Chamber and committees

With the growing interest in farmers' markets in Scotland, the industry was keen to establish a body which would allow markets to share information, co-ordinate activity, promote best practice, etc. As part of its grant-funded activities, the Executive encouraged SAOS to investigate the potential for an association. That work showed there would be benefits in forming such a body which could be used to encourage professionalism, high standards and training, all matters which are better handled jointly. Accordingly, SAOS assisted in the formation process which led to the Scottish Association of Farmers' Markets being legally established at the end of 2000.

The first review of Sport 21 was published in October 2000 and copies were distributed to all members of this Parliament. That review highlighted the way in which investment in Scottish sport is helping to achieve the aims of the strategy. The additional resources announced to the Parliament in November last year, and being made available through sportscotland over the next 3 years and the New Opportunities Fund over the next 4 years will help to deliver the visions of Sport 21 in partnership with other interested organisations.

Phasing in of water charges to all organisations affected by the decision to withdraw reliefs is being made over a period of 5 years. This should allow such organisations time to prepare for the changes and ease the immediate impact of increased charges.Additionally, the water authorities have offered to install water meters free where this will reduce costs. This should have the effect of reducing further any additional liability that these organisations have to face.

A group chaired by Professor Ron Asher of the Royal Society of Edinburgh has put forward a proposal for a centre for the languages of Scotland. The Executive does not in general provide direct support for cultural projects and has no funding available to support such a centre.

A three-year national evaluation of the New Community Schools pilot programme started in April 2000. Following a tendering and assessment process, it is being undertaken by a team from the Institute of Education in the University of London. They have research staff and specialists involved, based in Scotland. Interim evaluation reports will be provided annually. In addition, projects and authorities are carrying out their own local evaluations, and HM Inspectors of Schools will include new community schools in their inspection programme later this year.

The framework for CPD which is currently being developed will be sufficiently flexible to meet the specific training needs of individual teachers and schools. This could include training in sports coaching and physical activity where appropriate.

The Scottish Executive accepted the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Youth Crime on 9 June 2000. Immediate funding of £3.5 million was announced for distribution to local authorities in order to develop and support programmes which will challenge and change the behaviour of young offenders. A further £20 million is being made available over the next three years.Local authorities have established Youth Crime Teams and carried out audits of local services and needs. They are now drawing up local strategies to tackle youth crime and are expected to submit preliminary reports in March.The study into the legal implications of a review of the age of criminal responsibility is currently with the Scottish Law Commission. The feasibility study into a pilot scheme to extend the scope of the children's hearings system to 16- and 17-year-old offenders is due to report by April. We will consult shortly on a National Strategy on youth crime. This will build on the principles set out in the Youth Crime Review and take into account the representations made during the post-publication consultation exercise.

Consideration is being given to making public information about the Parliament available in ethnic and European languages on the website. One of these languages is likely to be Scots.

Miller Civil Engineering Ltd does not have the authority to charge tolls on the A87 in its own right. As I made clear in my answers to S1W-10325 on 5 December and S1W-12112 on 18 January, the right to collect tolls has been assigned to Skye Bridge Limited while the operation of the bridge is carried out on SBL's behalf by the joint venture Miller Dywidag.

The Scottish Arts Council is working, with other members of the Highland Arts Partnership, to develop sustainable programmes of support for the traditional arts. I have therefore asked the Director of the Arts Council to write to the member with the requested information and to make it available to the Parliament's Information Centre.