Chamber and committees

Earlier this year, Learningand Teaching Scotland published draft outcomes and experiences from the PlanetEarth line of development in the science curriculum as part of the ongoingreview of the curriculum: Curriculum for Excellence.

During the coming schoolyear we intend to publish learning outcomes and experiences for technology andmodern languages along with all other areas of the curriculum.

I am currentlyworking with officials to take forward proposals for replacing student loanswith means tested grants for Scottish domiciled students. This work includesexamining the necessary relevant legislative implications and the need for anynew powers. I will announce my plans (which are subject to the outcome of the spendingreview) in due course.

We are committedto helping more individuals and families who struggle to afford a first home oftheir own and we are considering further measures to achieve this. In addition to development of the ScottishHousing Support Fund for shared equity provision announced on 21 June 2007, we are also considering grants to first-timebuyers. The timing of such measures will be informed by the outcome of thecurrent spending review and subsequent discussions with private sectorinvestors.

I am currentlyworking with my officials on the options for implementing our proposal toremove the burden of the debt repayments owed by Scottish domiciled andresident graduates.

We have provided localauthorities with sufficient funding to employ approximately 300 additionalteachers from this autumn and have authorised increases of at least 300 ininitial teacher education in the coming session which will start to have animmediate impact in schools in 2008 and will be focussed on reducing classsizes in P1-P3. The Scottish Executive will be working with local authoritiesto ensure we can drive down these class sizes in a managed and staged way whichmaintains teacher quality, recognises classroom pressures and continuity ofclass configurations which will deliver practical progress to classes of 18 inP1-P3. These factors, together with the spending review, will drive thetimeframe for delivery by making year on year progress towards our target.

This approach has beenrecognised by teaching professionals as the best way to delivering our policyof class sizes of 18 in P1-P3 across Scotland.

Yes. My officials have afurther meeting on recycling with local authorities, and other key bodies, on 13 August 2007. Theaim is to consider how to increase recycling to meet the 2010 LandfillDirective target on reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sentto landfill.

The ScottishGovernment is committed to doubling the international development budget, butthis will be done in the context of an appraisal of the current International developmentpolicy and the spending review.

In line with ourmanifesto commitment to work with Scotland’s aid agencies, I have taken initialsoundings from key stakeholders and over the coming months, I will consult morewidely to draw on the extensive knowledge base that exists in Scotland beforedeciding how best to take forward the international development policy. Thesediscussions will inform our spending decisions as we seek to ensure thissupport targets those in greatest need and achieves measurable, sustainableoutcomes.

The Executive’sobjective is to increase levels of microgeneration and we are committed toincreasing funding to help achieve this. The Executive will set out its plansfor funding as part of our first spending review. Microgeneration has thepotential to provide a sustainable source of low carbon energy and reducecarbon dioxide emissions from buildings. It will be part of a coherent approachto energy policy, recognising that promoting reduced energy consumption andpromoting low carbon technologies are key to achieving sustainable economicgrowth. I have started a dialogue with key stakeholders and this will continueso as to ensure a clear and shared strategy and achievement of objectives.

The total estimated unitarycharges for all existing PPP projects over their contractual life is £22.3billion. This covers 102 PPP projects and spans the years 1999-2000 to 2040-41,a period of 42 years.

There were 504 farmers andcrofters who entered into an agreement under the 2006 Rural Stewardship scheme.A total of 1,842 applications were not offered funding. The cost of fundingthese applications would have been £49.8 million.

Agri-environment fundingunder the new Scottish Rural Development Programme will be £404 million, ofwhich £233 million is available for new commitments. This compares with £110.1 millionfor new commitments in the previous programme.