Chamber and committees

The content of the application forms is a matter for the universities themselves and the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), the body through which all applications for university places are routed. The UCAS application form includes a question on occupational background which the guidance to applicants explains is used by UCAS for the purpose of monitoring equal opportunities. The information is used by UCAS in anonymised form for statistical purposes, such as the compilation of comparative data on application and entry rates from specific social groups. UCAS advises applicants that the information is not passed to institutions until after the selection process is complete.

No. We propose to increase the Scottish poundage rate by 1.7% to 47.8p for 2002-03 in line with the retail price index. The poundage rate in England and Wales will also increase by the same amount to 43.7p and 43.3p respectively.Rates bills are a product of poundage rate and rateable values. Rateable values have been increasing faster in England than in Scotland. Small businesses in Scotland also benefit from a 2p discount which is not available in England or Wales.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20727.

The conclusions reached by the Rural Development Committee recorded in these paragraphs in the Stage 1 Report relate to the use of terriers underground and the activities of the Scottish Hill Packs. The Executive neither propose to implement a policy nor introduce measures to give effect to those conclusions. The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill has undergone amendment at Stage 2 to cater for pest control exceptions, reflecting the views of the committee. That legislation, as determined at Stage 3 and ultimately interpreted by the courts, will determine what use of dogs is permitted and what constitutes an offence.

Yes. We are considering the Bill as amended at Stage 2 and confirm that we will bring forward any Executive amendments as soon as we can.

The Executive remain neutral in relation to the policy of this Bill except where it cuts across Executive policy, has a financial implication for the Executive or is deemed to be unworkable in law. On consideration of the Bill, as amended at Stage 2, I can confirm that any amendments that the Executive consider are required at Stage 3 will be technical in nature.

The contracts with BEAR Scotland Ltd have been awarded for a period of five to seven years and do not need to be reviewed. The contractual performance of the Operating Companies on all four contracts is monitored on an on-going basis by Halcrow in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers (the Performance Audit Group) and the Scottish Executive. There are a range of corrective measures and financial sanctions within the contracts which the Scottish Executive can consider in the event of unsatisfactory performance by the Operating Company. Having exhausted these, the Scottish Executive can terminate the contract if serious non-performance continues to be identified. Costs would be incurred in relation to securing a new Operating Company.

BEAR's contract is complex and detailed and minor breaches will inevitably occur. However, there are set procedures for rectification of more serious failures. The first step of this procedure is to issue a default notice to BEAR to ensure the level of service is maintained.

I have no plans to meet with the Scottish Hill Packs Association, nor have I been asked by them to do so.

A request from the Scottish Gamekeepers Association for a meeting with officials was made in November and that meeting took place on 13 December. The association subsequently asked whether I could attend that meeting also but other engagements prevented me from doing so. I have, however, asked officials to report the discussions of that meeting to me.