To ask the Scottish Executive whether the publication of its action plan on responding to the needs of children of drug misusing parents has been delayed and, if so, what the reasons are for the delay.

The Executive had planned to publish its action plan this autumn, as a follow-up to a series of Scotland-wide consultation seminars. We have, however, decided to postpone publication until spring 2006 so that the document can be informed by other key initiatives, such as the scoping study on parental substance misuse, the Getting It Right for Every Child proposals for action, and the 21st Century Social Work Review.