BUSINESS BULLETIN 1 / 2001

Friday 5 January 2000

Section E - Written questions lodged from 20 December 2000 to 4 January 2001

Business Bulletin:

Section E - Written questions lodged from 20 December 2000 to 4 January 2001

S1W-12128 Robert Brown: To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of "fuel poverty" was used in determining the figure of 236,000 households in fuel poverty (Press Release SE3192/2000, 12 December 2000).

S1W-12129 Robert Brown: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the rules on the write-off of old community charge and council tax debt.

S1W-12130 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce long-term unemployment in males aged 50-64 and females aged 50-59.

S1W-12131 Phil Gallie: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the performance of the Paisley University Business Faculty.

S1W-12132 Phil Gallie: To ask the Scottish Executive how many student applications were made to Paisley University in academic years (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii) 1999-2000 and (iv) 2000-01.

S1W-12133 Phil Gallie: To ask the Scottish Executive what the management structure and staffing numbers were at the Paisley University Business Faculty in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 2000-01.

S1W-12134 Phil Gallie: To ask the Scottish Executive how many Business Faculty students there were at Paisley University in academic years (i) 1997-98, (ii) 1998-99, (iii)1999-2000 and (iv) 2000-01.

S1W-12135 Christine Grahame: To ask the Scottish Executive how many elderly people currently attend day care centres in total and as a percentage of those aged over 65, broken down by local authority.

S1W-12136 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it currently provides for the Scottish Youth Parliament.

S1W-12137 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to fund the Scottish Youth Parliament in future years and at what level.

S1W-12138 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it plans to take to enable the Scottish Youth Parliament to extend its activities.

S1W-12139 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make the Scottish Youth Parliament one of the bodies routinely consulted on legislation and initiatives affecting young people.

S1W-12140 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Youth Parliament will be invited to be represented on the Ministerial Review Group established to monitor the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

S1W-12141 Mr Mike Rumbles: To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body receives detailed audited accounts of the office of the Scottish Parliament Commissioner for Administration and, if so, whether these will be published on an annual basis.

S1W-12142 Nick Johnston: To ask the Scottish Executive whether any evaluation has been done of either the impact that the Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) has on the economy of Scotland or of any implications that privatisation of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency would have for the DDA's impact in this respect.

S1W-12143 Mr Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Parliament's travel sourcing contract was put out to tender; if so, when, to whom invitations to tender were given and why the contract was given to Carlson Wagonlit.

S1W-12144 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what the role and remit of the Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government is in relation to the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.

S1W-12145 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what prompted its decision to launch a ministerial led review of Scotland's cities.

S1W-12146 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether Inverness will be included in the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.

S1W-12147 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive which of the Parliament's committees it intends to invite to participate in the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.

S1W-12148 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what financial resources will be made available to carry out the recently announced review of Scotland's cities.

S1W-12149 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the outcome of the recently announced review of Scotland's cities to be presented to the Parliament.

S1W-12150 Dr Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer by Rhona Brankin to my supplementary question to S1O-2259 on 20 September 2000 and the answer to question S1W-11344 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 18 December 2000, when it intends to discuss with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities the impact of the non-payment of discretionary bursaries by some local authorities and any implications of this for the implementation of the National Cultural Strategy.

S1W-12151 Irene McGugan: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing specific funding which could be accessed by schools to provide cycle park facilities and a training programme for young cyclists.

S1W-12152 Irene McGugan: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage volunteers to act as trainers to young cyclists in areas of social deprivation.

S1W-12153 Irene McGugan: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to make funding available for safer routes to school projects in future financial years.

S1W-12154 Irene McGugan: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10039 by Iain Gray on 30 October 2000, what plans it now has to secure the continuation of the work done by Disability Scotland before it entered administrative insolvency.

S1W-12155 Kay Ullrich: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to amend current legislation to ensure that an individual who raises a court action that results in a decision that expenses as taxed should be met by another party is not left having to meet the cost of those expenses, or part of them, when the person against whom they were awarded is subsequently declared bankrupt.

