Chamber and committees

The central heating programme has been widely publicised. That is why more than 12,000 applications have been received over the last year from households in the private sector.The programme is targeted at households most at risk from the effects of cold and damp homes: those who lack any form of central heating. If the programme were to be extended to include those who have already installed central heating this would divert funds away from the most vulnerable. There are therefore no plans to offer retrospective grant and there are no plans to reconsider this position, either generally or in individual cases.

Children and young people are at the heart of our agenda. Services for young runaways are provided by a wide range of statutory and voluntary agencies. We also support preventative work to help tackle the underlying causes of running away.Ministers have established a working group to consider support for young runaways, guidance for professionals and effective early intervention and we will consult on their proposals when we receive their report.

The cost of acquiring a site is not included in any option as is made clear in Paragraph 1.3. Actual design and subsequent costs are dependent on the shape and size of site. For the purposes of the Public Sector Comparator, the locationally dependent costs were based on those of the HM Prison Kilmarnock site as a typical brownfield site.

Legislation (for example, the Criminal Procedure (Intermediate Diets) (Scotland) Act 1998) to enhance the use and effectiveness of intermediate diets and to reduce the need to lead oral evidence at trial have led to a reduction in such abstractions. A study in 1998, for example, showed that the number of police officers attending court in Scotland on any given day had reduced by more than 41% since 1991. The current reviews of the court system being taken forward under the direction of Lord Bonomy and Sheriff Principal McInnes should also have an impact.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25935.

No revision is required for flag flying at Edinburgh Castle. The Saltire is flown every day at the Half Moon Battery within Edinburgh Castle by Historic Scotland. The Union flag is flown every day at the Clock Tower by the army. Historic Scotland's house flag is flown daily at the gatehouse. The Saltire is not substituted by the Union flag at any time throughout the year.

The Secure Accommodation Advisory Group has provided a report on the availability and use of secure accommodation. I am considering the report's findings and will make an announcement on this shortly. However, in order to assist in the better strategic management of the secure estate, local authorities were asked in September 2001 to provide an estimate of their need for secure places. Borders Council indicated that their need for secure accommodation was steady annually, at one place and this need was being met.

The £20 million of Inclusion Programme funding through the proposed National Priorities Action Fund is ring-fenced within the Social Justice strand of the fund in both 2002-03 and 2003-04. The £7.8 million for in-service training in special educational needs (SEN) for staff is also ring-fenced as Specific Grant in both 2002-03 and 2003-04. In addition, £5 million central government grant has been allocated through the SEN Innovation Grants Programme over 2002-03 and 2003-04, for the specific purpose of funding voluntary and non-statutory organisations across Scotland to carry out projects in the field of special educational needs.A further £8.8 million central government grant is allocated to the seven grant-aided special schools for 2002-03, for the specific purpose of supporting these schools, and is provided under the Special Schools (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1990.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Full structural surveys, which are expensive, are not normally commissioned unless indications from visual inspections, settlement or other problems indicate that they are necessary. A visual survey was carried out in August 1994 to ascertain the extent of the problem of rain penetration through the numerous cracks in the mass concrete walls. This survey also included investigation of external wall foundations at four locations. We do not believe a full structural survey now is necessary or would be good value for taxpayers money, as we already know that the cells are too small for integral sanitation; there is no access to night sanitation; there is no electrical power in cells or in cell fire detection system; the windows are below SPS security standards and non-compliant with the current building regulations in terms of daylight factor and natural ventilation, and site services for electricity, gas, water and drainage are at full capacity, indeed at times overloaded, or in need of replacement. The term "state of exhaustion" is a brief summary of the factors which make the current accommodation not in our view fit for purpose.

Yes, the cost of repair and refurbishment of Peebles Sheriff Court is estimated to be in the order of £1 million.