Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4550 on 20 January 2004.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/webapp/search_wa.

The following table providesthe information requested.

Date, Council and Lead Minister	Subjects Discussed	Decisions Taken
12-2-2001: Employment and Youth Council: Nicol Stephen	1. Strategies for lifelong learning. Also considered: 2. Community Action Programme. 3. Leonardo da Vinci. 4. European Year of Languages 2001. 5. Trans-European co-operation scheme for higher education.	To adopt a report on the concrete future objectives of education and training systems, and to discuss the work programme arising from the report at the next Education Council meeting.
5-6-2001: Health Council: Susan Deacon	1.The EU public health framework programme. 2.Misuse of alcohol by children and young people. 3.Proposals for a Tobacco Advertising Directive. 4.Research and information exchange on vCJD.	To include certain rare diseases in the scope of the public health framework programme, and to call on member states to build on existing work on surveillance and prevention of all transmissible spongiform encephalopathies as they affect human health.

We have no plans currentlyto carry out a detailed analysis of the outcome of every individual inwardinvestment project recorded for the years in question.

Accurate figures could onlybe obtained by undertaking a comprehensive survey of overseas-owned companieson a regular basis. This would be a costly exercise and would also beinconsistent with the policy of reducing the burdens on business.

The total cost of producing Guidanceon Interviewing Child Witnesses in Scotland – Supporting Child Witnesses,including research, consultation, publication and distribution, was £34,957.

Of the 2,500 packs produced,around 2,300 have so far been distributed to practitioners involved withchildren and the law. Outstanding requests for additional packs are being met.

Feedback has been verypositive with a high demand from practitioners and trainers for copies of thepack. The guidance is being used as a training tool by the Director of JudicialStudies, and the Executive has been invited to contribute an article on the packfor the Law Society’s journal. At the end of January I will be opening aseminar organised by the Faculty of Advocates Criminal Bar Association oninterviewing child witnesses, an event prompted by the publication of theguidance.

The Scottish Executive remains in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues. No further orders have been made to amend schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998, which sets out reserved matters, beyond those listed in the answer to question S1W-28375. A legislative reference in paragraph (a) of section B3 of Part 2 of Schedule 5 was updated by the European Parliamentary Elections Act 2002.

A Chief SurveillanceCommissioner is appointed by the Scottish ministers under section 2 of theRegulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000, for a term of three years. Under thislegislation, removal of the Commissioner from office before the end of thisterm would require a resolution to be passed by the Scottish Parliament.

A Chief SurveillanceCommissioner is also appointed by the Prime Minister for a term of three years underSection 91 of the Police Act 1997, after consultation with the Scottish ministers.Under this legislation, removal of the Commissioner from office before the endof this term would require resolutions passed by each House of Parliament and alsoby the Scottish Parliament.

While the 2000 and 1997 Actsallow for 2 Chief Surveillance Commissioners, the two roles are presentlycarried out by the same person, Sir Andrew Leggatt.

It is the duty of the ChiefSurveillance Commissioner to keep under review the performance of functionsunder Part III of the 1997 act, and the exercise and performance of the powersand duties conferred or imposed by the 2000 act. In performance of this duty,the Commissioner reports annually to the Prime Minister and the Scottish ministersand a copy of this report is laid in the Scottish Parliament. His most recentreport was laid in the Scottish Parliament on 9 September 2003 and a copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre(Bib. number 29152).

Training in relation to thenon-numeric standard would be broadly the same as for the numeric standard. Additionaltraining on the court presentation of non‑numeric evidence would,however, be required.

The fingerprint experts atthe Scottish Criminal Record Office will continue to be trained at the NationalTraining Centre, Durham. They will also continue to have annual competencytests and be subject to a Continuous Professional Development Programme.

The performance target forthe quality of fingerprint evidence would continue to be that everyidentification opinion given would be the product of an authorised expert,trained to the highest standards, subject to annual competency testing, usingprocesses subject to external audit and operating within an internationallyrecognised Quality Management System.

The consultation paper the Scottish Fire Service of the Future, which was published in April 2002,expressed an intention to review control room arrangements in Scotland. Responsesby stakeholder interests during that consultation process were reflected in theremit issued to Mott MacDonald. Members of the Scottish Central Fire BrigadesAdvisory Council (SCFBAC) were advised in a letter dated 16 October 2003 of the terms of reference and reporting timescales of the study. The study wasalso referred to during a meeting of the SCFBAC on 30 October. Stakeholderswith a particular interest, including the Fire Brigades Union and the Chief andAssistant Chief Fire Officers Association, subsequently participated in thestudy.

Yes. The Executive has discussed with Her Majesty’s Government the content and implications of the bills in its Legislative Programme, including the Gambling Bill.

The Executive has discussed with Her Majesty’s Government the content and implications of the bills in itslegislative programme and, while the current programme does not include a draftCorruption Bill, proposals for such a bill were raised and have been discussedwith her Majesty’s Government in the context of its previous programme.