Systems for the management and maintenance of core paths should be set up at the local, not the national level. We expect access authorities to take a lead in this, working with others in the local area, especially local access forums.

Access authorities have been provided with powers under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, to do anything they consider appropriate for the purposes of maintaining a core path. They should be making provision to use these powers for the effective management and maintenance of their core path network.

The first point of contact for community organisations should be the local access authority, who should have a system in place for managing and maintaining the core path network, as indicated in the Guidance for Local Authorities and National Park Authorities issued by the Scottish Government in February 2005. It is up to the local access authority to address the concerns of any local organisations.

Under the concordat between the Scottish Government and COSLA, this government is investing record levels of funding in local government and provides local authorities with the opportunity to determine where resources should be allocated including how much to spend on maintaining core paths. Each authority has a single outcome agreement which includes a performance management system which aims to align local priorities with the aims of the Scottish Government.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15259 on 19 August 2008. 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/wa.search.

Since the 1970s female students have achieved better school qualifications than males. The situation in Scotland in this regard is similar to most other OECD countries.

Widening access to lifelong learning is a priority for this Scottish Government. We recognise that this requires a long-term strategy and that significant activity is already taking place. Skills for Scotland, the government''s skills strategy, aims to encourage all our young people to stay in learning post-16 as the best way of ensuring their long-term employability and contribution to society.

As most students are selected to enter higher education based on school qualifications, attainment at school is an important factor in deciding whether applicants are accepted to university. Curriculum for Excellence aims to bring about a transformation in education that should lead to improved quality of learning and teaching and increased attainment and achievement for all children and young people in Scotland, regardless of their gender.

We will continue to work with the Scottish Funding Council to ensure that within the widening participation strategy, Learning for All, there is an action plan which recognises the need to address the widening educational gap faced by men.

In addition, the new Access and Inclusion Forum recently established by the Scottish Funding Council, to be chaired by Professor Jim Gallacher, will address issues relating to improving access and inclusion in further and higher education. Their work will underpin this government''s focus - to take a broader approach and widen the mainstream rather than simply seeking to widen access. The wider access regional forums are responding to this need and have put in place collaborative activity to encourage boys and men to participate in local learning opportunities. This includes:

Engaging men (North Forum in the Highlands and Islands);

Playing for Keeps (West Forum in Glasgow), and

Educated Pass (South East Forum with LEAPS).

The fact that a higher proportion of female than male schools leavers enter higher and further education is not unique to Scotland. This has been the case for the last 10 years and is similar to most other OECD countries. We believe that the issue of gender equality is very important to society and to the economy as well as for individuals. Gender equality does not mean parity or 50:50 ratios everywhere, but rather equality of opportunity.

The importance of learning and skills as a fundamental driver of growth is firmly established as a critical element in the creation of a knowledge-based economy that is responsive and adaptable to rapid global change and the establishment of a wealthier Scotland. A smarter Scotland needs young people who are ready to contribute effectively in the community and the world of work and go on to develop their skills through lifelong learning. Further, it needs improved skill levels across the entire population and a better match of supply and demand.

Since most students are selected to enter higher education based on school qualifications, attainment at school is the single most important factor in deciding whether applicants are accepted to universities. Curriculum for Excellence aims to bring about a transformation in education that should lead to improved quality of learning and teaching and increased attainment and achievement for all children and young people in Scotland, regardless of their gender.

We are aware that young people who experience periods of unemployment and disengagement from learning between the ages of 16 and 19 are more likely to experience long-term unemployment in adult life. That is why one of the indicators in our national performance framework measures our progress in supporting young people to enter positive and sustained destinations when they leave school. Skills for Scotland aims to encourage all our young people to stay in learning post-16 as the best way of ensuring their long-term employability and contribution to society.

I last met Royal Mail Group on 21 May 2008 where we discussed a number of issues including the universal service rate. The Scottish Government’s position on the retention of a universal rate is set out in our response to the Independent Review of the UK Postal Services Market at the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/postalreviewresponse.

A copy of our response was forwarded separately to the Royal Mail Group on 2 June 2008.

The Scottish Government supports the retention of a universal rate for the postage of goods across the UK. Scotland’s geography and our proportionately larger rural and small business sectors render the continuation of the universal service obligation vital to maintain the drive against social exclusion, to enhance community cohesion and to support fragile local communities.

I refer the member to the Scottish Government’s response to the Independent Review of the UK Postal Services Market at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/postalreviewresponse.

The procedures for dealing with variations in fuel costs are set out in the public service contracts between the Scottish Ministers and CalMac Ferries Ltd covering the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and NorthLink Ferries Ltd for the Northern Isles ferry services. Under the terms of those contracts, an annual budget against which subsidy is payable is agreed based on estimated fuel prices and the volume of fuel required to operate the contracted services. If the price of fuel increases beyond the budgeted price set, then the Scottish Government is required to cover the cost of the difference by making supplementary grant payments. If the volume of the actual fuel required is above the budgeted volume set, the operator bears the full cost of the volume increase.

Full consideration of these issues will be assessed within the Scottish Government’s budget for 2008-2009.

It is not possible to state firmly that an upgraded BT exchange in Northbay would give 100% coverage. This is because ADSL technology generally has a reach issue whereby those living some distance from the exchange cannot access ADSL services. HIE have indicated that the completed Connected Communities network will give as close to 100% coverage as possible.