On 18 October, I announced the creation of a National Crime Prevention Fund. All national voluntary sector agencies that deliver youth justice services, including SACRO, have been invited to apply to this fund.

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 Executive has conducted a review of its own direct funding of the voluntary sector. On the basis of the conclusions drawn from the review, we intend to put in place a system that enables the alignment of available funding with Executive priorities and develop procedures that are easy to use, transparent and in line with the aim of modernising the delivery of government services. As well as looking at the administration of Executive grants we are, in partnership with the voluntary sector, undertaking a broader more strategic review of funding for the sector. This will look at the pattern of the Executive's own funding and at how the Executive can work with other funders of the sector to address issues of shared concern.

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 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.

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.

Many of the issues identified in the treasury report will be addressed by the Executive's review of the social economy, which we aim to publish shortly.

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

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 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.