S1W-12156 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it will provide to Glasgow, Lothian, Lanark and Argyll and Clyde Ambulance Services to ensure that they reach their 999 response time targets.

S1W-12157 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11591 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 December 2000, what assessment it has made of the impact in Scotland of any proposed introduction across the United Kingdom of British Energy Saving Time.

S1W-12158 Nick Johnston: To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the Rosyth traffic study undertaken on behalf of Fife Council and Scottish Enterprise Fife by Carl Bro in association with Spaven McCrossan Partnership and ERM and what action it intends to take in light of this study.

S1W-12159 Alex Johnstone: To ask the Scottish Executive whether all of Scotland's share of the funding for the British pig industry announced on 30 March 2000 remains committed to the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme given delays in the scheme's opening.

S1W-12160 Irene Oldfather: To ask the Scottish Executive what new steps are being taken to assist industrial museums.

S1W-12161 Maureen Macmillan: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in addressing the lessons from the Report of the Inquiry into BSE and variant CJD.

S1W-12162 Maureen Macmillan: To ask the Scottish Executive what response it will make to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's Strategic Review of Organic Waste Spread on Land.

S1W-12163 Des McNulty: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its performance in replying to correspondence from MPs or MSPs.

S1W-12164 Fiona McLeod: To ask the Scottish Executive why it is paying £26.1 million in the current financial year as a service charge for the M6 which does not start or finish in Scotland and who this money is being paid to.

S1W-12165 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will require of each health board to identify the action boards are taking to tackle homelessness and address inequalities, as outlined on page 20 of Our National Health - A Plan for Action, a Plan for Change.

S1W-12166 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive how many three-year-olds had free early years education places providing five or more sessions of education per week in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) in each year from 1992 to 1999, in (a) Scotland and (b) each education authority.

S1W-12167 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional free early years education places will be required to meet its target for free places in (a) Scotland and (b) each educational authority.

S1W-12168 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of the latest estimates by schools of the sums needed for the repairs to school buildings, broken down by education authority.

S1W-12169 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive what the real terms expenditure per pupil was in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) in each year since 1992, in (a) Scotland and (b) each education authority.

S1W-12170 Nora Radcliffe: To ask the Scottish Executive when the Sexual Offenders (Amendment) Act 2000, which comes into force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on 8 January 2001, will come into force in Scotland.

S1W-12171 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10038 by Mr Jim Wallace on 5 October 2000, whether it will make an announcement this year on the outcome of the evaluation of responses to the consultation paper issued on 12 January 2000 regarding high hedges.

S1W-12172 Donald Gorrie: To ask the Scottish Executive which recruitment agencies it uses.

S1W-12173 Donald Gorrie: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it follows any guidelines for contracting recruitment agencies and what factors, other than cost, are considered in such decisions.

S1W-12174 Donald Gorrie: To ask the Presiding Officer which recruitment agencies the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body uses.

S1W-12175 Donald Gorrie: To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body follows any guidelines when contracting recruitment agencies and what factors, other than cost, are considered in such decisions.

S1W-12176 Mr Gil Paterson: To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place for recording the number and nature of European Convention on Human Rights issues raised in legal proceedings under section 7 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

S1W-12177 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any of the following fluorides for use in the water supply: calcium fluoride, lead fluoride, aluminium fluoride, sodium fluoride or silico fluorides (known as hexaflurosilisic acid) and, if not, what other fluoride is being considered.

S1W-12178 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost to the NHSiS is of hospital acquired infections.

S1W-12179 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the antibiotic Linezolid will be recommended for use as part of NHS Trusts' strategies to treat hospital acquired infections.

S1W-12180 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic impact of the quota cuts agreed at the December meeting of the EU Fisheries Council, including any estimated figures for loss of income and job losses within the fishing industry.

S1W-12181 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive how many bilateral meetings it has arranged as a result of the outcome of the December meeting of the EU Fisheries Council, with whom and when.

S1W-12182 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to meet with Her Majesty's Treasury to discuss financial issues affecting the fishing industry and, if so, when.

