Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people under 16 have been referred to children’s panels for alcohol misuse in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Robert Brown: Section 52(J) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 enables children who may have been misusing alcohol or drugs to be referred to the children’s reporter. Statistics on referrals are collated and published by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration in line with the statutory position and in that light information on alcohol misuse alone is not available. Further information may be obtained from www.scra.gov.uk.

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol-related admissions there were to each NHS hospital in each year since 1990.

Lewis Macdonald: Tables providing this information are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Table 1 (Bib. number 39488) shows the combined figures for acute and psychiatric hospital discharges with an explicit diagnosis of alcohol related condition for the period 1990-91 to 2001-02. This has been reported as discharge information because the detail is drawn from two datasets and one of these datasets records discharge data only. Complete data on psychiatric discharges are unavailable for 2002-03 to 2004-05.

Table 2 (Bib. number 39489) provides information on discharges from acute hospitals for the period 1990-91 to 2004-05. For acute hospitals, only discharge data exists.

Arts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist the creative media industries in distribution and marketing.

Patricia Ferguson: Advice on distribution and marketing is included in generic business support provided by the Scottish Enterprise network to individual companies within the digital media and creative industries. The main channels for delivery of this type of support are the Account Management and Client Management services within each Local Enterprise Company, together with the Business Gateways and Cultural Enterprise Offices who offer advice and appropriate services to general business enquirers. In respect of creative media businesses, the work of the Cultural Enterprise Offices, now rolled out in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen, is particularly relevant. Equally important to distribution and marketing are overseas links and in this respect the Business Gateway International network provides appropriate services and links to UK-wide services to assist export marketing.

In addition, Scottish Screen provides a wide range of advice and support to the screen industries in Scotland, including support for distribution, exhibition and market development.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding tax incentives to maintain and encourage creative artists in Scotland.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including taxation. Taxation is a matter reserved to UK Government.

Autism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary pupils there were with autistic spectrum disorder in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Robert Brown: The information requested is provided in the following tables. It should be noted that prior to and including 2001 the data was based on pupils with Records of Needs only. From 2002 onwards the data includes pupils with Records of Needs and/or Individualised Educational Programmes.

Numbers of Pupils in Publicly Funded Primary Schools with Records of Needs and/or Individualised Educational Programmes Having Autistic Spectrum Disorder as their Main Difficulty in Learning

Note: *Signifies a number less than five.

Numbers of Pupils in Publicly Funded Secondary Schools with Records of Needs and/or Individualised Educational Programmes Having Autistic Spectrum Disorder as their Main Difficulty in Learning

Note: *Signifies a number less than five.

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of research recently published by Wake Forest University, United States of America, confirming the finding of the measles virus, RNA, in the terminal ileum of autistic children, what urgent steps will now be taken to have this clinical research replicated in the United Kingdom by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and what explanations will be sought by the Executive from the MRC and CSO regarding their not investigating the relationship between bowel disease and autism since 2001 when the MRC stated that this was a priority area of research.

Lewis Macdonald: The Medical Research Council (MRC) still considers research into autism as a priority. The research strategy implemented by the MRC in 2003, which the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is contributing towards, encourages a programme of research across all aspects of autism. This was thought to be the most appropriate vehicle for testing hypotheses about possible causes and treatment.

The CSO and the MRC would welcome research proposals that wish to further explore the link between bowel disease and autism. However, CSO and the MRC do not operate by commissioning research to address specific questions. Both fund research by responding to research proposals initiated by the research community and it is therefore up to the scientific community to submit ideas for consideration. Since the MRC review and a specific workshop directed towards this area in 2003, only a few applications have been received by the MRC in relation to this, and none have been deemed of sufficient quality (by peer review) to receive funding.

Avian Influenza

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-9171 by Ross Finnie on 2 March 2006, what action it has taken to prepare for the use of vaccination as a disease control tool in an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.

Ross Finnie: Current vaccines for avian influenza have a number of limitations which would restrict their potential use as a credible disease control tool. However, the Executive has continued to work closely with other UK administrations and veterinary and scientific experts to keep the use of vaccination under review in the epidemiological circumstances.

As part of this work the European Commission has approved a strategy for the use of vaccine amongst zoo birds, where this can be justified against the level of risk and potential disease control and biodiversity benefits and we have obtained sufficient stocks of vaccine for that purpose.

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many shots of H5N1 vaccine it has in stock and whether this number would be sufficient to carry out a ring vaccination programme against an outbreak of H5N1 avian flu.

Ross Finnie: Two million doses of vaccine have been ordered by the UK Government to allow a vaccination programme for zoo birds if the veterinary risk assessment suggested that this would be appropriate for the protection of avian biodiversity.

Given the limitations of avian influenza vaccination as a disease control tool, no bank for emergency vaccination is currently in place. The quantity of vaccine required in any vaccination campaign is difficult to quantify as it will depend on the specific circumstances of the outbreak e.g. poultry density, types of poultry, husbandry practices and the size of area affected.

