Chamber and committees

Requirements for bonds of caution are in a number of areas of legislation including in relation to executors of estates under succession law, judicial factors and adults with incapacity.

On executors, the Scottish Law Commission published a Report on Succession in April 2009. This recommended that: the general requirement upon an executor-dative to obtain caution before he or she may be confirmed as executor should be abolished; the court should no longer have power to order caution to be found by an executor-nominate and the court should not be given a discretionary power to order caution to be obtained by an executor. The Report and the Scottish Government''s initial response are available on the Commission website at:

http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/html/reports_2000-2009.php.

Going forward, as outlined in the answers to questions S3W-29780 on 8 December 2009 and S3O-9233 on 21 January 2010, the Scottish Government is embarking on a programme of dialogue and formal consultation on the Report on Succession, so that determination of the way forward can take account of all relevant perspectives. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

On judicial factors, the Commission is due later this year to issue a discussion paper which will invite opinions on a review of the current legislation with a view to clarifying and simplifying it. Thereafter, the Commission will consider the issues raised and in due course publish a report. The recommendations will be considered by the Scottish Government when that report is received. More information on the Commission''s work on judicial factors can be found on their website at:

http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/html/cpjudfac.php.

There are no current plans to review bonds of caution requirements in the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.

This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. However, for your convenience, as of the 8 February 2010 the Skills Development Scotland database shows that since January 2009 545 individuals have been made redundant, not re-started training and are without a placement. This represents 1.8% of the total number of apprentices in training at the end of January 2010. It should be noted that since the start of the Adopt an Apprentice Scheme in June 2009, 413 applications have been approved to support redundant apprentices back into employment.

The Adopt an Apprentice scheme, launched in June 2009, provides a financial incentive of £2,000 to encourage employers to recruit a redundant apprentice. The Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), training providers, and sector skills councils have all worked together to secure alternative employment for many redundant apprentices.

Through the Adopt an Apprentice scheme a Clearing House has been established to provide additional support to all redundant apprentices. The Clearing House has written to all individuals affected to offer individual help and support. The Clearing House staff will liaise with training providers to ensure all possible steps have been taken to find an alternative employer. Where necessary and appropriate, having coordinated all relevant information on the client, staff will consider alternative options for the client, including referral to an SDS careers centre for career planning and employability support.

The Scottish Government recognises the great importance of Scotland''s maritime heritage. Just last month we passed the Marine (Scotland) Bill to allow us to create Historic Marine Protected Areas for our heritage at sea. Around our coast, heritage designations already recognise the significance of 107 historic lighthouses and 90 harbours. We are also investing in our maritime heritage. Over the last five years, Historic Scotland''s Building Repair Grant Scheme has contributed £2.5 million. Over the last two years, Museums and Galleries Scotland has invested approximately £1.3 million in Scottish Government funding towards maritime heritage through its grants schemes.

I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W- 31510 and S3W-31511 on 3 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Officials from the Scottish Government and from Historic Scotland have held a wide range of discussions with a number of bodies and individuals regarding this Category A listed ship. These have included the Scottish Maritime Museum, the Advisory Committee of National Historic Ships (the UK-wide body with a remit for historic vessels), North Ayrshire Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, groups from Sunderland (SCARF) and from Australia (The Clipper Ship, City of Adelaide Ltd) and the UK Government''s Department for Culture Media and Sport. I have personally met with a delegation from the Australian group and have subsequently spoken to the South Australian Minister for Transport.

The Scottish Government has been working closely with a number of stakeholders to explore what realistic options exist for securing the future of this category A listed ship. Historic Scotland has recently commenced a detailed evaluation of possible options in order to help support the eventual decision-making process. These options are: Managed Deconstruction of the vessel; Removal to Sunderland; Removal to Adelaide in South Australia, and Retention in a different location in Scotland. None of these options is straightforward, but by undertaking this exercise we will be able to take a fully informed and open decision as to the best outcome for the vessel.

The police recorded crime statistics collected centrally are based on an aggregate return, and do not record the occupation of the victim. However, following the introduction of the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act in 2005, a new distinct crime classification of Minor assault of an emergency worker was created. Note that this will also include minor assaults of police officers during any course of their duties.

The following table shows the number of offences of minor assault of an emergency worker recorded by the police in each council area, in 2008-09:

Offences of Minor Assault of an Emergency Worker Recorded by the Police by Council Area, 2008-09

Council Area	2008-09
Aberdeen City	10
Aberdeenshire	6
Angus	2
Argyll and Bute	2
Clackmannanshire	0
Dumfries and Galloway	10
Dundee City	10
East Ayrshire	7
East Dunbartonshire	2
East Lothian	39
East Renfrewshire	1
Edinburgh, City of	290
Eilean Siar	0
Falkirk	0
Fife	387
Glasgow City	129
Highland	0
Inverclyde	4
Midlothian	30
Moray	3
North Ayrshire	6
North Lanarkshire	9
Orkney Islands	0
Perth and Kinross	4
Renfrewshire	25
Scottish Borders	41
Shetland Islands	0
South Ayrshire	10
South Lanarkshire	17
Stirling	0
West Dunbartonshire	10
West Lothian	96
Scotland	1,150

Source: Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

All serious assaults are recorded under a separate crime classification. However, the Scottish Government does not hold the number of serious assaults on emergency workers as the occupation of the victim is not held centrally.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31418 on 25 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31418 on 25 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.