S1W-12183 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it made to Her Majesty's Government during the December meeting of the EU Fisheries Council, what response it received and what the outcome was of its representations.

S1W-12184 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any areas of disagreement that arose between it and Her Majesty's Government during the December meeting of the EU Fisheries Council.

S1W-12185 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to put in place any area closures or other conservation measures in time for the 2001 spawning season for cod.

S1W-12186 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in relation to consumer protection matters.

S1W-12187 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is consulted as a matter of course on the appointment of the Crown Estate Commissioners.

S1W-12188 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) the European Commission, regarding any implications for the offshore industry of the Large Combustion Plant Directive; whether it has been consulted about any such implications, and, if so, by whom and what its response was.

S1W-12189 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications for the Scottish economy are of the Large Combustion Plant Directive.

S1W-12190 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the water authorities have any plans to announce any redundancies or voluntary severance scheme; if so, whether it was consulted on any such proposals and, if so, when; when any such announcement will be made, and how many jobs will be involved.

S1W-12191 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the impact on the economy of bundle services.

S1W-12192 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees have been employed in each water authority in each year since their establishment to date.

S1W-12193 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10595 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 November 2000, why the number of presentations of pupils in technological studies at Standard Grade and Higher Grade has decreased over the last five years.

S1W-12194 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10595 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 November 2000, what measures it has taken, or intends to take, to combat the decline in the number of presentations of pupils in technological studies at Standard Grade and Higher Grade.

S1W-12195 Christine Grahame: To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage increases were in (a) water and (b) sewerage charges in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98, (iii) 1998-99, (iv) 1999-2000 and (v) 2000-01, using 1995-96 as the base figure and broken down by water authority.

S1W-12196 Christine Grahame: To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) people receiving Council Tax Benefit but not 100% benefit and (b) people not in receipt of Council Tax Benefit were in payment arrears in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98, (iii) 1998-99, (iv) 1999-2000 and to date in the current financial year.

S1W-12197 Mr Keith Harding: To ask the Scottish Executive how much money is expected to be collected in water and sewerage charges in (i) 2001-02 and (ii) 2002-03, broken down between domestic and non-domestic payers.

S1W-12198 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make any announcements during the parliamentary recess; if so, when any such announcements will be made and why they will be made during recess.

S1W-12199 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a national policy on strategic retail developments.

S1W-12200 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of providing nursing home care for all the pensioners currently awaiting a place in a nursing home, following Lord Hardie's recent judgement in the Court of Session in the recent Arthur MacGregor case, broken down by local authority.

S1W-12201 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding it will make available to local authorities to meet the costs of providing a permanent place in a nursing home for the 2,000 pensioners currently on waiting lists, following Lord Hardie's recent judgement in the Court of Session in the recent Arthur MacGregor case.

S1W-12202 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive over what timescale all local authorities will be expected to comply with Lord Hardie's recent judgement in the Court of Session in the recent Arthur McGregor case.

S1W-12203 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive how many children currently benefit from out of school care places and what the projected number is for next year.

S1W-12204 Mr Keith Harding: To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance, financial or otherwise, is available to home owners who have difficulty in selling their home as a result of other tenants within the building which they live in being drug dealers and/or drug users.

S1W-12205 Mr Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what specific EU Regulations limit it to providing 50% state aid to the Campbeltown and Bute Creameries in relation to the cost of their compliance with the Urban Waste Water Directive.

S1W-12206 Mr Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to seek a delay in the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive with specific reference to creameries.

S1W-12207 Mr Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to seek flexibility from the EU on the 50% state aid rule regarding creameries.

S1W-12208 Mr Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between Ministers and/or officials and the EU over the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive, which Minister has raised the issue, when, and what was the response.

S1W-12209 Mr Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any other EU countries who have been able to seek and obtain an exemption to the rule that governments can contribute a maximum of 50% of the costs of a project under state aid regulations; if so which countries these are and what were the circumstances of the exception, and, if it is not aware of any such examples, whether it will look into the possibility of seeking an exemption as a matter of urgency and report to the Parliament early in 2001.