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that staffing levels in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh virology laboratories are sufficient to cope with a possible avian flu pandemic.

Mr Andy Kerr: Avian influenza is distinct from human pandemic influenza. Although the avian influenza virus poses a risk to birds, the risk it poses to humans is extremely limited. This is because it is very difficult to catch from birds and even more difficult to pass from human to human. The major concern is the possibility that the virus could mutate into a form that can easily transmit between humans, and thus give rise to another global epidemic (a pandemic) in humans.

While the work force planning to deliver health services is primarily the responsibility of the individual NHS board, the Scottish Executive is working with NHSScotland, including NHS Lothian, on the planning arrangements for any potential outbreak of pandemic influenza. As plans develop, the Scottish Executive would expect them to reflect arrangements for staffing key areas such as laboratories.

Blood Transfusion Service

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether laboratory facilities shared between virology, bacteriology and the blood bank at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh pose any risk of cross-contamination.

Mr Andy Kerr: During the design stage of the laboratory suite at the new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh the possibility of cross-contamination was taken into account. The two sections of the laboratory are quite separate, with dedicated staff performing virology investigations and blood transfusion staff involved in blood handling. The areas are also physically separate. Control procedures are also in place to ensure accurate diagnostic testing, including minimising the risk of cross-contamination. The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service believe the risk of cross-contamination to be low and are not aware of any episode arising through the incident reporting systems.

Children

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place a statutory duty on local authorities to provide for children's play needs to minimum standards.

Robert Brown: The Executive has no plans to place a general duty on local authorities in the way described.

Local authorities have a specific duty under the School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967. These regulations also state that at every school there shall be an outdoor area or areas laid out and surfaced for educational and recreational activities.

Communities

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been made available (a) directly or (b) indirectly to the Craigmillar Partnership in each year since 2001.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Craigmillar Partnership received indirect Scottish Executive funding from the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) Fund from 2001-2 to 2004-5 and from the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) in 2005-6.

Communities Scotland has made funding available to the Craigmillar Partnership to contribute to its core costs from 2001-2 to 2005-6.

The City of Edinburgh Council, as grant recipient and accountable body, accepts the resources allocated to the Craigmillar Partnership.

Direct funding from the Scottish Executive was also made available in 2001–02 for CCTV.

Concessionary Travel

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that senior citizens are unable to use their concessionary travel cards to book journeys in advance with National Express.

Tavish Scott: Yes. However National Express are currently working to allowing entitlement card holders to book free tickets for Scottish journeys in advance.

In the meantime, cardholders can travel free of charge between any two points within Scotland, on any National Express journey, simply by showing their entitlement card to the driver when they board. If cardholders need to guarantee their seat by pre-booking they will need to pay for the journey and National Express will refund the cost.

Council Tax

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budgeted yield from council tax is for each of the 32 local authorities for 2006-07.

George Lyon: The information requested is contained in the following table:

Amount to be Raised from Council Tax 2006-07

Source: As reported by councils in the CTAS form (council tax assumptions form) returned in March 2006.

Includes council tax benefit. (That is, the table shows amounts expected to be raised by council tax payments and council tax benefits).

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what rate of local income tax would require to be set for each of the 32 local authorities in order to replace the budgeted yield from council tax for 2006-07, on the basis that local income tax would be paid on all income currently taxed at either the standard rate or the higher rate of national income tax.

George Lyon: Budgeted council tax yields are available from council tax returns submitted by councils in March 2006, and are provided separately in the reply to the answer to question S2W-25172 on 8 May. There is no centrally held estimate of local income tax rates that would replace these yields for each local authority in Scotland.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much council tax benefit was paid for each of the 32 local authorities for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06.

George Lyon: The information requested, where available, is given in the following table:

Total Council Tax Benefit Payments (£ Million)

Source: Department of Work and Pensions, subsidy claims data.

Figures may not sum due to rounding.

Note: Data for 2004-05 are provisional and that data for 2005-06 are not yet available.

Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been prosecuted for offences aggravated by religious prejudice in terms of section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 and in how many cases a conviction was secured for the aggravated offence.

Cathy Jamieson: In 2003-04 and 2004-05 a total of 199 persons were proceeded against for an offence with an aggravation of religious prejudice recorded. Of these 179 were convicted.

Dentistry

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of five-year-olds were free from dental caries in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board area.

Lewis Macdonald: Information on Primary 1 children free from obvious dental caries experience (i.e. with no decayed, missing or filled deciduous teeth) is available in the 2003 National Dental Inspection Programme report (published 2004), table 5 and the 2004 National Dental Inspection Programme report (published 2005), table 4 page 10.

The 2003 report can be accessed at:

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/dhsru/publications/ndip/DIP2003_det_partc.htm#21.

and the 2004 report can be accessed at:

http://www.scottishdental.org/docs/ndip_scotland2004.pdf.

