Chamber and committees

Stirling's application to hold an all-postal ballot in Teith Ward was approved on 27 February.

The dedicated website (www.justoutstanding.co.uk) has been operational since mid-November 2001 and will be registered with a search engine as soon as possible.

HM Inspectorate of Education's role is to promote improvements in standards, quality and attainment in Scottish education through first-hand, independent evaluation. As part of that role, it has a remit to give professional advice to the Scottish Executive and others, as detailed in its published Framework Document.

I have asked Douglas Osler, Chief Executive of HM Inspectorate of Education, to respond. His response is as follows:HM Inspectors are required to have: a relevant degree or equivalent and an appropriate professional qualification; significant and successful experience of teaching in schools, further education or community learning; proven success in one or more promoted posts within education or in a relevant post of responsibility in further education or community learning; and the ability to work effectively, both independently and as a member of a team.

The level of funding to be allocated to the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park in future years will be determined as part of the spending review undertaken by the Scottish Executive. The period covered in the forthcoming review runs from 2003-04 until 2005-06.

The draft Designation Order, lodged in Parliament on 24 February, sets 27 June 2002 as the date of poll for direct elections to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority. Applications have already been sought from people interested in being appointed directly to the authority, and nominations from local authorities for appointment will be sought shortly. All these appointments will be finalised shortly after the outcome of the elections is known.

In 2001, HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) attended three conferences on National Priorities in Education, which were organised by Scottish Executive Education Department's New Educational Development Division. At the most recent conference HMIE provided advice about how to measure progress against national priorities, in particular how to use the new edition of How good is our school? for this purpose.

The development of the Electronic Communities for Headteachers project is still at a very early stage. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education has not been involved in devising the specification for this project.

The Children Act 1989 requires local authorities to impose a duty on childminders to keep records about the children in their care. It is currently for the local authority to decide on the need for any further documentation. The new Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care will assume this responsibility from 1 April 2002, and will apply the care standards which will be launched on 11 March. These will require childminders to ensure that records, plans and policies are properly made and kept in accordance with national and local guidance.

The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) is receiving core funding from the Scottish Executive, this year and for the next three years, to assist in the delivery of the Childcare Strategy to provide accessible affordable quality children's services. The SCMA is also receiving funding for training, IT development and a project to promote understanding of the new system for registration and inspection. This funding totals £134,407 in 2001-02.