S1W-12210 Mr Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all forms of public support which could be made available to Scottish Milk Products in relation to the costs of complying with the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive, for example through enterprise agencies.

S1W-12211 Mr Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Rural Development will make a Ministerial Statement to the Parliament early in 2001 on any implications for farmers of the Urban Waste Water Directive.

S1W-12212 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical geneticists are currently being trained.

S1W-12213 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive whether training budgets in the NHSiS are sufficient to meet the training and professional development needs of staff.

S1W-12214 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage any highly trained professional staff who have left the NHSiS to return to work there.

S1W-12215 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that any stress experienced by staff in the NHSiS is minimised.

S1W-12216 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive whether a national strategy will be developed and implemented to alleviate any cross-contamination of hospital acquired infections.

S1W-12217 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive how will it end "postcode prescribing", given that local Drugs and Therapeutics Committees have autonomy in local health board decision making.

S1W-12218 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to assist NHSiS trusts to balance their costs with the level of available resources.

S1W-12219 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive how many "one-stop" services are available for stroke patients.

S1W-12220 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive how many stroke patients are cared for in dedicated stroke units, staffed by multi-disciplinary teams.

S1W-12221 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive how any shortages of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists are affecting the care and treatment of people affected by a stroke.

S1W-12222 Margaret Smith: To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are currently awaiting admission to hospital for (i) child health treatment, (ii) cancer treatment, (iii) cardio-thoracic treatment, (iv) elderly treatment, (v) ENT/OMF treatment, (vi) genetics, (vii) treatment, (viii) general medical treatment, (ix) general surgery and urology, (x) neurosurgery and neurology, (xi) obstetrics and gynaecology, (xii) opthalmology, (xiii) orthopaedics, (xiv) radiology, (xv) nutrition and dietetics and (xvi) physiotherapy, broken down by health board.

S1W-12223 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Lord Advocate on 29 November 2000 (Official Report, col. 413) on the Chhokar case, whether Sir Anthony Campbell will appoint his own staff and choose which senior Scottish counsel are to assist him with the inquiry.

S1W-12224 Michael Russell: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Lord Advocate on 29 November 2000 (Official Report, col. 413) on the Chhokar case, whether the Crown Office will be providing support staff to Sir Anthony Campbell and, if so, under whose control they will be during the inquiry.

S1W-12225 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of teacher vacancies was in (i) nursery schools, (ii) primary schools and (iii) secondary schools for each year since 1997 in (a) Scotland and (b) each education authority.

S1W-12227 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual percentage change in the volume of all motor vehicle traffic was for each year since 1984.

S1W-12228 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of waste was recycled in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999 in (a) Scotland and (b) each local authority.

S1W-12229 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive which parliamentary constituencies fall within which New Deal Units of Delivery.

S1W-12230 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive which parliamentary constituencies contain residential accommodation of institutions of higher education.

S1W-12231 George Lyon: To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Health Plan addresses the needs of Argyll and Clyde Trust Board, especially with regard to local accountability in the NHS in rural areas.

S1W-12232 George Lyon: To ask the Scottish Executive how it will involve local communities in the decision-making process of health boards in rural areas.

S1W-12233 George Lyon: To ask the Scottish Executive how small island communities such as Tiree and Islay will have the same ability to be involved in the decision-making process of health boards as larger, mainland communities such as Glasgow or Paisley.

S1W-12234 Christine Grahame: To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as part of its social inclusion policy, it will make representations to all banks in Scotland to seek changes in the rules on verification framework and regarding the production of original bank books, building society accounts and other documents, in particular in relation to older people.

S1W-12235 Christine Grahame: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to seek a change in the rules for Crisis Loans so that an applicant need not apply in person in remote areas of Scotland.

S1W-12237 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive what the clear-up rate of recorded crimes was (a) in each category of crime and (b) in total for (i) each police force and (ii) Scotland in 1979, 1987 and in each year since 1992.

S1W-12238 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of pensioners living in households with income below half of the UK average was in each year since 1979 in (a) Scotland and (b) each parliamentary constituency.