Drug Misuse

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people under 16 have been referred to children’s panels for drug misuse in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.

Robert Brown: Section 52(J) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 enables children who may have been misusing alcohol or drugs to be referred to the children’s reporter. Statistics on referrals are collated and published by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration in line with the statutory position and in that light information on drug misuse alone is not available. Further information may be obtained from www.scra.gov.uk.

Education

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent per child on (a) primary education and (b) secondary education in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Peter Peacock: This information is published in Expenditure On School Education In Scotland, 2006 which is available on the Executive’s website though the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00470.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9274 by Euan Robson on 26 July 2004, what percentage of children left primary school having failed to attain level D or above of the 5 to 14 attainment levels in (a) arithmetic, (b) reading and (c) writing in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

Peter Peacock: The information requested for 2000-01 and 2001-02 can be found in tables 9, 10 and 11 of the Statistical Publication Notice 5-14 Attainment in Publicly Funded Schools 2001-02 (by June 2002) published by the Scottish Executive on 4 December 2002. This publication is available from the Scottish Executive website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00211-00.asp.

The information requested for 2002-03 and 2003-04 can be found in Tables 10, 11 and 12 of the Statistical Publication Notice 5-14 Attainment in Publicly Funded Schools 2003-04 (by June 2004) published by the Scottish Executive on 6 December 2004. This publications is available from the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00379-00.asp.

The data in these publications was taken from the National Survey of 5-14 Attainment Levels which was conducted each year by the Education and Children Statistics Unit of the Scottish Executive Education Department since 1998-99. However, as a result of the Assessment, Testing and Reporting 3-14 (2003) consultation this survey has been discontinued, and the 2003-04 publication is the last in the series.

In May 2005 the new Scottish Survey of Achievement was introduced to provide an overview of attainment levels based on a sample of pupils rather than on the whole pupil population. The results of the 2005 survey are not yet available.

Enterprise

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of businesses started in Scotland in each year from 1999 to 2005 remain in operation.

Nicol Stephen: Data on the number of VAT registrations and de-registrations are released annually by the Small Business Service, an agency of the Department for Trade and Industry. These figures are used to monitor the number of business start-ups and closures in the UK. Analysis is carried out to track these businesses and calculate survival rates.

The following table shows the percentage of businesses in Scotland that were started between 1999 and 2004, and were still in operation in 2004:

Source: Small Business Service Analytical Unit, DTI.

Please note that these figures do not account for all Scottish business activity as only companies with a turnover above the VAT threshold are required to register.

Fireworks

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were injured by fireworks in the city of Edinburgh in November each year since 2001.

Mr Andy Kerr: Centrally held information on fireworks injuries is based on attendances requiring treatment at accident and emergency departments and burns/plastic surgery units. The table details the number of cases of fireworks related injuries treated at hospitals within the Edinburgh City Council area between 11 October and 8 November in the years 2001-04, and from 11 October to 12 November 2005.

Source: ISD Fireworks Injuries Survey 2001 to 2005.

Fisheries

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what practical steps it will take to promote investment in, and the creation of, high value and highly skilled jobs in aquaculture.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive provides support in a number of ways to create high value and highly skilled jobs within the aquaculture industry. This is augmented through Executive support for scientific research.

Measures through which assistance is given include the Financial Instrument For Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) which is expected to be replaced by the European Fisheries Fund next year, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership initiative and the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise, through funding from the Scottish Executive, also provides support to the aquaculture industry through direct financial assistance to businesses for capital investment and workforce development as well as providing funding for strategic research and development.

A key factor to securing high quality employment in the industry is to provide the right conditions to secure international investment. The Executive, in successfully persuading the European Union to introduce minimum import prices, has helped create market stability, which will assist investor confidence, which should lead to the creation of further high quality jobs.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the salmon farming industry will be able to utilise its physical and human resources, in light of the anti-dumping measures introduced by the European Commission in January 2006 and the announcements of the closure of 24 of Marine Harvest’s seawater sites and the redundancies of experienced and skilled personnel.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive is implementing the Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture and through that is seeking to deliver a sustainable, diverse and competitive industry. However, individual companies will take actions to rationalise and ensure they remain competitive in the global market.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to investigate and address the impact of Norwegian market dominance and trading practices on the independent sector of the Scottish aquaculture industry.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive, in partnership with the UK Government, and the European Commission (CION) pursued trade defence measures to support the Scottish owned industry and will continue to support efforts to ensure fair trade.

The CION investigation proved that Norwegian companies were dumping salmon into the EU market, which resulted in anti-dumping regulations being applied against Norway. The measures were adopted by the European Council on the 17 January 2006 and are intended to last for five years. The measures establish a 2.80 euro per kilo whole fish equivalent minimum import price but can be subject to review.

The Executive will also support the Commission on work required within any review process, including appeal to the World Trade Organization.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Norwegian takeovers of the Scottish farmed salmon industry have had on career opportunities and whether it considers these to have impacted on the "brain drain" from Scotland, in particular from the Highlands and Islands.

