The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including employment rights and duties, whichare a matter for the UK Government. I understand that subject to work permitrequirements on certain domestic freight and passenger services, the employmentof seafarers is a matter for the companies concerned.

The consequences of the Altmark case for ferry services are far from clear. The European Court ofJustice’s decision in the Altmark case deals with the interaction between the treatyand the relevant state aid regulations for bus services. We have made initial contact with the European Commission and intend tomake a more detailed submission after we have examined the full implications for tendering Caledonian MacBrayne’s ferry services.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3520 on 18 November 2003. 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/search_wa.

Yes.

The information requested isnot held centrally.

I am committed to themaintenance of affordable air and sea links to Scotland’s island and remotecommunities. Tendering protects the lifeline ferry services to the NorthernIsles and in the Clyde and Hebrides by ensuring that they are in line with EC rules andthereby allowing subsidy to continue. I intend to build on the success of currentprovision and to protect these services for the future while providing scopefor innovation and improvement in services.

The following table liststhe external expert advice which the Executive has commissioned to date tosupport its preparations for the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrideslifeline ferry services

External Advisor	Purpose of Contract
Burness, Corlett and Partners Ltd (Marine Consultants)	Advice on technical aspects of the draft Clyde and Hebrides Service Specification (completed)
Shepherd+Wedderburn WS	Advice on and administration of electronic information room for bidders (on-going)
Saltire (Marine Consultants)	Advice on technical aspects of the final version of the Clyde and Hebrides Service Specification (on-going) Advice on technical aspects of the Gourock-Dunoon Service Specification (on-going)

 

The total value of the abovecontracts is £115, 315.86

None of the contractsinclude a penalty clause in respect of the premature closing of the tenderingprocess.

The tourism, culture and sportportfolio has a commitment “to enhanceeveryone's quality of life in Scotland through widening participation in sport andculture and building on a successful and sustainable tourism sector to createjobs and opportunity across Scotland”. To help meet that commitment, the Scottish budget 2003-06 set targets and investsan extra £3.85 million in 2004-05 and £6.95 million in 2005-06 for culturalactivities across Scotland, withthe specific aims of increasing participation, particularly byunder-represented groups, (under-represented groups includes children, young people, older people, women, disabledpeople, people from minority ethnic groups, people living in rural areas, andsocially excluded people) andboosting the number of cultural and sporting programmes in areas of economicand social disadvantage.

We have a specific objectiveof supporting social inclusion by ensuring the widest possible involvement incultural, social and sporting opportunities which will be measured against atarget of increasing the numbers of under-represented groups, especiallychildren and young people, taking part in cultural and sporting activity by 5%.Statistical data to support the measurement of progress against the portfoliotargets will be collected as part of a major new annual statistical exerciseamong the cultural non-departmental public bodies.

The action we aretaking under A Partnership for a Better Scotland will help maximise thebenefits of cultural provision in areas of disadvantage to promote theregeneration of individuals and communities. We are also working with the localauthorities to help develop local cultural provision and spread good practicein this area.

The majority of thetourism, culture and sport budget is allocated to a range of national agencieswho are prioritising their programmes in accordance with the Executive’spolicies and to meet the budget targets for tackling disadvantage. To obtaindetail on how these bodies allocate their respective budgets, I suggest themember writes to the chief executive of each.

The relevantorganisations are:

Bord Na Gaidhlig (Alba)(Board for Gaelic in Scotland)

National Galleries of Scotland

National Library of Scotland

National Museums of Scotland

Scottish Arts Council

Scottish Screen

sportscotland

VisitScotland

Historic Scotland

We are committed to closingthe opportunity gap in employment and training and our lifelong learningstrategy, Life Through Learning; Learning Through Life, published inFebruary of this year, demonstrates our commitment to this.

In terms of measuring oursuccess, the strategy sets out six high level statistical indicators (whichalign with similar aims set out in A Smart, Successful Scotland,our Social Justice publications, and the partnership agreement) that are aimedat helping us to track progress over the long term.

Second homes are notidentified separately from other dwellings receiving a 50% discount. At 1 September 2003there were 66,503 chargeable dwellings in Scotland subject to a 50% discount on council tax.