Chamber and committees

Each of the three water authorities have adopted slightly different policies but central to each is the continued use of those contractors who have a proven track record of cost effective delivery for them. Each authority operates a reduced-size list of contractors, derived in accordance with European Community procurement regulations.The Scottish water authorities cannot dictate to main contractors which sub contractors to utilise. Main contractors will use cost effective, reliable sub contractors who have geographical proximity to the project.

The water authorities subcontract a wide variety of services from construction to IT support to estate management. The detailed information requested is not held centrally. It is estimated, however, that in relation to the authorities' capital programmes only, between 85 - 95% of the money paid out will remain in the Scottish economy, regardless of the nationality of the contractor's base office.

I understand that Customs and Excise are considering a wide range of issues as part of their consultation on the costs, benefits and practicalities of introducing tax stamps for spirits, including their geographical impact.

£18.5 million is being allocated over the three-year period 2001-04 to the local authorities. The following table sets out the allocations for 2001-02 and planned allocations for the two subsequent financial years.Each local authority has submitted an action plan, outlining outcomes to be expected in terms of an expansion of learning opportunities for those adults needing help with literacy and numeracy. Some of the details have to be finalised before local outcome agreements can be reached with the local authorities.Allocation of resources to local authorities for adult literacy and numeracy (2001-04)

	2001-02	2002-03(planned)	2003-04(planned)	Over 3 years
Aberdeen City	78,305	156,611	301,621	536,537
Aberdeenshire	80,237	160,474	309,062	549,773
Angus	44,585	89,171	171,736	305,492
Argyll and Bute	39,482	78,964	152,078	270,524
Clackmannanshire	28,178	56,355	108,536	193,069
Dumfries and Galloway	74,235	148,470	285,943	508,648
Dundee City	95,732	191,465	368,747	655,944
East Ayrshire	95,530	191,059	367,966	654,555
East Dunbartonshire	28,447	56,894	109,574	194,915
East Lothian	29,122	58,244	112,173	199,539
East Renfrewshire	27,356	54,713	105,372	187,441
Edinburgh, City of	255,368	510,735	983,638	1,749,741
Falkirk	61,672	123,344	237,551	422,566
Fife	148,822	297,644	573,240	1,019,705
Glasgow City	546,117	1,092,234	2,103,561	3,741,912
Highland	85,557	171,115	329,555	586,227
Inverclyde	65,822	131,645	253,538	451,005
Midlothian	34,566	69,132	133,142	236,840
Moray	35,239	70,479	135,737	241,455
North Ayrshire	84,625	169,250	325,963	579,838
North Lanarkshire	148,187	296,375	570,796	1,015,358
Perth and Kinross	46,485	92,969	179,052	318,506
Renfrewshire	99,797	199,593	384,402	683,792
Scottish Borders	41,615	83,230	160,294	285,139
South Ayrshire	57,280	114,560	220,635	392,475
South Lanarkshire	133,142	266,284	512,844	912,270
Stirling	40,305	80,610	155,248	276,163
West Dunbartonshire	68,838	137,676	265,154	471,669
West Lothian	51,640	103,280	198,909	353,828
Eilean Siar	27,973	55,947	107,749	191,669
Orkney Islands	20,746	41,492	79,910	142,148
Shetland Islands	24,994	49,989	96,275	171,258
Scotland	2,700,000	5,400,000	10,400,000	18,500,000

£18.5 million is being allocated to local authorities for expenditure on adult literacy and numeracy initiatives over the three-year period 2001-04, including £2.7 million for 2001-02. Local authority expenditure for 2001-02 is not yet available.In addition, the Scottish Executive has spent £0.4 million in 2000-01 and £0.5 million in 2001-02 on such initiatives.

A copy of the letter sent to all those organisations consulted was included in the answer given to question S1W-22756 on 19 February 2002. Letters inviting nominations from the political parties represented in the Parliament were not addressed to party leaders but to party headquarters.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:All incidents relating to assaults are reported to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) Controller in Kilmarnock. They are also reported to SPS HQ in the same way as for any SPS establishment. Matters relating to serious assaults in any prison are routinely reported to the police.

National Training Organisations (NTOs) will be de-recognised by government on 31 March 2002. They will be replaced by a smaller, stronger network of UK-wide Sector Skills Councils. Most NTOs will continue to function as legal entities beyond 31 March, with transitional funding primarily from the Department for Education and Skills, to continue essential functions pending the gradual introduction of Sector Skills Councils.

Sector Skills Councils will be developed by employers as UK-wide organisations, with support from a new UK-wide Sector Skills Development Agency. They will be licensed jointly by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Lifelong Learning Ministers in the devolved administrations. The Scottish Executive will be fully involved in the licensing process to ensure that Scotland's interests are covered.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23749.