Chamber and committees

In Scotland, debts, whether they are for water charges, rent, council tax or due to utilities are treated equally in the debt collection process. However, if the debtor is in receipt of certain benefits and the debts are being recovered by direct deductions, these are made in the order set out in Schedule 9 to the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987. In Scotland, council tax and water charges debts are collected together and are therefore on an equal footing. Debts in relation to electricity, gas or rent hold a higher priority in the 1987 regulations than those for water charges.

Kick Start is an innovative proposal which is receiving consideration by the Executive in the context of the UK Department for Transport's current bus subsidy review.

The Scottish Executive does currently provide direct grant support across a number of policy areas to the voluntary and community sectors where the projects funded are likely to have national benefits - whether as a national resource, or in building understanding and learning about particular issues of national importance.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31160 on 12 November 2002. 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 report covers both reserved and devolved matters. In relation to the devolved matters the Executive will publish its response to the report of the Scottish Charity Law Review Commission next month. This response will cover similar issues to those raised in the Strategy Unit report. The Strategy Unit report also addresses issues relating to the development of social economy organisations. These will be addressed by the Executive's Social Economy report which we aim to publish shortly. There is therefore no need for the Executive to initiate an equivalent review.

The Best Value Task Force was set up to provide guidance for local authorities in the operation of their new statutory duties under the Local Government in Scotland Bill. For this reason, at this time, it consists mainly of local authority representatives, but also representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Consumer Council.The Scottish Executive has been careful to consult directly representatives of the voluntary sector about the provisions of the bill and will continue to consider their interests in relation to the work of the task force and other associated matters.

The Executive takes very seriously the needs of disabled tourists in Scotland and noted carefully Capability Scotland's recent report.VisitScotland takes into full account the needs of visitors with disabilities, and operates an inspection scheme to assess accommodation with disabled provision using the UK-wide National Accessible Standards. Establishments which meet the assessment criteria are recognised by being awarded an access symbol. Information on all such establishments in Scotland is available from VisitScotland

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21447 on 21 January 2002. The Executive will publish its response to the commission's report next month. The position on the legislative timetable remains unchanged. 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 arrangements for training, education and continuing professional development for solicitors are a matter for the Law Society of Scotland in terms of the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1980. The society sets requirements in practice rules and regulations. The Admission as Solicitor (Scotland) Regulations 1991 and 2001 made under section 5 of the 1980 act prescribe the entrance requirements for admission and the Solicitors (Scotland) (Continuing Professional Development) Regulations 1993 require every solicitor to undertake continuing professional development. The society requires solicitors to undertake each year a minimum of 20 hours of continuing professional development relevant to their particular practice.As regards social work professionals, the Minister for Education and Young People announced a 12-point Action Plan for the Social Services Workforce in April 2002. This action plan included a commitment to introduce a new honours degree in social work by 2004. A project group was set up under the action plan charged with taking forward this reform of social work education. The project group will report to ministers at the end of this month with recommendations about the introduction of new standards in social work education. These standards will set the framework for the new honours degree curriculum.

As with most Senior Civil Service appointments, any future appointment to the Head of Voluntary Issues Unit will be dealt with by consideration being given to internal promotion, external recruitment or by assignment from within the existing Senior Civil Service.