Chamber and committees

Education authorities are expected to provide Gaelic-medium education where there is a substantial demand for it. There are no restrictions on authorities using these funds to benefit Gaelic-medium provision, consistent with their overall objectives.

All non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) with budgetary responsibilities are required to produce annual accounts. These should be drawn up in accordance with best commercial practice, including for example, an operating/income and expenditure account; a balance sheet or statement of assets and liabilities; a flow of funds statement.Accounts and Annual Reports are the main vehicles by which NDPBs regularly inform Parliament and the public about their expenditure and activities. NDPBs are required to make them publicly available, for example through libraries and public body websites.

In September, the Scottish Executive announced an additional, annual £0.5 million to assist colleges' provision of basic English courses for asylum seekers. At their discretion, colleges may also offer access to part-time vocational courses and support for the cost of books and travel.These arrangements also extend to the dependants of those seeking asylum.

Nursery nurses are included in the childcare workforce that will be regulated by the new Scottish Social Services Council. No decision has yet been reached regarding national qualifications for this workforce.

The Health Department assessed the business case received from Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust for the redevelopment of part of the Stonehouse Hospital site.The business case indicated that there was potential to procure this development through a Public/Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative and, in approving the business case, the trust was asked to fully explore this option.It is a matter for Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust to determine a suitable timetable for this project.

There was no delay. The letter of 2 July 2001 was acknowledged on 3 July. It related to an on-going investigation. On 22 August 2001 a letter was sent to the constituency office address intimating the outcome of the investigation and the decision in relation to the case. Evidently it did not reach Michael Russell because he wrote again on 25 September 2001. The Procurator Fiscal replied to that letter on 4 October 2001, addressing that letter also to the constituency office. On 27 November 2001 a letter was received from Mr Doyle, from which it was clear that the information sent on 22 August and 4 October had not been passed on to him. The Procurator Fiscal replied to him and sent a copy to Michael Russell on 28 November 2001.

The response time is 20 working days. Correspondence response times are monitored and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service achieves exemplary performance. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20492 for the response times achieved in correspondence with a particular Procurator Fiscal.

Officials of Historic Scotland, which is an agency of the Scottish Executive, attend meetings of the Advisory Committee.

The powers of the Scottish ministers, in relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 are to designate by order the sites of historic wrecks in Scottish waters (sections 1(1) and 1(2)) and to grant licences to carry out diving and salvage operations on such sites (section 1(5)). Historic Scotland, an agency of the Scottish Executive, advises Scottish ministers and supports them in the exercise of these powers.

The criteria to be taken into account will vary according to the circumstances of the organisation under review. The policy states (question S1W-1558 refers) that the location of public sector jobs should promote efficiency and effectiveness and that, subject to that, the Executive will seek opportunities to locate jobs as close as possible to the communities they serve.A number of general criteria were set out in the letter sent to local authorities and Local Enterprise Companies in December last year, seeking information from them about potential location opportunities in their area. This made clear that ministers will take into account a range of financial and non-financial factors in reaching their decision, including economic factors relating to the areas concerned, such as unemployment levels and other indicators of deprivation, costs, transport links, disabled access, staff and personnel issues and environmental considerations. A range of specific issues which relate to the organisation under review, will also be taken into account.