Chamber and committees

Civil servants are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Civil Service Code. Special Advisers are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the model contract for Special Advisers, which incorporates the Civil Service Code, although they are exempted from the provisions of the code which require political objectivity and impartiality.

There are no plans to investigate.

Nine Special Advisers reported directly to the former First Minister prior to and during the period 2-5 November with terms and conditions remaining the same throughout. Regarding those who may have worked with him in relation to his constituency accounts, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19898.

The Civil Service Management Code sets out the rules for civil servants. Disciplinary arrangements are a matter for the Scottish Executive within the framework set out in this code. The code is available at:www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/managementcode/csmc.pdf. Ministers are responsible for justifying their conduct to Parliament in line with the separate Scottish Ministerial Code. This is available at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library2/doc03/smic-00.htm.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21099 on 7 January 2002. I asked Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to implement the proposals in the NQTG review of this subject and SQA have now written to centres advising them of the changes.

The application for Listed Building Consent for the proposed alterations to the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar was granted consent by East Lothian Council as planning authority, not Scottish ministers. Following routine notification of the application to ministers by the council and full consideration of the relevant issues, ministers determined that they were content to leave the decision on the application to the council.

Scottish ministers did not grant consent for the works to the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar. Consent was given by East Lothian Council as planning authority. The decision not to call in the application for decision by ministers was made after careful study of the relevant issues.

Listed Building Consent for the works at the John Muir Birthplace in Dunbar has not been granted by Scottish ministers; consent for the works has been given by East Lothian Council as planning authority.Prior to issuing the consent, East Lothian Council notified the application to ministers under the requirements of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. Notification permits ministers to consider whether an application raises issues, such as national planning policy matters, which merit its being called-in for determination by them rather than the planning authority. In this instance, ministers decided on the basis of the information before them, including advice from their officials in Historic Scotland, that it would be appropriate to leave the decision on the application to East Lothian Council. Advice given by civil servants to ministers is confidential.

The National Qualifications Task Group established a sub-group last year to review the design of National Courses in English and Communication. The sub-group reported in November 2001 and a copy of its report has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18412). I endorsed the report on 15 November and asked Scottish Qualifications Authority to implement the recommendations.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20777 on 3 January 2002. Under the Single Status Agreement negotiated between local authority employers and relevant trades unions, the pay and conditions of almost all local government employees are being reviewed. A consequence of the agreement is that terms and conditions, including hourly rates of pay, will be set locally, taking account of the relative value placed upon jobs and the pay budget set by individual authorities.