Rhona Brankin: This information is not held centrally, however, the Scottish academic system and the industry continue to turn out highly skilled personnel who are well resourced to be competitive in the Scottish, UK, European and international job markets.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland’s leading position in aquacultural intellectual property, science and technology can be maintained in the absence of a strong indigenous production industry.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive supports both indigenous and multi-national businesses which operate in Scotland and has developed a Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture to deliver a sustainable, diverse and international competitive industry.

In addition when the EU salmon market failed the Executive took appropriate steps under EU trade law and have successfully secured anti-dumping measures to provide market stability over the five year timescale of the measures.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the level of Norwegian ownership of the farmed salmon industry in Scotland is having on Scottish exports, aquaculture operations and services overseas.

Rhona Brankin: Norwegian owned companies control over 80% of Scottish salmon production and therefore make a major contribution to Scottish exports and aquaculture operations.

Football

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has given to football in each year since 1999 and which organisations received any such funding.

Patricia Ferguson: This information is not held centrally. However, I have asked the Chair of sportscotland to write to the member with the information that they have available.

Freedom of Information

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the closure order in respect of shootings at Dunblane Primary School, whether it will list all other situations where closure orders have been granted without a statutory basis.

Ms Margaret Curran: As part of the routine administrative arrangements for managing Scottish Executive records, all records were automatically closed for 30 years, and certain records of a sensitive nature were closed for extended periods up to 100 years, e.g. because they contained personal information. When the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act came into force on 1 January 2005, this administrative arrangement ceased. At this point, there were approximately 30,000 files under a 30 year closure, and approximately 11,000 under longer closures.

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the Executive or the Crown Office employed the 100-year closure rule since 1999 and what the legislative basis for such practice is.

Patricia Ferguson: There is no legislation relating to the closure of Scottish Executive files, so closures were imposed on an administrative basis. Between 1999 and 1 January 2005, when the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act came into force and replaced this administrative arrangement, 100-year closures were imposed on 60 files.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last reviewed the Partnership in Practice agreements; whether it was satisfied with progress in each local authority area, and when it next plans to review these agreements.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is currently in the process of drafting a National Overview of the Partnership in Practice (PiP) agreements for 2004-07. The agreements indicate local authorities are generally making good progress and identify locally agreed priorities for action. The National Overview will highlight areas of good practice and draw attention to national initiatives that assist local authorities in developing their Partnership in Practice agreements for 2007-10.

In addition to written reporting, the Executive holds Partnership in Practice Network meetings regularly. These meetings enable local authority and NHS board representatives to discuss positive local initiatives and also give the Executive regular opportunities to receive and give feedback on the PiP process.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the titles and dates of all reports produced by the Sterile Services Provision Review Group.

Mr Andy Kerr: To date two reports have been produced and issued by the Sterile Services Provision Review Group. These are:

NHSScotland: Sterile Services Provision Review Group: 1st Report – published in August 2001, and

NHSScotland: Sterile Services Provision Review Group: Survey of Decontamination in General Dental Practice – published in November 2004.

Both of these Reports have been published on the Scottish Executive website and can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/health/sspr-00.asp and:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/11/20093/45208 respectively.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all hospital respiratory departments offer pulmonary rehabilitation and, if not, which do not, broken down into NHS board area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally.

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendation NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has made regarding the use of the chemotherapy drug, Temozolomide.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland has made no recommendation on Temozolomide. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) made the following recommendation regarding Temozolomide in February 2006:

Temozolomide (Temodal®) is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) concomitantly with radiotherapy and subsequently as monotherapy.

Further information on this decision by the SMC can be found at www.scottishmedicines.org.uk.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people aged 50 or over suffering a hip fracture receive an assessment in respect of the prevention of falls and the risk of osteoporosis in order to prevent a further fracture.

Lewis Macdonald: These figures are not held centrally.

A six month audit by the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit of rehabilitation services in 11 hospitals, which started in April 2006, will include data on whether or not falls assessments and osteoporosis assessments are carried out within the patient’s initial period of acute or rehabilitative care.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people aged 50 or over presenting at accident and emergency departments having had a fall resulting in injury go on to receive a falls prevention intervention to reduce the risk of further falls.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards provide strength and balance exercise training for people aged 80 or over who are deemed to be at high risk of falls.

Lewis Macdonald: This information requested is not held centrally.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when a framework will be put in place to replace the functions performed by the Advocacy Safeguards Agency.

Mr Andy Kerr: We remain committed to supporting the development of advocacy. NHS boards are required to ensure that independent advocacy is available to all those that require it.

NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and the Scottish Health Council have complementary roles in ensuring the delivery of high quality, patient focussed health services, and ensuring that independent advocacy is available to all who need it. The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance is also a key organisation in ensuring the continued promotion of good practice in advocacy, and we have increased the funding available to it.

