Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14504.

No. The proposed Scottish freedom of information legislation will not apply to cross-border public authorities. These bodies will be subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill will mark the second stage in the Property Law Reform Programme commenced by the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000. We plan to launch a consultation exercise on the draft Title Conditions Bill later this spring. Following the consultation period, we hope to bring the Bill before Parliament as soon as an opportunity arises in the legislative programme. As indicated in the answer to question S1W-13602 on 9 March 2001, the proposals for a Tenement Bill will require to be redrafted in the light of the Title Conditions Bill as it is passed by Parliament. It is not possible at this stage to say exactly when a Tenement Bill may be introduced, as it will depend upon legislative time being found.

Certain aspects of the constitution are reserved matters, in particular the Crown, the Union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England, the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the continued existence of the Court of Session as a civil court of first instance and of appeal. The Executive has no responsibility for these matters. The Executive maintains regular contacts with the other devolved administrations and the UK Government on the operation of the devolution settlement. Six staff work in the Constitutional Policy Unit on a range of issues relating to the operation of the Scotland Act and the devolution settlement, including training, advice and guidance; relations with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations; and the preparation of subordinate legislation under the Scotland Act.

My previous answer was based on an expectation that research commissioned to inform the road traffic reduction report would have been completed. However, the research proved more complex than anticipated at that time and the final report is not yet ready. Once received, its conclusions will need to be analysed and a decision taken on whether further work is required.The road traffic reduction report will now form an integral part of Scotland's Transport Delivery Plan which is expected to be published later in the year.

We have no reason to believe that the Scottish Qualifications Authority appeals process is incompatible with Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Any challenge to the Scottish Qualifications Authority appeals process under the Convention would be a matter for the courts to decide.

This information is not held centrally.

The Scottish Executive is not currently undertaking any analysis of the various factors which may affect academic performance.

The subjects which will be examined in the 2001-02 winter examination diet are Care, English and Communication, Biology, Administration and Mathematics. The winter diet is aimed primarily at further education students, but schools may enter candidates if they wish to do so.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority will contact centres advising them of administrative and operational arrangements for the winter diet following the summer diet.