Chamber and committees

Officers from all eight Scottish forces, including Central Scotland Police, will be involved in the policing operation for the forthcoming G8 summit. We have already said that the additional costs incurred by forces as a result of their participation in that policing operation will be met without detriment to existing police budgets.

The Executive’s strategy for enterprise in education – Determined to Succeed (DtS) – aims to develop in all our schools a culture of creativity and ambition in which Scotland’s young people can develop confidence and aspiration. Through DtS, we have made available £86 million in the period 2003-08 and are helping local authorities to provide opportunities for their pupils to experience enterprising teaching and learning that is both embedded within the curriculum, and is delivered through specific activities; to set up and run mini-businesses, and to undertake work placements and vocational courses. All these opportunities will help our young people to develop the skills, knowledge and positive attitudes necessary for the world of work, and for life in general.

The Scottish Executive recognises that lifelong learning has an important and distinctive contribution to make to people’s wellbeing, to a more inclusive society and to a vibrant and sustainable economy. The Executive’s policy on lifelong learning is contained in the lifelong learning strategy, Life Through Learning; Learning Through Life (Bib. number 26050). This can be found on the internet at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/lifelong/llsm-00.asp

Specific policies detailed in the strategy which will help to raise the personal aspirations of the people of Scotland include: Determined to Succeed, Skillseekers, The Big Plus, Careers Scotland, Learndirect Scotland, Education Maintenance Allowances and Individual Learning Accounts.

The Environment and Rural AffairsDepartment replied to the relevant documentation on 22 April 2005. A copy of the letterhas been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 36799).

Both the Executive and the UK Government's policy since devolution has been to support the Barnett formula as simple, straightforward and objective, and the Executive believes the formula has served Scotland well. Since the UK Government has no plans to review the formula, and has had no such plans since devolution, there has been no correspondence or discussions between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government on the future of the Barnett formula.

Our Closing the Opportunity Gap (CtOG) approach aims to: prevent individuals and families from falling into poverty; provide routes out of poverty for individuals and families; and sustain individuals and families in a lifestyle free from poverty. I announced our 10 CtOG targets on 9 December 2005. Further information on each of the targets, including details of the programmes and investment that will deliver them can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/closingtheopportunitygap/.

In addition, a large number of other Scottish Executive programmes and funding streams also contribute to lifting individuals and families out of poverty. Our latest draft budget document (published on 15 October 2004) provides further detail on how each portfolio’s programmes and expenditure will contribute to Closing the Opportunity Gap and to lifting people out of poverty.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16941 on 10 June 2005. 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/wa.search.

I welcomed the vision outlined in the Kerr report in my statement to Parliament on 25 May. The Scottish Executive is currently considering the report in detail and has no plans to issue immediate advice or guidance. The Executive’s response to the report will help to shape NHS boards’ strategies in the future and a detailed implementation plan will be presented to Parliament in due course. In the meantime, it is expected that all NHS boards will take account of the report’s recommendations when planning services and implementing service change strategies.

I very much regret the news that Strand Lighting has entered into a period of consultation with a view to closing its facility in Kirkcaldy which employs nearly 90 people. Scottish Enterprise Fife has a track record of working very closely with the company and has provided assistance in an attempt to avoid this outcome.

Scottish Enterprise Fife will continue to work closely with the company during the consultation period. Should the closure go ahead, the first priority will be to support the employees faced with losing their jobs. Strong partnerships exist between local enterprise companies, local authorities, JobCentre Plus and Careers Scotland. These partners have considerable experience in responding to redundancy situations and can offer advice, support and guidance on retraining, upskilling and employment opportunities.

Raising the aspirations of all of our people is at the heart of our ambitions for Scotland. We are delivering this through a range of policies including enterprise education in schools, encouraging all of our citizens to have healthy and fulfilling lives and increasing the opportunities for all to participate in life-long learning.