Chamber and committees

I am not aware of any specific discussions regarding the re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn, but staff from the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland are involved in preliminary discussions on the improvements to the visitor and interpretation facilities at Bannockburn, which may well include re-enactments of the battle.

I am not aware of any meetings between staff of the Scottish Government and potential sponsors with regard to events commemorating the Battle of Bannockburn, although these may well take place at a later date when the proposals for the improvements to the Bannockburn visitor centre are more fully developed.

I refer the member to chapter 10 of Your Scotland, Your Voice, which sets out the government''s plans for a referendum.

My predecessor met with Scottish Ballet on 1 September and opened their new head quarters at Tramway in Glasgow on 17 September 2009. Officials meet with Scottish Ballet periodically, most recently on 1 December 2009.

The Scottish Government core funds Scottish Ballet by £4.713 million as one of Scotland''s five National Performing Companies. The Scottish Government has helped Scottish Ballet to celebrate its 40th anniversary season, contributed to the costs of the new headquarters in Glasgow, and performances at the Edinburgh International Festival and its highly successful Tour to China earlier this year. In addition, Scotland.org website continues to promote Scottish Ballet.

The grant from the Scottish Government contributes to all areas of Scottish Ballet''s work. A proportion of this work includes touring in Scotland and the UK. There is an additional fund available to the National Performing Companies to support international touring and Scottish Ballet received £100,000 towards their successful visit to China this year.

The Scottish prison service, court service and Crown all ensure that accused are not remanded in custody beyond the terms of the court''s warrant. Statistics are not maintained on the actual number of days that an accused remains in custody in terms of the court''s warrant or warrants. The criminal justice system in Scotland works within very strict time limits to ensure that accused are brought to trial quickly. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service prioritises the prosecution of serious crime in order to ensure that these limits are complied with and all custody cases are indicted within 80 days.

There are currently no such plans. Funding for the Youth Music Initiative is to remain with the Scottish Arts Council in 2010-11 and pass to Creative Scotland once established. We will look with Creative Scotland and COSLA at the longer term options for funding distribution and how they can maintain successful outcomes from the initiative.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20911 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20911 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.