We are currently working to develop principles and standards for advocacy in health services and revised guidance on the commissioning and evaluation of advocacy. We plan to begin a consultation on these issues in June.

Homelessness

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any guidelines for local authorities on standards of temporary accommodation for homeless people.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004 (SSI 2004/489) specifies that temporary accommodation which does not meet the standards set out in the Order should not be used for homeless households with children or pregnant women unless exceptional circumstances (also defined in the Order) apply.

The standards defined in the order are related to the physical aspects of the accommodation, its proximity to essential health and education services, and its suitability for children.

More generally, chapter 9 of the Code of Guidance on Homelessness contains further guidance for local authorities on the provision of temporary accommodation for homeless people.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of assault on a police officer in Edinburgh in each year since 2001.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table.

Persons with a Charge Proved for Assaulting a Police Officer¹, Edinburgh Sheriff and Edinburgh District Courts, 2001-02 to 2004-05

Note: 1. Where main offence was under section 41 of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many arrests or prosecutions have been made in each year since 1999 as a result of the involvement of police or prison dogs.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally and is a matter for individual Chief Constables and the Crown Office.

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about the legality in Scotland of the (a) sale and (b) use of personal protection sprays such as Farb-Gel-Spray.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive and the Home Office have regular discussions on a variety of topics of mutual interest. We have had no discussions with the Home Office about the legality in Scotland of personal protection sprays such as Farb-Gel.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government in respect of whether the Wilson Doctrine has been extended to cover MSPs and, if the convention does not apply to MSPs, whether it will be extended to do so.

Cathy Jamieson: The Wilson Doctrine is a matter for the Prime Minister.

Authority to authorise interception of communications for persons located in Scotland, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime, has been transferred to Scottish ministers but the relevant legislation, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), is reserved to Westminster.

Section 65 of RIPA provides for any person who is aggrieved by any conduct to which the Act applies to complain to the independent Investigatory Powers Tribunal if they believe that the conduct took place in relation to them or their property in challengeable circumstances.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24499 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 April 2006, when the established practice of not commenting on operational matters related to the Security and Intelligence Service began.

Cathy Jamieson: The functions of the Security Service, Secret Intelligence Service and Government Communications Headquarters are reserved. It has been established practice for the Scottish Executive not to comment on operational matters relating to these organisations since the Executive’s inception in 1999.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24499 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 April 2006, whether it is in the public interest to know whether Scottish ministers are aware of any potential subversive activity to undermine the democracy of Scotland by (a) senior British military officers and (b) the British Security Service.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to counter any potential threat to undermine parliamentary democracy in Scotland by (a) senior British military officers and (b) the British Security Service in light of recent reported allegations anent plans to undermine the Wilson government in the 1960s.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24499 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 April 2006, when it is appropriate to comment on operational matters relating to the Security and Intelligence Service.

Cathy Jamieson: The Security Service, Secret Intelligence Service, Government Communications Headquarters and the armed forces are all subject to the rule of law. Evidence of criminal offences committed by members of these organisations is subject to investigation and prosecution in line with established procedures.

The practice of not commenting on operational matters related to the Security and Intelligence Services, as referred to in my answer to S2W-24499, exists because it has been deemed in the public interest not to risk jeopardising the work carried out by these organisations by revealing, even inadvertently, potentially sensitive information or investigative techniques.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many covert surveillance operations have been carried out by any relevant authority, current or historic, on MSPs since 1999.

Cathy Jamieson: Information relating to the use of covert surveillance by relevant authorities would, if held by the Scottish Executive, be exempt by virtue of sections 31 (National Security) and 35 (Law Enforcement) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. We believe it would be contrary to the public interest, to confirm whether or not any such information exists or is held by the Scottish Executive. The terms of this refusal are provided for by section 18 (1) of the 2002 act.

As stated in my answer to question S2W-21758 on 18 January 2006, the Chief Surveillance Commissioner publishes details in his annual report of the number of authorisations given under the Police Act 1997 for property interference, and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for directed and intrusive surveillance.

The most recent report – Bib. number 37809, document number SE/2005/203 – was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 3 November 2005.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

Leisure

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the number, extent and identity have been of fields and play areas lost in the City of Edinburgh since 1999.

Patricia Ferguson: This information is not held centrally.

Lighter Evenings (Experiment) Bill

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the impact on Scotland of the Lighter Evenings (Experiment) Bill.

Nicol Stephen: No specific research has been undertaken.

Nuclear Power

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has over the Civil Nuclear Constabulary’s operations in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: Nuclear security is a reserved matter. Under Section 62 of the Energy Act 2004, the UK Civil Nuclear Constabulary is subject to voluntary inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary (HMIC). The act also allows the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to initiate an inspection, and places a duty on the Secretary of State to make the report of an inspection public, subject to national security considerations. Where an inspection covers the constabulary’s activities in Scotland then HMIC for England and Wales must consult the HMIC for Scotland about the Scottish aspects of the inspection.

