Chamber and committees

Education authority disciplinary procedures apply to all teaching staff. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers intends to monitor local agreements including those on discipline.

The implementation of the revised disciplinary framework for teachers is a matter for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. The revised procedures set out a framework within which there are some elements for local negotiation.

While we have no immediate plans to review the criteria for Bus Service Operators Grant (formerly bus fuel duty rebate), we will bring forward options for change as necessary to ensure that public subsidy for bus services continues to be used effectively.

The Scottish Executive has a clear maritime strategy reflecting our devolved responsibilities and certain reserved maritime and shipping issues that are the responsibility of the UK Government. The ports policy paper Modern Ports: A UK Policy, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 9874), produced jointly by the UK Department for Transport, the Scottish Executive and the other devolved administrations, provides a clear strategy for the future development of ports and harbours in Scotland. The Executive continues to support and invest in lifeline ferry service links to Scotland's island and remote mainland communities. The Executive assists harbour developments serving lifeline ferry routes, and provides support under the Freight Facilities Grant Scheme for projects that transfer freight from road to sea. A Partnership for a Better Scotland highlights the Executive's commitment to improving Scotland's ferry links to mainland Europe, and identifies the opportunity for encouraging international container transhipment hub facilities in Scotland. Finally, the Executive maintains regular liaison with the UK Government on reserved shipping and maritime policies in relation to Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-104 on 6 June 2003. No implications for the proposed completion date are envisaged. 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.

It is not possible to give a definitive answer to this question because the health risks associated with passive smoking depend on such a wide range of different factors. However, the Scottish Executive does not endorse ventilation systems alone as being an effective means of removing all risks associated with Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS).In general the degree of ETS related disease risk depends critically upon the average ratio of the smoker density to air exchange rate in the exposure venues a person frequents during their life.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-1203 today. 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.

The aim of the statistical service in Scotland is to provide relevant and reliable statistical information, analysis and advice to meet the needs of government, business and the people of Scotland. It is the assessment of these needs which informs the process of gathering statistics.Users are consulted through an annual statistical plan, the SCOTSTAT user consultation network and various other formal and informal networks. When deciding to continue the collection of data or to introduce new collections, the statistical service considers the burden being placed on data providers, whether other sources are currently available, whether the proposed method of collection is the most appropriate and whether the data being collected is "fit for purpose".

The college's approved capital grant allocation for 2003-04 is £1 million. Its provisional allocation for 2004-05 and 2005-06 is £1.1 million per annum. The college's capital expenditure plan for 2003-04 comprises: completion of the dairy centre at Crichton, Dumfriesshire (£27,000); second phase of the implementation of the human resource/payroll computer module (£230,000); 3D ultrasound scanner (£150,000); new computer network and infrastructure (£271,000); upgrading of the animal welfare centre at Easter Howgate, Midlothian (£70,000); renovation of veterinary and advisory services offices (£75,000), and minor items costing less than £20,000 (£177,000).

As we made clear in the previous answer, the most effective protection from Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) is a completely smoke-free environment. The Scottish Executive does not endorse ventilation systems alone as offering complete protection against the health risks associated with passive smoking. While ventilation technology has the potential for reducing levels of exposure to second hand tobacco smoke and associated carcinogens provided it is properly operated and maintained, there remains no scientific evidence or consensus about whether there is any safe level of exposure to ETS.