Chamber and committees

The answer to question S1W-15074 described the Collaborative Review of Initial Teacher Education as a departmental consultation exercise. May I take this opportunity to correct that statement. The consultation should have been listed as "Collaborative Review of Initial Teacher Education." The inclusion of the word "department" was a typographical error and I offer my apologies for any confusion this has caused.The new process of collaborative review is aimed at enhancing quality assurance arrangements in Initial Teacher Education in Scotland. The process will evaluate against the Standard for Initial Teacher Education issued on 26 February 2001. This document was included as an annex in the handbook produced by the Standing Committee on Quality Assurance in Initial Teacher Education.The Standing Committee issued the handbook for comment to all local education authorities, teacher education institutions and other key educational stakeholders on 26 February 2001 for comment by 6 April.A total of 26 organisations responded. These comments will be incorporated along with the outcomes of a Pilot Review (September 2001-April 2002) leading to a revised version of the handbook being produced in time for the Review Cycle beginning in September 2002.

The DSM Review Group expects to publish their report in late August.

Details of the personal injury accidents which have occurred on the A85 between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich for each year from 1990 to 1994 is as follows:

A85 between Lochearnhead and Crianlarich: Injury Accidents (1990-94)
Year	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
1990	0	4	4	8
1991	0	2	4	6
1992	0	5	4	9
1993	0	1	3	4
1994	0	3	6	9
Total	0	15	21	36

The report summarising responses to the consultation on national priorities for school education was sent to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee of the Scottish Parliament in December 2000. I have now instructed that it be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 14481).

In response to question S1W-2680, Mr Sam Galbraith announced the results of the consultation, which showed a majority support for the principle of a general fund. He also announced the setting up of an implementation group, comprising representatives from key stakeholders, to consider the implications of the transfer of resources for improved aftercare.I expect the group to report its recommendations in the autumn. We will then consult on detailed proposals.

67 detailed responses on the future of the Code's provisions were received. Consideration was delayed to allow negotiation and implementation of the McCrone Report's recommendations, which had implications for areas of the Code such as grades of posts in schools.I intend to consider the outcome of the consultation exercise on the future of the 1956 Code in the coming weeks, with a view to making a decision by early autumn.

Copies of the consultation paper were sent to all parties who had made representations on the subject of hutters in response to the first Land Reform Policy Group consultation. This included a number of landlords whose estates included hut sites (including the Carbeth Estate) and a number of individual hutters, as well as the Carbeth Hutters' Association. In addition, the paper was sent to all MSPs who had displayed an interest in the subject and all local authorities in Scotland. A number of other organisations including the National Farmers' Union, Scottish National Heritage and the Forestry Commission were sent copies of the report. Certain individuals requested multiple copies of the report for distribution to their associates. Such requests were met when made.

The Scottish Executive is committed to reporting annually on our progress in achieving our social justice targets and milestones, which includes the milestone of reducing by one third the days lost every year through exclusions from school and truancy. Data for 1999-2000 will be reported in the next Social Justice Annual Report.

The target of reducing by one third of the days lost every year through exclusions from school and truancy is set out in Milestone 10 in the Social Justice Action Plan. No timescale is specified in this target, but I expect education authorities to deliver year-on-year improvements. The recent report of the Discipline Task Group made a number of recommendations which will help to reduce exclusions and truancy. Headteachers should continue to use exclusion as a last resort, but our efforts need to concentrate on positive learning environments for young people. Targets will now be set with this in mind.

The composition of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is prescribed in section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. At present the SQA comprises 12 members including the Chair and Chief Executive. Seven of these have been appointed by Scottish ministers or their predecessors. Steps are being taken to appoint new members. Schedule 1, paragraph 10(3) of the 1996 Act states "The proceedings of SQA and of any committee established by it shall not be invalidated by any vacancy amongst its members or the members of such committee or by any defect in the appointment of such member or failure to comply with any requirement of paragraph 11 [Conflict of interest] or 12 [Confidentiality of information] below".