Olympic Games

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £200 million of public money pledged by the Chancellor of the Exchequer towards the 2012 Olympics for athletics in the recent budget will be allocated to, or spent in, Scotland.

Patricia Ferguson: The £200 million of public money pledged by the Chancellor will be distributed by UK Sport across the Olympic and Paralympic sports over the seven year period to the Games in London in 2012. For the period 2006-09, UK Sport has allocated an additional £65.3 million across these sports of which £458,000 will go to athletics. This funding is for UK/GB level athletes with the aim of achieving success in Beijing and London. Athletes from all home nations who meet the criteria are eligible to receive support from this funding, but there is no set amount reserved for Scottish athletes. Therefore, it is not possible to disaggregate how much would be spent specifically on Scottish athletes or in Scotland.

The remainder of the £200 million will be phased in over the four year period up to and including the 2012 Games subject to the sports meeting designated performance targets.

Parliamentary Questions

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to parliamentary question S2W-23786 which received a holding reply on 17 March 2006.

Nicol Stephen: The answer to question S2W-23786 was issued on 4 May. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at Questions & Answers Search.

People with Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to local authorities for learning disability services in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Lewis Macdonald: Local authorities receive £16 million Change Fund per annum, to help implement the recommendations in The same as you? review of services for people with learning disabilities. Additionally they are to receive an extra £4.2 million in 2006-07 and £5 million 2007-08 to take account of the increasing population and of post-hospital closure demands. The additional change funds are included with general local government grant aided expenditure. A breakdown of Change Fund allocations by local authority can be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39507).

With this exception, no specific funding allocation is made to local authorities for learning disability services. Funding comes from community care allocations and it is for local authorities to allocate these resources as appropriate for their local area.

A table showing net revenue expenditure figures for learning disability services, by local authority area, has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39534).

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to NHS boards for learning disability services in each year since 1999, broken down by board.

Lewis Macdonald: No specific funding allocation is made to NHS boards for learning disability services. Each NHS board is given an annual allocation of funds to meet the health care needs of its resident population, including the cost of learning disability services, taking account of national and local priorities. It is for NHS boards to decide and prioritise on what services they provide for their residents. There are no plans to ring-fence funds for expenditure on learning disabilities.

A table showing learning disabilities services expenditure by NHS board has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39508).

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of reductions in learning disability services by local authorities for the current financial year and, if so, whether these will have an impact on their ability to deliver the recommendations of The Same As You?.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is not aware of any reduction in learning disability services provided by local authorities. Patterns of local authority expenditure for learning disability services are outlined in the answer to question S2W-25133 on 8 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

Questions & Answers Search.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the quality and range of services provided by local authorities to people with learning disabilities.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive monitors the range of services provided by local authorities for people with learning disabilities in a number of ways. Monitoring of services for people with learning disabilities is delivered through the inspection of services by the Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA). A pilot multi-agency inspection of learning disability services led by the SWIA and involving service users, carers, the Care Commission, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, is currently underway in Ayrshire. An evaluation of this multi-agency inspection will be carried out prior to further inspections.

The Scottish Executive collects annual statistics on implementation of The same as you? and the 2005 statistical release is due for publication at the end of May. The National Overview of the Partnership in Practice agreements will also include information on the way the Change Fund is being spent by each local authority.

The work of The same as you? National Implementation Group, Users and Carers Group, and Partnership in Practice Network helps to highlight the range and quality of services that are available in each local authority area, and to consider areas where further development is needed.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on progress in implementing each of the 29 recommendations in The Same As You?.

Lewis Macdonald: The same as you? Implementation Group has produced a number of reports, which demonstrate areas where work has been taken forward to implement the recommendations of The same as you?. These reports look at hospital closure and service reprovision, employment, advocacy, children’s services, and day services.

The majority of recommendations were not for the Executive to implement, however, the National Overview of the Partnership in Practice agreements will outline areas of progress at a national and local level.

Play

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the development of training for existing school staff to enable them to understand the value of play.

Robert Brown: Teachers are contractually obliged to undertake 35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) each year. Each teacher, in discussion with his/her line manager, produces an annual plan of CPD activity based on personal need taking account of school, local and national priorities. The Executive is providing £13.5 million in 2006-07 to allow local authorities to co-ordinate and provide CPD for teachers. This could include the development of training resources for teachers and other school staff relating to the value of play.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that recent developments in understanding the benefits of play are included in training courses for all new teachers and nursery staff.

Robert Brown: The three to five curriculum recognises the powerful contribution that play makes to children’s learning. The curriculum review will extend the approach used in pre-school to the initial stages of primary. Any changes to the curriculum, including any relating to the benefits of play, and amendments to national policies covering pre-school and the early years of primary education will be reflected in teacher training courses.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority, working in partnership with the relevant sector skills councils, Skills Active for playwork and Skills for Care and Development for early education and child care, update and where appropriate develop new training courses to meet the needs of the sector. This is an on-going process designed to ensure employers, the current workforce, including nursery staff, and new entrants are appropriately trained.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct more resources and initiatives to take account of the fundamental significance of play in children’s lives.

