Chamber and committees

The contract between Scottish Ministers and Skye Bridge Ltd requires the company to remove the toll collection facilities at the end of the concession period. Toll collection facilities are defined in section 39(4) of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

The topics proposed by the UK Government for the 2001 Census of Population were announced in the White Paper (Cm 4253) published on 4 March 1999. The White Paper did not contain a proposal to include a question on Scots language in the Census in Scotland.The Scottish Executive are now responsible for the Census in Scotland and will be making proposals about the content of the 2001 Census to the Scottish Parliament later this year.

The Scottish Executive is keen to encourage the success of Scottish products both within Scotland and elsewhere. Within Scotland specifically it provides assistance through events such as the Royal Highland Show and the Aviemore Trade Fair.

I have received advice from the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum based on responses to their recent consultation paper, The School Curriculum and the Culture of Scotland, and will respond shortly. I have placed copies of the consultation paper in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

The Scottish Parliament Shop exists to supply a range of high quality items to Members, staff and the general public. The product range includes a high proportion of exclusively branded items that are not for sale elsewhere.

The specific considerations that are applied in sourcing goods are as follows:

1. The Retail Manager identifies the product type required for the Shop.
2. Potential suppliers are sources and approached to submit details of relevant products. The policy is to give priority to Scottish suppliers if identified.
3. The Retail Manager compares the specifications of the products according to these equally valued criteria:

• Suppliers ability to package products using the Scottish Parliament corporate device.
• The quality of the product in relation to the product range and price.
• Overall quality of product.

The final decision is made by the Retail Manager with regard to the product's overall retail suitability and is subject to the Scottish Parliament's procurement specifications.The SPCB intends to review this with the Retail Manager once the Parliament's "badge" or "logo" has been chosen.

The statutory defence afforded by section 3(2) [not 5(2)] of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 applies "in any proceedings for an offence consisting of a contravention of any such statutory instrument", that is to one "printed and sold by the Queen's printer of Acts of Parliament" as specified in section 3(2) of the Act.The Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order 1992 (Statutory Instrument 1501 of 1992) is classified a local order in terms of regulation 4(1) of the the Statutory Instruments Regulations 1947, and is, by virtue of the provisions of regulation 5 of the regulations and section 8(1)(c) of the Act, exempt from the requirements of printing and sale.The question is one of law. The test of reasonable doubt is a matter for the courts in determining guilt or innocence.

A system of investigating complaints against the police has been in place for many years involving internal investigations within forces and, where appropriate, external investigation by another force. Allegations of criminal complaints are independently investigated by the procurator fiscal. Police authorities and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary also have important roles to play in the process of scrutinising how complaints have been handled by forces. In addition, the Scottish Executive has accepted the recommendation of the Macpherson Report to consider what steps can and should be taken to ensure that serious complaints against police officers are independently investigated.

Scottish Ministers attach a high priority to tackling homelessness in general and rough sleeping in particular. The discharge of its homelessness responsibilities is however an operational decision for each local authority. I understand from the council that this closure will not occur until suitable alternative services are in place.

A police authority must satisfy itself that it has sufficient information before deciding that there is no case for an officer to answer. The Police Authority would carry out a preliminary investigation which could mean obtaining further information from the complainer, the procurator fiscal, the police force or the officer involved.

There should not be any adverse impact, since I understand from Aberdeen council that this closure will not occur until suitable alternative services are in place.