Chamber and committees

This information is not held centrally. The registration of children in employment and the subsequent issue of work permits are prescribed in local authorities' own bylaws. Sixteen local authorities have revised bylaws in place following Scottish Executive guidance issued in May 1998, 10 have submitted bylaws for confirmation and six are engaged in local consultation.

This information is not held centrally. The regulation of the employment of children over 13 is prescribed in local authorities' own bylaws. Sixteen local authorities have revised bylaws in place following Scottish Executive guidance issued in May 1998, 10 have submitted byelaws for confirmation and six are engaged in local consultation.

Figures for employers who have been prosecuted for employing children in industrial undertakings in the last 12 months are not yet available. Between 1994 and 1998 there were no cases recorded. The regulation of the employment of children over 13 is prescribed in local authorities' own bylaws. Sixteen local authorities have revised bylaws in place following Scottish Executive guidance issued in May 1998, 10 have submitted bylaws for confirmation and six are engaged in local consultation.

I am today placing in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre details of the main rates of loans and grants, including various supplementary grants, which will be available to eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students in full-time higher education in 2000-01.

The total support available to eligible students in 2000-01 will be 2.5% higher than in 1999-2000, thus maintaining its value in real terms. - We are also increasing by the same factor the standard rates of payment made to institutions by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

These changes are consistent with those for England and Wales announced by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

Enforcement of civil court decrees is the responsibility of the creditor in whose favour the decree is granted. Creditors have opened to them a variety of measures of enforcement, dependent on the type of decree. These include arrestment of wages, bank arrestments and poinding and sale of the judgment debtor's goods. The actual procedures for enforcement are carried out by officers of court as instructed by the creditor and under judicial supervision. Some decrees may be unenforceable due to the circumstances of the debtor.

The information requested is not available. Civil cases seeking a financial judgement can be raised in a variety of ways and the number of court appearances, and that impact on workload and cost to the Scottish Court Service will vary greatly depending on the nature of the case and the procedure followed. For example, over 80% of ordinary civil actions for debt are undefended and are concluded without any formal court appearance. The number of court appearances for the remaining actions in this category varies with consequential effects on workload and costs.

Rules of Court provide for a Child Welfare Hearing to be held not sooner than 21 days after the lodging of an intention to defend in a relevant action. At the hearing the rules require the Sheriff to secure the expeditious resolution of disputes in relation to children and allow the taking of such steps or making of such order as is thought fit.

A programme to introduce audio tapes for recording proceedings in the Supreme and the Sheriff Courts was completed in 1997. A comprehensive review of these arrangements was completed in July 1999 which made a number of recommendations to improve overall performance, all of which have been implemented. In addition, digital recorders were issued in February 1999 to all Judges in the High Court as back-up for recording their charges to the jury.

No complaints have been received from either the judiciary or other court users on the accuracy of transcriptions over the past year and there are no plans to change the current arrangements. Nevertheless, the Scottish Court Service continues to monitor the development of technology in this area.Video is not routinely used for recording proceedings in the courts.

The Scottish Court Service has a key strategic aim of using modern technology to improve the service it delivers and assist the work of the courts. In the last year it has completed the installation of a computer network linking all the Sheriff and Supreme Courts in Scotland and is developing computer based systems to assist in tracking cases before the courts. A web site has been introduced which provides information on the Scottish Courts and includes a searchable database of recent judgements. The opportunity to incorporate modern technology is also routinely considered in planning the major refurbishment of court buildings.

I have today laid before Parliament a draft Order in Council - The Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Appropriations) Amendment Order 2000. Once approved, this will set out the Executive's final spending plans. I am also making available an accompanying draft explanatory booklet. Detailed further explanations will be discussed by the Finance Committee as part of the process of approving the Order.