Robert Brown: A number of existing initiatives takes account of the significance of play in children’s lives. There are currently two initiatives where policy in this area is being further developed.

The existing three to five curriculum recognises the powerful contribution that play makes to children’s learning. The curriculum review will extend the approaches used in pre-school to the initial stages of primary emphasising the importance of opportunities to learn through purposeful, well-planned play.

Draft Scottish Planning Policy 11, due to issue for consultation shortly, will ask local authorities to prepare an audit of open space to inform their strategy for local provision. The draft policy will also include national minimum standards for open space provision within certain types of new development.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct all local authorities to take a lead role in developing local play policies.

Robert Brown: A number of Scottish Executive policies and strategies already require local authorities and individual providers to support play opportunities for children.

In particular, the Executive’s Childcare Strategy stresses the importance of ample opportunities for sporting activities and play. This is reinforced by the National Care standards for early education and child care up to the age of 16, which require that activities provided by staff will allow children and young people to enjoy both organised and free play.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop guidance to facilitate the development of a community-build play area programme.

Robert Brown: The Executive has no plans to develop guidance specifically to facilitate the development of a community-build play area programme. However, the £318 million Community Regeneration Fund allocated to Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) is supporting a range of projects and services to help deliver better outcomes in disadvantaged communities. It is for CPPs to decide locally whether to support the development of community play facilities.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop a new range of playwork training material and courses to meet the needs of the education profession.

Robert Brown: The Executive has no plans to produce a new range of playwork training materials or courses for the education profession.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority, working in partnership with the relevant sector skills councils, Skills Active for playwork and Skills for Care and Development for early education and child care, update and where appropriate develop new training courses to meet the needs of the sector. This is an on-going process designed to ensure employers, the current workforce and new entrants are appropriately trained.

Teachers also have a commitment to continuing professional development and can access a range of training publications, best practice case studies, events and courses on play through Learning and Teaching Scotland.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop guidance on how to encourage children’s play opportunities, whilst managing risk.

Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive currently has no plans to develop specific guidance in this area.

Within early education and child care, the National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16 require that activities provided by staff allow children and young people to enjoy both organised and free play. The Care Commission’s role in inspecting services includes ensuring that risks are appropriately managed.

Police

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police stations had disabled access in each year since 1999 and what percentage this represented of the total number of stations in each force area, shown in table form.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally and is a matter for individual chief constables.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the decision of the Scottish Information Commissioner that some monthly performance statistics on prisoner escort by Reliance should be disclosed, whether the Executive will take steps with Reliance to vary the confidentiality clause in the contract between them to enable the release of the information that I requested in written questions S2W-20530, S2W-20531, S2W-20532, S2W-20533, S2W-20534, S2W-20535, S2W-20536 and S2W-20537 which was either "not available" or "not releasable under the terms of agreement with the Company".

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

The SPS consider that the commissioners’ decision can be complied with without adjusting the contract.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many instances there have been of prisoners who have been released or granted bail following a court appearance being returned by Reliance to the prison in which they were originally incarcerated, providing details of each instance, including the (a) date of the incident, (b) prisoner involved, (c) prison involved, (d) court involved and (e) amount of time the prisoner was detained after being released or granted bail by the court.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

This information is not available.

Renewable Energy

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether objectors to the Lewis Wind Power and Eisgen wind farm proposals will be required to withdraw their objections in order to indicate that their concerns have been addressed by the revised proposals.

Allan Wilson: There is and will be no such requirement on objectors. If the proposal objected to is referred to Public Local Inquiry and they do not withdraw their objection, they will continue to have the opportunity to make their case to the Inquiry.

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has incorporated into Scots law all the requirements of EU Directive 2001/77/EC that are applicable to Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The Directive in question, which deals with the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources, imposes a number of requirements on member states. Some of these are administrative in nature, and some have been implemented through the introduction of legislation. The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Order 2006, initially introduced in April 2002, specifically addresses Article 3(1) of the Directive (creating, in tandem with other Orders, a UK market for renewable electricity), while the Electricity (Guarantees of Origin of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources) Regulations, which comply with the requirements of Article 5 and which cover Scotland, England and Wales, came into force in October 2003.

The ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the Directive is complied with rests with the UK Government.

Rescue Services

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with civilian mountain rescue teams on the implications of privatisation of air search and rescue services and, if so, what concerns were expressed.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with police forces on the implications of privatisation of air search and rescue services and, if so, what concerns were expressed.

Cathy Jamieson: No discussions have taken place on this issue.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested any assessment of the potential impact on police and civilian mountain rescue teams of privatisation of air search and rescue services and, if so, whether it will publish such an assessment.

Cathy Jamieson: No assessment has been requested.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police and civilian mountain rescue teams have been assisted by military air search and rescue services in each of the last five years.