S1W-12239 Euan Robson: To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of children living in households with income below half of the UK average was for each year since 1979 in (a) Scotland and (b) each parliamentary constituency.

S1W-12240 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure was on (a) police officers and (b) policing per head of population in (i) each police force and (ii) Scotland in 1979, 1987 and in each year since 1992, and what change in expenditure these figures represented in real terms.

S1W-12241 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of (a) police officers, (b) civilian staff, (c) special constables and (d) police officers was per head of population in (i) each police force and (ii) Scotland in 1979, 1987 and in each year since 1992.

S1W-12242 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of recorded crimes was (a) in each category of crime and (b) in total for (i) each police force and (ii) Scotland in 1979, 1987 and in each year since 1992.

S1W-12243 Ian Jenkins: To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of convictions was (a) in each category of crime and (b) in total for (i) each police force and (ii) Scotland in 1979, 1987 and in each year since 1992.

S1W-12244 Fiona McLeod: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Environment, Sport and Culture has visited or intends to visit the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority facility at Dounreay.

S1W-12245 Fiona McLeod: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken or intends to take to speed up completion of the recommendations contained in the Safety Audit of Dounreay conducted by the Health and Safety Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in 1998.

S1W-12246 Fiona McLeod: To ask the Scottish Executive what directions have been given to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) under section 40(1) of the Environment Act 1995 (a) in connection with the Safety Audit of Dounreay conducted by the Health and Safety Executive and SEPA in 1998 and (b) on any other matter.

S1W-12247 Fiona McLeod: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from any other body, including Her Majesty's Government, requesting it to give directions to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency under section 40(1) of the Environment Act 1995 and what action resulted from any such representations.

S1W-12248 Richard Lochhead: To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it has made available to the paper manufacturing industry in each of the last three years.

S1W-12249 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding harmonisation of VAT on building work at 5% for both new build and repairs as proposed in Better Homes for Scotland's Communities, the response by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to its draft Housing Bill, and regarding the effect of any such harmonisation on levels of housing grants and subsidies.

S1W-12250 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is funding the retraining costs of former nurses who wish to return to work in the NHS.

S1W-12251 Mary Scanlon: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Highlands and Islands will be considered as a location for any of the Scottish NHS Direct centres.

S1W-12252 Dr Sylvia Jackson: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to its individual learning accounts initiative.

S1W-12253 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Peter Peacock on 2 November 2000 that announcements would be made before Christmas on how the discussion of a small business rates relief scheme would be taken forward (Official Report, col. 1320) and to the statement by Angus MacKay on 7 December 2000 that an announcement would be made later that month about the point reached in consideration of such a scheme (Official Report, col. 694), why no such announcements were made.

S1W-12254 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive how many 18 to 24 year olds left the New Deal between 1 January and 31 December 1999, and of those (i) how many have then gone into sustained, unsubsidised employment and (ii) how many have an unknown destination, broken down by parliamentary constituency in each case.

S1W-12255 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive whether statistics collected on the participation in and the outcomes from the New Deal are broken down by (a) ethnic origin and (b) gender.

S1W-12256 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive what number and value of funding bids was made to The Scottish Office and to it in each year since 1995-96 for the repair of school buildings in (i) Scotland and (ii) each education authority area.

S1W-12257 Mr Jamie Stone: To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) total budget and (b) amount of any budget deficit was for each higher education institution in each year since 1995.

S1W-12258 Margaret Smith: To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) NHS Trusts and (b) health boards fall within which parliamentary constituencies.

S1W-12259 Margaret Smith: To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) total budget and (b) amount of any budget deficit was for each NHS Trust in each year since 1995, broken down by Trust.

S1W-12260 Margaret Smith: To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were cancelled and, of these patients, how many were not re-admitted within one month in each year since 1995, broken down by health board.

S1W-12261 Margaret Smith: To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds were available in each NHS Trust in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year from 1992 to date.

S1W-12262 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to provide schoolchildren with greater opportunities to participate in creative activities outwith school hours.

S1W-12263 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive when it will finalise the distribution of any Excellence Fund Core Programme and Special Programme monies for 2000-2001 that have not yet been allocated.

