Chamber and committees

This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, SQA's Management Statement and Financial Memorandum requires the SQA to operate a recruitment system that is based on fair and open competition. I will arrange for the chairman to respond.

This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). However, the SQA normally makes its audited annual accounts available on request after they have been laid in Parliament. It is expected that the 2000-01 accounts will have been laid by 21 December 2001.

In September, the Scottish Executive announced an additional, annual £0.5 million to assist colleges' provision of basic English courses for asylum seekers. At their discretion, colleges may also offer access to part-time vocational courses and support for the cost of books and travel.These arrangements also extend to the dependants of those seeking asylum.

Nursery nurses are included in the childcare workforce that will be regulated by the new Scottish Social Services Council. No decision has yet been reached regarding national qualifications for this workforce.

The Health Department assessed the business case received from Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust for the redevelopment of part of the Stonehouse Hospital site.The business case indicated that there was potential to procure this development through a Public/Private Partnership/Private Finance Initiative and, in approving the business case, the trust was asked to fully explore this option.It is a matter for Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust to determine a suitable timetable for this project.

There was no delay. The letter of 2 July 2001 was acknowledged on 3 July. It related to an on-going investigation. On 22 August 2001 a letter was sent to the constituency office address intimating the outcome of the investigation and the decision in relation to the case. Evidently it did not reach Michael Russell because he wrote again on 25 September 2001. The Procurator Fiscal replied to that letter on 4 October 2001, addressing that letter also to the constituency office. On 27 November 2001 a letter was received from Mr Doyle, from which it was clear that the information sent on 22 August and 4 October had not been passed on to him. The Procurator Fiscal replied to him and sent a copy to Michael Russell on 28 November 2001.

The response time is 20 working days. Correspondence response times are monitored and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service achieves exemplary performance. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20492 for the response times achieved in correspondence with a particular Procurator Fiscal.

The powers of the Scottish ministers, in relation to the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 are to designate by order the sites of historic wrecks in Scottish waters (sections 1(1) and 1(2)) and to grant licences to carry out diving and salvage operations on such sites (section 1(5)). Historic Scotland, an agency of the Scottish Executive, advises Scottish ministers and supports them in the exercise of these powers.

Officials of Historic Scotland, which is an agency of the Scottish Executive, attend meetings of the Advisory Committee.

The Executive wrote to all local authorities and local enterprise companies in December last year seeking information about relocation opportunities in local areas. We received a number of responses, including information about opportunities in North Ayrshire, which will continue to be considered. Following the announcement on 19 November 2001 on the progress of the policy (question S1W-19681) we will write again to provide details of the likely requirements of the new bodies in the programme. The relocation policy states that when the Scottish Executive establishes a new unit or agency, or where an existing unit is merged or otherwise reorganised, there should be a presumption against location in Edinburgh. It also states that where a significant property break point is reached - for example, the termination of an existing lease - relocation options outside Edinburgh will be considered. In each case, ministers will look at alternative locations. The criteria to be taken into account will vary according to the circumstances of the organisation under review.