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police search and rescue teams have been assisted by military air search and rescue services in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23272 by Tavish Scott on 15 March 2006, when it expects the response to the consultation on its review of the trunk road and motorway tourist signposting policy to be published.

Tavish Scott: The last local authority consultation response referred to in my answer to question S2W-23272 was not received until 28 April 2006. Responses are being considered and it is now hoped to publish the results of the consultation in early June 2006.

Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Sport

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that appropriate facilities are available for Scotland’s top gymnasts to train for major championships.

Patricia Ferguson: The Executive and sportscotland are working with local authorities, sports governing bodies and other partners in taking forward the national and regional sports facilities strategy. This strategy will see a number of regional sports halls developed across Scotland which may be available to gymnasts for preparation for major championships. Funding may also be available from sportscotland’s Building for Sport programme to support the development of gymnastics facilities.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many visitors to Scotland were from (a) the United States of America, (b) Canada, (c) Germany, (d) Italy, (e) France, (f) the Netherlands, (g) Belgium, (h) Australia, (i) New Zealand and (j) EU accession states in each year since 1999.

Patricia Ferguson: The number of visitors from the United States of America, Canada, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and the EU accession states in each year since 1999 is shown in the following table:

Source: International Passenger Survey.

Note: Numbers are in thousands.

Data relating to the accession states has been sourced from the International Passenger Survey figures for Cyprus/Malta/Gibraltar, former Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, Poland, former USSR and Eastern Europe.

The number of visitors from overseas continues to recover from a decline which culminated in 2001-02, when tourism was significantly affected by Foot and Mouth Disease, September 11, and SARS.

The estimated number of visitors for 2005 is not available yet.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone inquiries were placed with visitscotland.com in each of the last three years and, of these, what percentage (a) were processed and (b) led to a booking.

Patricia Ferguson: The number of telephone inquiries received and responded to by visitscotland.com in each of the last three years totalled 417,000, 461,000, and 427,000 in 2003, 2004, and 2005 respectively. It is important to note that visitscotland.com exists to provide information to potential visitors as well as to make bookings, the proportions of bookings generated from these inquiries over the same three-year period were 10%, 13%, and 15% respectively.

Transport

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with bus operators regarding cross-border travel between Scotland and England and what the outcome of those discussions has been.

Tavish Scott: Every operator of eligible bus services has agreed to participate in the National Bus Travel Concession Scheme, so all their services are available to cardholders. For cross border travel this means free travel has been available between Scotland and Carlisle or Berwick on relevant bus services since the start of the new Scheme on 1 April 2006. The reimbursement arrangements for these services and journeys have also been clarified with the bus operators in question, save for some points of detail relating to National Express.

Veterinary Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Scottish Veterinary Service has been in each year since 1996.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) veterinary officers, (b) administrative staff and (c) veterinary investigation officers there have been in the Scottish Veterinary Service in each year from 1996 to 2006 and what the total staff complement has been in each year.

Ross Finnie: The State Veterinary Service (SVS) is a GB wide executive agency sponsored by Defra and directly accountable to GB rural development ministers for its activities in their countries. Any breakdown of cost or staffing information would have to be provided by the Chief Executive of the State Veterinary Service for the period from 1 April 2005 and from Defra for the preceding period. However, whilst the SVS has a role in animal disease surveillance it does not employ veterinary investigation officers. In Scotland this service is operated, on behalf of the Scottish Executive, by the Scottish Agricultural College.

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what average time is taken to check bird samples for contagious disease by veterinary inspection laboratories available to the Scottish Veterinary Service.

Ross Finnie: Initial screening tests using polymerase chain reaction tests can be available within around six hours of testing. These can give preliminary results and are useful in helping to screen out suspect disease. However, on their own they are insufficient to confirm disease.

It takes seven days from receipt of the sample at the testing laboratory for internationally validated tests to provide final confirmation of negative results for avian influenza and Newcastle disease. Positive results can become available earlier but often need to be re-run to establish their validity. Timings are dependent on each stage of the laboratory process working smoothly which is influenced by sample quality.

Voluntary Sector

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it has made available to charities and voluntary organisations since the transitional hardship fund expired on 31 March 2004.

Malcolm Chisholm: Since the expiry of the transitional hardship fund on 31 March 2004 the Scottish Executive has provided considerable financial support to the voluntary sector. In 2004-05 the voluntary sector was provided with £404 million in grants, either directly or through non-departmental public bodies and other public agencies. The amount of financial support increased significantly to £523 million in 2005-06.

Moreover, organisations applying for grant funding should include all associated overhead costs, including water charges, as part of their bid in keeping with the principles of full cost recovery to which the Scottish Executive is committed.

The following questions were given holding answers:

S2W-25046

S2W-25047

S2W-25064

S2W-25072

S2W-25370

S2W-25371

S2W-25372

S2W-25373

S2W-25374

S2W-25375