S1W-12264 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities exercised their discretionary powers to establish a cash incentive scheme funded through their own resources to enable tenants to purchase a home on the open market in each of the last four financial years and in the current financial year to date.

S1W-12265 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of any large-scale stock transfers, local authority housing rent arrears which exist at the time of the transfer will remain the responsibility of local authorities or transfer to the relevant housing association.

S1W-12266 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the rate of inflation will be in 2003-04.

S1W-12267 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish any new non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, to specify these.

S1W-12268 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to abolish any non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, which ones.

S1W-12269 Mr Kenneth Gibson: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to merge any non-departmental public bodies in 2001 and, if so, which ones.

S1W-12270 Mr John Home Robertson: To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources are available for investment in research infrastructure in Scottish higher education institutions in the current year.

S1W-12271 Shona Robison: To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken by each health board to fill nursing vacancies was in each year from 1990 to the current year.

S1W-12272 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer which of the works package contracts let in relation to the Holyrood Project have been completed; whether each ongoing contract is proceeding according to the agreed timescale, and what the original and revised date of completion is in each case where any contract has been subject to delay.

S1W-12273 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer what capital contracts have been let to date in relation to the Holyrood Project, indicating in each case the successful tenderer and the timescale for each works package.

S1W-12274 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer what capital contracts are currently out to tender, in relation to the Holyrood Project, indicating in each case the timescale for return of tenders, award of contracts, commencement on site and completion of works.

S1W-12275 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer what the total value is of all works packages let to date in relation to the Holyrood Project, and what proportion of the construction and construction contingency budget of £119 million has been (a) spent and (b) committed to date.

S1W-12276 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer what works packages have still to go out to tender in relation to the Holyrood Project and what the indicative timescale is in each case for issuing and return of tenders, award of contract and commencement and completion of works.

S1W-12277 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer whether the value of any works package contracts let to date in relation to the Holyrood Project could be identified without prejudice to later, similar tendering exercises and, if so, whether the details of any such contracts can now be made available.

S1W-12278 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer which works packages still to go to tender in relation to the Holyrood project may be compromised by a decision to divulge the value of contracts let after earlier, similar tendering exercises.

S1W-12279 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer whether any contracts have been let to date in relation to the Holyrood project with less detailed construction information than is desirable, as outlined in paragraph 1.39 of the Auditor General's report The new Scottish Parliament building.

S1W-12280 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer whether all works packages issued to date, and to be issued, in relation to the Holyrood project contain or will contain penalty clauses to protect the client's interest against late completion or other contingencies and whether the value of penalty clauses is calculated in relation to a standard formula or to contract-specific assessments of the possible costs to the client in each case of failure by contractors to achieve completion dates.

S1W-12281 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer whether the cost plan allowances for the substructure east and superstructure east are £5.8 million and £17 million respectively, as stated by the Holyrood Project Manager on 3 October 2000 (Audit Committee, Official Report col.408); whether potential contractors are routinely made aware of the cost plan allowances for each works package, and whether the cost plan allowances for each of the 91 works packages will be revealed to MSPs.

S1W-12282 Mr Murray Tosh: To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the statement by the Parliament's Clerk/Chief Executive on 3 October 2000 regarding the provision of information on the costs of major works packages (Audit Committee, Official Report, col.407), what information will be made available to the Audit Committee about the value of contracts let for the major works packages in relation to the Holyrood Project, and whether such information will be given to all MSPs at the same time and on the same basis.

S1W-12283 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methods of controlling the seal population provided for by the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 are sufficient.

S1W-12284 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the use of non-lethal methods of control of seal populations; if so, what conclusions have been reached and, if not, whether it will now consider the issue.

S1W-12285 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional measures are required in order to eradicate the feral mink population; if so, in which parts of Scotland and when such steps will be taken.

S1W-12286 Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Rural Development on 23 November 2000 regarding the latest scientific advice from the special committee on seal population sizes (Official Report, col. 335), whether this information has been received; if so, when and whether it will place the information in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.