. Sue Warner [0131 244 5229]
Research on the ways in which the affairs of incapable adults are currently handled.

Postgraduate Studentship: A study of the mix of the provision of legal services to the poor: a comparison between England and Scotland
Contractor: Edinburgh University
Due date: winter 1999
Contact: Dr. Sue Warner [0131 244 5229]
Examination of the pattern of the provision of legal services for the poor in Scotland and England, with particular reference to provision through law centres.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Local Government

Publications

Evaluation of the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 (1999)
Various.
Contact: Dr. Sue Warner [0131 244 5229]
An evaluation of the working of the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 including studies of debtors, creditors, facilitators, poindings and warrant sales and diligence statistics.

Referrals between Advice Agencies and Solicitors (1999)
Carole Millar Research
Contact: George Duguid [0131 244 2094]
A study of the relationship between advice agencies and solicitors in order to help develop policy on improving access to legal advice.
Legal Studies Research Finding 21

Community Mediation in Scotland: A Study of Implementation (1999)
MacKay R. & Brown A., Dundee Uni.
Contact: George Duguid [0131 244 2094]
An examination of the development and implementation of community mediation schemes particularly as a mechanism for dealing with neighbourhood disputes.

Completed Work

Analysis of Scottish House Condition Survey for GAE Poverty Indicators
Contractor: School of Planning & Housing
/Heriot Watt Uni.
Due Date: Project recently completed
Contact: Hamish Clark [0131 244 7559]
Exploration of the relationships between benefit claiming, eligibility and income poverty and models cash poverty in Scottish households.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Rural

Social exclusion in rural areas may be experienced quite differently from that in urban areas and a number of rural communities were granted Social Inclusion Partnership status earlier this year, in recognition of the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling social exclusion within Scotland.

Ongoing Work

Social Exclusion in Rural Areas:
Phase I - Thinkpiece
Contractor: Mark Shucksmith
Due Date: May 1999
Contact: Lynn Watkins [0131 244 6500]
Review of current understanding of rural social exclusion and proposals for future research.

Good Practice/New Ideas Guidance on Rural Development Initiatives
Contractor: Various & Lynn Watkins
Due Date: ongoing
Contact: Lynn Watkins [0131 244 6500]
Two series of guidance to support local rural partnerships & rural development agencies & promote the dissemination of innovative approaches and good practice.

Forthcoming Research Studies

Social Exclusion in Rural Areas:
Phase II
Contact: Lynn Watkins [0131 244 6500]
Application of methods recommended in Phase I to investigate rural social exclusion.

Developing a Rural Deprivation Index
Contact: Lynn Watkins [0131 244 6500]
Review of potential indicators and production of a deprivation index for rural Scotland.

Publications

Quality of Services in Rural Scotland (forthcoming 1999)
Contact: Lynn Watkins [0131 244 6500]
Examination of local service provision from the perspective of service users.

Impact of Migration in Rural Scotland (1999)
Findlay A. & Stockdale A.
Contact: Juliet Harvey [0131 244 6631]
Review of migratory patterns in rural Scotland and identification of their social, cultural and economic impact.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Transport

Ongoing Work

Disabled Access to Transport
Contractor: Reid Howie Associates
Due Date: summer 1999
Contact: Janet Ruiz [0131 244 0377]
Examination of the extent & type of transport provision required to meet needs of disabled users.

Road Accidents and Children Living in Disadvantaged Areas
Contractor: Napier University
Due date: summer 1999
Contact: Janet Ruiz [0131 244 0377]
Review of the literature and identification of the gaps in information on this issue.

Women and Transport
Contractor: Reid Howie Associates
Due date: summer 2000
Contact: Janet Ruiz [0131 244 0377]
Research to produce guidance for central and local government transport policy makers to assist in gender auditing future transport policies. It will review women's transport needs and priorities and relate these to the existing transport system.

Forthcoming Research Studies

The Role of Transport in Social Exclusion
Contact: Diana Wilkinson [0131 244 0140]
Examination of the constraints imposed by public transport systems on access to jobs, training etc. in urban areas, especially on peripheral estates.

Projects Commissioned from Other Scottish Executive Research Programmes
Women's Issues

Research on Women's Issues in Scotland: An Overview (1999)
Myers F., University of Edinburgh
Contact: Esther Breitenbach [0131 244 2116]
A study of the extent and character of research being undertaken on women in decision-making in political, economic and social spheres in Scotland.
Women's Issues Research Findings No. 1

Women in Decision-Making in Scotland: A Review of Research (1999)
Breitenbach E
Contact: Esther Breitenbach [0131 244 2116]
An overview of available research on women in Scotland and identifying gaps, with a view to developing a strategy for women's issues research in the Scottish Executive and more widely.
Women's Issues Research Findings No. 2

15

Central Research Unit

Central Research Contact Points

The Scottish Household Survey

The Scottish Household Survey is an important new survey of the people of Scotland, designed to provide accurate, up-to-date information about the characteristics, attitudes and behaviour of Scottish households and individuals. The survey commenced in February 1999 and over the four years for which the survey is initially being funded, some 62,000 interviews will be carried out with households across the whole of Scotland.

The survey covers a range of issues but focuses, in particular, on the areas of transport, local government and social inclusion issues such as housing, health and personal finances. The range of topic coverage will allow an exploration of the relationship between different sets of variables, and this information will support cross-departmental and inter-departmental policies such as those on social inclusion.

The first quarterly bulletin (available on the SHS website at www.scotland.gov.uk/shs) provides an overview of the wide range of information available from the survey, and the second bulletin will focus on the characteristics of households in different social circumstances, covering aspects which are key to social exclusion. Below are just a few examples of research findings related to social inclusion available from the survey so far:

For further information about the survey contact Survey Manager:

Louise Finlayson,
Project Manager,
The Scottish Household Survey,
Scottish Executive Central Research Unit,
2J, Victoria Quay,
EH6 6QQ,
tel. 0131-244-7557,
e-mail: shs@scotland.gov.uk.