Chamber and committees

I am committed to the development of a new ILA scheme that will encourage the widest possible participation in lifelong learning. This matter is being considered within the broader framework of the Lifelong Learning Strategy currently in preparation.

The media centre in St Andrew's House was commissioned in October 1999. The following equipment was supplied and installed at a cost of £70,000:

Controller

Touchscreen

Induction Loop Amplifier

Audio Distribution Amplifier

Ceiling Speakers

35mm Slide Projector

VGA/Video/Audio Switcher

28" Monitor

Tape Deck

CD Player

Graphic Equaliser

VGA/Video Monitor

LCD Projector

LCD Monitor (2)

Visual Presenter

Microphones (5)

10" Video Monitor

SVHS Player

Projection Screen

VHS Player

VGA Distribution Amplifier (5)

VGA Distribution Amplifier

VGA Switcher

Staging

Lighting Dimmer

6" LCD Monitor

Powered Speaker

Mixer Desk

Speakers

VGA to Video Convertor

VGA Switcher

In her statement to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, 17 April 2002, (Official Report, Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, 17 April 2002, c2544.) Ms Wendy Alexander, the then Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning said:"Our arrangements were different from those in the other three countries, although we used the same ILA centre - Capita - as England and Northern Ireland but in a more limited role. That is significant in respect of the suspension."In Scotland learning providers had to be registered through the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI) and meet their requirements before they were accepted to deliver ILA-funded courses. This provided safeguards within the Scottish system additional to those which operated in the rest of the UK.The position regarding a successor scheme is still under review with a number of features still to be decided. Ultimately the arrangements in Scotland may differ from those adopted in the rest of the UK.

I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:The Buildings at Risk Register is maintained by the Scottish Civic Trust on behalf of Historic Scotland, an agency of the Scottish Executive. It comprises information on endangered historic buildings that are in need of rescue and publicises them to potential purchasers or tenants who might restore them. The register is a computerised database and information is available to the public on request in the form of illustrated printouts, tailored to suit individual requirements, for which a small charge is made. The Buildings at Risk Bulletin is published annually and is circulated widely. This contains an illustrated selection of properties from the register. In addition to funding the register, Historic Scotland is making additional resources available to the trust to make the full Buildings at Risk Register available on the internet. This improved service will be available to the public in the near future.Members of the public may obtain further details about the Buildings at Risk service by contacting the Buildings at Risk Officer, The Scottish Civic Trust, 42 Miller Street, Glasgow G1 1DT. Telephone 0141 221 1466 or e-mail [email protected]. Arrangements are being made to place the register in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

The ILA scheme attracted over 266,000 members in Scotland, with over 127,000 having used their accounts for learning. The findings of an independent evaluation on the scheme, placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22524) in June of this year, reinforced the positive feedback we have received from learners.While I am committed to the introduction of a successor scheme, any new scheme will have to fully address the concerns that have been raised. I intend to launch the successor scheme when I am satisfied that all the required improvements have been incorporated. I expect to make an announcement before the end of the year.

The single allocation North Lanarkshire Council receives for its non-housing capital programme includes, among other things, provision for flood prevention measures to mitigate flooding of non-agricultural land. More generally, and separately, the Executive has made additional resources available for major flood prevention schemes promoted by local authorities. Grant is available for the construction of confirmed flood prevention schemes subject to certain criteria.However, it is for North Lanarkshire Council to decide on its overall priorities for addressing flooding concerns in its area and come forward with suitable schemes. Should it do so, the needs of North Lanarkshire Council would be carefully considered in light of the resources available at that time.

North Lanarkshire Council has wide powers under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 to mitigate flooding of non-agricultural land in its area. Under the act, the council is obliged to publish biennial reports specifying all occurrences of such flooding, the measures it has taken and the measures it considers that it requires to take to mitigate flooding in its area. Should the council decide to take measures, other than those of repair or maintenance, then it can only carry these out in accordance with a flood prevention scheme, made by the council and confirmed by Scottish ministers. The answer given to question S1W-28883 today, outlines the financial support available to councils for flood prevention works.

No formal review group was established, but preparations for the new individual learning account scheme are continuing. I expect to make a statement about the new scheme before the end of this year.

These procedures are broadly the same in Scotland and in England. However, in Scotland, training providers are paid on achievement of milestones by individual apprentices. In England providers are paid on monthly profile for the duration of training.

I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-25230 and S1W-25231 on 14 May 2002.