Chamber and committees

The following table provides the information requested.

Number of refusals	Type of information and subject	Reasons for refusal
5	Raw marks educational data or geographic analyses based on candidate postcode	Too resource-intensive to provide
1	Request for access to minutes of a confidential meeting	Internal discussion and advice
1	Request for a copy of an implementation plan	Plan is property of a third party
1	Minute of a meeting dealing with discussions about the development of a funding methodology	Internal discussion and advice
1	Information relating to a third party's entitlement to student support	Breach of confidentiality
1	Evidence submitted to a Minister in relation to the need for a review of the building control system	Internal discussion and advicePublication and prematurity in relation to publication

The Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration intends to submit his first annual report to the Scottish Parliament before the autumn recess.

The Scottish Executive is preparing draft freedom of information legislation, which will be published for consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny prior to its introduction to the Parliament. This and last year's consultation exercise should help raise awareness in the public sector and beyond of the forthcoming Scottish freedom of information legislation.

Detailed preparation of the public sector for implementation of freedom of information needs to be associated with the development of the legislation. Accordingly, the Executive is progressing with arrangements to establish a Working Group to oversee the work on preparing the way for the successful implementation of the legislation.

It is envisaged that the Scottish Information Commissioner will play a key role in promoting freedom of information, raising awareness of the legislation and preparing the public sector for its implementation.

The Scottish Executive said in last autumn's consultation document on freedom of information, An Open Scotland, that it would draw on the results of the United Kingdom Government's Advisory Group on Openness in the Public Sector, and that a Working Group of senior officials from the Executive and a cross-section of Scottish Public authorities would be established to oversee the work on preparing the way for the successful implementation of freedom of information legislation. Proposals in relation to the establishment of the Working Group will be made known later this year.

The condition of the water supply facilities in the Roxburgh and Berwickshire area is generally sound but refurbishment and renewal is required in certain areas. East of Scotland Water Authority has improvements planned for 2001-02.

There is no maximum permitted level for chlorine in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. The World Health Organisation guideline value for chlorine in drinking water is 5 milligrammes per litre but most individuals can detect chlorine at concentrations of between 0.6 and 1.0 milligrammes per litre. Levels above this range will begin to cause taste and odour problems. None of the regulatory samples taken by East of Scotland Water during 1999 exceeded the taste and odour standards set in the 1990 Regulations.

East of Scotland Water will be making significant investment in the Roxburgh and Berwickshire area. Replacement of the filters at Dodburn and the microstrainers and chlorination system at Flex is estimated to cost £6.4 million.

Time to pay directions were introduced by the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 which came into force on 30 November 1988. The Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 (Amendment) Regulations 2000 raise the limit for which it is competent for courts to grant a time to pay direction from £10,000 to £25,000 with effect from 10 July 2000. This amendment will apply only to decrees granted on or after 10 July 2000 where applications for time to pay directions are made.

Time to pay orders were introduced by the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 which came into force on 30 November 1988. Applications for time to pay orders can only be granted by the court after a decree for payment has been made and diligence against the debtor has commenced. The Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 (Amendment) Regulations 2000 raise the limit for which it is competent for courts to grant a time to pay order from £10,000 to £25,000 with effect from 10 July 2000. This amendment will apply to applications for time to pay orders made after 10 July 2000.

The Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987, which came into force on 30 November 1988, provided an extended list of goods, particularly household goods, which may be exempt from poinding if reasonably required for the use of the debtor or his household. The Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 (Amendment) Regulations 2000 further extended that list to include televisions, radios, microwave ovens, telephones and computers. The regulations came into force on 10 July 2000 and apply to poindings executed from that date.