Chamber and committees

Costs for different aspects of consultation exercises are not always identified separately within the budget for a specific policy area. As there is no central record of such costs, it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of expenditure for particular aspects of consultation exercises. Gathering such detailed information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the Executive is currently giving consideration to the need for a central mechanism to record details of its consultations as part of the on-going work to improve Scottish Executive consultation practice and co-ordination. Decisions on the size of budgets for such activities in forthcoming consultations are taken by the Executive on an on-going basis.

The costs associated with particular aspects of consultation exercises are met from the budget for a specific policy area and are not always separately identified. As there is no central record of such costs, it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of expenditure for particular aspects of consultation exercises. Gathering such detailed information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the Executive is currently giving consideration to the need for a central mechanism to record details of its consultations as part of the on-going work to improve Scottish Executive consultation practice and co-ordination. Decisions about the details of activities to be undertaken in forthcoming consultations are taken by the Executive on an on-going basis.

The parties to the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century estimated that an additional 3,000 teachers will be required in order to implement all of its key elements by the target date of August 2006. Funding allocated to cover the provision of extra teachers necessary to meet the agreement, whether through the training of new teachers or by the recruitment of those teachers already qualified still seeking employment, will be made available as and when demand arises. There are therefore no expected financial savings from the decision to revise teacher training places.

As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-25162 on 1 May 2002, I will consider whether a review of the age and stage regulations is necessary. As part of that I will consider whether or not the age and stage regulations are compatible with the philosophy of National Qualifications.

It is the responsibility of centres to ensure that candidates are correctly entered for qualifications, including where appropriate, to receive the necessary approval for exceptional entry under the age and stage regulations. However, for the current exams round (2002), I have asked SQA to exceptionally allow certification for those candidates who do not meet the age and stage regulations and for whom centres have not sought the appropriate approval.

It is not possible to predict what information will be made available after the passing of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill. Consideration of whether requested information will be disclosed will be on a case-by-case basis.Until the bill comes into force, the Executive will continue to disclose information in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.

The Scottish Executive has received a number of requests for funding from industrial museums in the last 18 months. In December 2000, the Executive announced a funding package of £1.26 million over three years towards the running costs of the Scottish Fisheries Museum, the Scottish Maritime Museum and the Scottish Mining Museum. In December 2001 the Executive awarded a further £110,000 to the Scottish Maritime Museum.

The Scottish Executive awarded an increase in funding to the Scottish Museums Council in March 2001. Grant in aid to Scottish Museums Council has increased from £0.941 million in 2000-01 to £1.041 million in 2001-02, £1.191 million in 2002-03 and £1.441 million in 2003-04.

Grants made by the Scottish Executive to the Scottish Maritime Museum since 1999 are set out as follows:

1999-2000	£15,000
2000-01	£20,000
	£70,000
2001-02	£160,000
	£110,000
2002-03	£160,000

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23995 on 3 April 2002. The Executive has provided no other funding. Enterprise Ayrshire did however contribute £500,000 towards the initial funding package.