Chamber and committees

Awards from the Lottery Sports Fund are matched by local authorities and fund the employment of a co-ordinator for one day per week. The pilot programme has highlighted that this arrangement has been very successful. Local authorities or schools are, however, able to expand the time commitment of co-ordinators if they wish to do so. Indeed, this has happened at Banchory Academy (3 days) and Portobello High School (2 days).

No.

We have a range of new measures in place or under consideration to assist small business in Scotland, including the new £12m Business Growth Fund and proposals to establish a mentoring scheme for start-up companies. We are also working with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to improve the quality and consistency of advice provided to small businesses across the Enterprise Network. We are very keen to work with the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee in taking these measures forward.

We have a range of new measures in place or under consideration to assist small business in Scotland, including the new £12m Business Growth Fund and proposals to establish a mentoring scheme for start-up companies. We are also working with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to improve the quality and consistency of advice provided to small businesses across the Enterprise Network. We are very keen to work with the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee in taking these measures forward.

The Scottish Law Commission estimate that under 10% of all feuduties which were exigible prior to the 1974 Act are still extant and payable. It is, however, impossible to estimate the total annual value of the feuduties still exigible or the cost of collection. It would be a massive and costly undertaking to attempt to identify those properties throughout Scotland whose feuduties had not been redeemed.

The modified Bill will be published when it is introduced for consideration by the Scottish Parliament. We have no plans at present to change the Commission's proposals for compensation.

Latest estimates for Scotland as a whole indicate that spend by UK tourists has increased by 13%. Figures for the Highlands and Islands will be available in the autumn. The Government is preparing a new tourism strategy to ensure that Scotland's tourist industry remains internationally competitive.

Latest estimates for Scotland as a whole indicate that spend by UK tourists has increased by 13%. Figures for the Highlands and Islands will be available in the autumn. The Government is preparing a new tourism strategy to ensure that Scotland's tourist industry remains internationally competitive.

I visited all parts of the Scottish Parliament's buildings in the Parliament's temporary estate during the recess. A number of alterations are being considered by the SPCB following complaints by Members and staff. Like Members, staff are having to work in less than ideal conditions, and in the case of the kitchen, unacceptable.The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body agreed at its meeting on 23 August that additional air conditioning should be installed in the restaurant and kitchen in Parliament Headquarters. There are planning and procurement procedures to be followed but it is hoped that the work will be completed by mid-November.

Scottish Ministers are committed to ensuring that appointments to Scottish public bodies are subject to independent scrutiny and conform to the Commissioner for Public Appointments' guidance. The Commissioner keeps the guidance under constant review.