Chamber and committees

The table presents the main estimates of children living in low income households, from 1999-2000 to the latest available year.

Proportion and Number of Children in Low-Income Households, below 60% of GB Median Income, Scotland

Year	Absolute	Relative
Before Housing Costs	After Housing Costs	Before Housing Costs	After Housing Costs
%	No. (000s)	%	No. (000s)	%	No. (000s)	%	No. (000s)
1999-2000	20	220	24	260	24	260	28	310
2000-01	18	190	21	230	25	260	30	320
2001-02	14	140	16	170	25	260	30	320
2002-03	12	130	16	170	23	240	27	280

The key low-income results, above, are for 60% of both the relative and absolute median thresholds. Estimates on the full range of income thresholds and explanation of how these estimates are calculated are published in Households Below Average Income, 1994-95 to 2002-03, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32212).

The relative low-income measure compares against the median in the same year. The absolute measure compares against the median in the baseline year of 1996-97, uprated to remove the effects of inflation.

The monitoring of value for money applies to all publicly procured projects, and the Treasury’s Green Book provides guidance on appraisal and evaluation of projects for Government. Guidance specifically on the value for money of public private partnership projects is contained in Treasury Taskforce publications which apply in Scotland. Policy Statement No. 2, Public Sector Comparatorsand Value for Money, sets out the role of comparators in public procurementhighlighting the importance of value for money. Copies are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18565).

At the end of December 2003, 334 secondary schools across Scotland had a school sports co-ordinator in post. This represents coverage of some 86% of secondary schools.

As part of the Executive’s Physical Activity Strategy, the school sports co-ordinator programme has been merged with the previous active primary schools programme, extended and developed to become the active schools programme. We have invested £24 million over the three years to 2005-06 to roll out the active schools programme across Scotland.

The detailed information on the exact number of people who begin a modern apprenticeship each year is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is not held centrally.

The Executive made available funding to support the setting up of football academies across Scotland. Unfortunately due to the financial crisis in Scottish football, few clubs in the Scottish Football League or the Scottish Premier League were in a position to access the funding. Only three football academies received funding: Rangers FC, Hearts FC/Heriot Watt University and the Highland Football Academy. The Football Academy Programme, under the Lottery SportsFund ended on 31 March 2003.

Football, however, will be a major beneficiary from the national and regional sports facilities strategy which aims to develop a network of six multi-sportfacilities across Scotland, including a national indoor arena for competition.

The Executive has been involved in dialogue with Treasury over the new Green Book, and over an improved approach to the appraisal of public private partnerships. Treasury issued Draft Value for Money Appraisal Guidance in February which sets out new proposals for a value for money assessment, including the reform of the Public Sector Comparator. Documentation on this can be found on Treasury’s website at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk. The guidance is intended to provide a framework for evaluating the appropriateness of and value for money of PPP. A dialogue with both public and private sectors is continuing over these changes.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

In accordance with the contract, the baseline figures are increased proportionately to reflect the Additional Prisoner Places provided.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

We expect these to be recorded at the next quarterly meeting against quarter 2 of 2004.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

The Scottish Prison Service does not receive any such guidelines from HM Treasury.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-7756 on 7 May 2004. 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/webapp/search_wa.