Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13389.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-13389.

There are a range of indicators which can be used to measure poverty, of which low income is only one.The Statistical Programme Committee of the European Union recommend using a range of different thresholds for the analysis of low income based on various percentages of mean (50%, 60%) and median (50%, 60%, 70%) equivalised income. The 60% median threshold has been recommended for use as the headline indicator. Data for these thresholds are set out in the Social Justice Annual Report. The table illustrates the level of the low income threshold for various types of households in 1998-99 for 60% median GB net equivalised income. Equivalisation adjusts income according to household size and composition to reflect the extent to which households of different sizes require a different level of income to achieve the same standard of living. The actual level of the low income threshold is therefore different depending on the household composition. Low Income Threshold (60% median GB Net Income), 1998-99 (£ annual)

Couple	Before Housing Costs	After Housing Costs
No children	8,447	7,248
1 child age 5	10,220	8,760
2 children 5, 11	12,358	10,689
2 children age 11	12,671	11,054
3 children 5,11,16	15,382	13,401
Single
No children	5,162	4,015
1 child age 5	6,935	5,527
2 children 5, 11	9,073	7,404
2 children age 11	9,386	7,769
3 children 5,11,16	12,097	10,168

Source: DSS Households Below Average Income.

Notes:1. Estimates are based on sample counts, and are therefore subject to sampling variability.2. Income is net of: income tax payments, national insurance contributions, domestic rates/council tax, contributions to occupational pension schemes, all maintenance and child support payments, and parental contributions to students living away from home.

Scottish Enterprise are at present actively examining the problem of population ageing together with business groups such as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The CBI and the FSB have already been involved in the Foresight exercise in Scotland through the Ageing Population Panel which is co-ordinated by Scottish Enterprise. Over the next few months, Scottish Enterprise will be contacting these bodies to begin a more formalised dialogue on this subject. The outcome from these discussions is as yet unknown, but Scottish Enterprise will be encouraging these bodies to raise awareness with their members so that Scottish employers are encouraged to recruit older workers.Scottish Enterprise also hope to run a conference this summer to raise awareness of the issues surrounding population ageing with members of these organisations and other external partners.

The Scottish Executive's recently published strategy for the Enterprise Network, entitled A Smart Successful Scotland, (Parliament Reference Centre, Bib. no. 10982) made clear that demographic change and its impact on the Scottish Economy is a matter which needs further study.The Scottish Executive has recently announced the establishment of a unit in Scottish Enterprise to be called "Future Skills Scotland". The effects of an ageing workforce is an area in which Future Skills Scotland will have an interest in due course.Scottish Enterprise is also concerned with this issue and has recently published a research paper on the subject in the Fraser of Allander Quarterly Economic Commentary (Volume 26, Number 1, January 2001). A copy of this paper is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 11552).

Reliable figures on average gross weekly earnings of full time employees on adult rates are only available for 24 of the 32 unitary authorities in Scotland. These figures are shown in the following table. The data relate to April 2000.

Unitary Authority	Average gross weekly earnings (£)
Aberdeen City	445.4
Aberdeenshire	371.2
Angus	342.1
Argyll & Bute	378.8
Scottish Borders	326.3
Dumfries & Galloway	330.4
Dundee City	362.2
East Ayrshire	365.1
East Lothian	361.9
Edinburgh City	404.6
Falkirk	379.2
Fife	344.8
Glasgow City	391.8
Highland	351.7
Inverclyde	356.9
Midlothian	375.6
North Ayrshire	346.7
North Lanarkshire	373.1
Perth & Kinross	332.8
Renfrewshire	396.3
South Ayrshire	386.2
South Lanarkshire	385.4
Stirling	337.5
West Lothian	384.0
Scotland	379.8

Source: New Earnings Survey 2000, Office for National Statistics.More details can be found in the Office for National Statistics publication New Earnings Survey 2000 (parts A and E). This is available from the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Figures are not available for Gross Domestic Product on a regional basis for 2000. The latest figures held are for 1996. Figures for 1998 are scheduled for release by the Office for National Statistics in April 2001.

No formal studies have been undertaken in this area, but the Scottish Executive's recently published strategy for the Enterprise Network, entitled A Smart Successful Scotland, (Parliament Reference Centre Bib reference number 10982) made clear that demographic change and its impact on the Scottish economy is a matter which needs further study.The economic and social status of rural Scotland is routinely monitored. Over the period 1991-99 the rural population grew by 1.4% despite the stability of the overall Scottish population. Recent research has shown that, despite the perception that most rural migrants are of retirement age, a significant proportion of rural migrants are of working age, employed and with young children.I would also refer the Member to the answer given to S1W-13461.

The Scottish Executive is working to identify those changes to Scottish law, both civil and criminal, that may be necessary to encourage e-commerce in Scotland. This work involves consideration by the Law Society of Scotland.The Executive's aim is to bring forward Orders under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 between 2001 and 2005. Priority legislative changes will be made later this year. This will include consultation of interested bodies. As well as assisting e-commerce generally, this will enable us to meet the e-Government Strategy target of making all government services available electronically by 2005. Some related changes have already taken place. The Scottish Executive takes part in international negotiations about the use of electronic commerce and in particular the way in which arrangements for jurisdiction and procedure of the courts can reflect the increased use of electronic media for concluding agreements and entering into obligations.

Scottish Executive officials are in regular contact with roads authorities and utility companies on a number of issues. In addition, they attend meetings of the Road Authorities and Utility Companies (Scotland), a forum of representatives of the Scottish Joint Utilities Group and the road authorities. The forum discusses a variety of subjects, including the effectiveness of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.