Chamber and committees

Written material issued by the Scottish Executive can take a number of forms and is issued from a number of areas within the Executive. Central logging of this written material is not undertaken, and a comprehensive answer could not therefore be provided to question S1W-24233.

Where a placing request is refused on the grounds that places are to be reserved in the specified school for families who move into the catchment area after the beginning of the school year, parents may use the existing appeals process under section 28C of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Amendment of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 is not, therefore, required.It has, however, recently come to light that there may be an omission in earlier legislation following the introduction by the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 of an additional ground for refusal of a placing request at section 28A(3A); that is, to allow the reservation of places in the school for pupils likely to move into the catchment area. Under section 28C of the 1980 act, a parent may appeal against an authority's decision to refuse their placing request, in the first instance to an appeal committee (under section 28E) and then to a sheriff (under section 28F). Under sections 28E and 28F, appeal committees and sheriffs have the power to confirm an authority's decision to refuse a placing request on one of the grounds specified in section 28A(3) of the 1980 act. Otherwise, they must reject the authority's decision and require them to place the child in accordance with the placing request. No mention is made in those sections of the ground for refusal introduced in at section 28A(3A) by the 1996 act.A sheriff in Aberdeen recently took the view that, where the sole ground for refusal was section 28A(3A) of the 1980 act, he could not consider that ground in deciding whether to confirm the education authority's decision. He indicated that, as he could not confirm the decision on that ground, he believed he had no option but to reject the authority's refusal of the placing request on that ground and require them to place the child in accordance with the placing request.The Scottish Executive will be taking the first appropriate legislative opportunity to address this issue.

The total cost of publishing, printing and distributing each document was as follows:

National Care Standards: School Care Accommodation Services	£7,277.20
National Care Standards: Care Homes for Children and Young People	£7,744.41
National Care Standards: Early Education and Childcare	£21,987.76

The Scottish Executive will use data collected through the Scottish Exchange of Educational Data (ScotXed) project for statistical and research purposes, to inform the development, implementation and monitoring of policy. The Scottish Executive will not use any personal information collected through ScotXed to support decisions or actions in relation to specific individuals. The Scottish Executive will fully comply with the Data Protection Act in the collection, processing and storing of information relating to individuals. The Scottish Executive will also comply with the National Statistics Code of Practice, in the use of ScotXed information, to safeguard confidentiality of individuals. The Scottish Executive will not publish information on individuals, nor shall we make any use of names or other personal details beyond technical and administrative checks to ensure the completeness and accuracy of data.ScotXed is a partnership of the Scottish Executive Education Department with local authorities, schools, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, HM Inspectorate of Education and Learning and Teaching Scotland to promote the electronic exchange of educational information to common standards. The project will provide better quality information and link-ups between education partners in Scotland, and will encourage the good use of management information by schools and education authorities.Other organisations within the ScotXed partnership, will make use of the information gathered through ScotXed for administrative and management purposes and to improve the education of pupils.The multiple use of the same information, much of which already exists on school systems, by different ScoXed partners, will reduce bureaucratic burdens on schools to meet multiple demands for information.All ScotXed partners are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act when dealing with information relating to individuals.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:Rates of suicide for males and females, financial years 1997-2001, per thousand prisoners

	1996-97	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-01
(a) Males	2.41	2.03	2.23	2.95	1.94
(b) Females	16.3	5.40	4.72	0	0

The computer simulated wind tests on the final design of the Holyrood building were undertaken to determine the effect of windflow around the buildings. Even such sophisticated tests cannot determine whether or not whistling will occur. The elimination of whistling is essentially a matter related to the fit of the cladding components of the building and the design team have assured us that they have designed the cladding system with this in mind. Actual wind speeds will be dependent on ambient winds and their direction which are constantly varying factors, however, results from the simulation indicate that testing at a wind velocity of 60 mph, the building forms typically reduce wind speed. I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that since the computer simulation gave no cause for concern that the design of the building might accelerate wind speed, the architects currently have no plans to undertake any further form of wind testing.

Public/Private Partnership schemes like the City of Edinburgh Council schools project are not a form of privatisation. They are long-term contractual arrangements for the provision of assets and related services. In such schemes the public sector specifies the services required and pays for them on the basis of results. Under privatisation, responsibility for services is transferred to the private sector with price being the key determinant.

I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to answer. His response is as follows:Planning authorities are statutorily required to consult Scottish ministers before determining applications for planning permission for development which may affect a category A listed building or its setting. Historic Scotland, which is responsible to ministers for matters affecting Scotland's built heritage, handles such requests for comments from planning authorities.The planning authority, the City of Edinburgh Council, has sought and received both formal and informal comments from the Historic Buildings Inspectorate within Historic Scotland on the proposed developments adjacent to category A listed Caroline Park House. The Inspectorate has also been invited by the council to participate in meetings with various parties to discuss these developments and the associated road system. This close contact between the council and the Inspectorate is expected to continue until the council determines the application.

The Forestry Commission is indeed taking such measures. It has agreed with the Interim National Park Authority that the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park will retain its own unique identity within the National Park. The commission is also taking this opportunity to review the future branding and promotion of the Forest Park and it is considering introducing an updated logo. Any new logo will, however, retain the main traditional features, including Ben Lomond, forests, lochs and deer. Furthermore, the commission is enhancing the tourism potential of the Forest Park by creating new recreational facilities and improving existing ones. This work is being financed in part by a substantial EU grant.

The Scottish Executive Education Department is currently in discussion with the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS), concerning the benefits to independent schools from participation in the Scottish Exchange for Educational Data (SCOTXED) project. No decision has yet been taken on whether information on children educated in independent schools will be transferred electronically as part of the September 2002 Scottish School Census.