Chamber and committees

The Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) is currently a ring-fenced element of the local government finance settlement. As such, there are no plans to estimate the cost of administering and investing the FSF centrally.

Allocations from the FSF have been made to all 32 Community Planning Partnerships based on relative levels of multiple deprivation. As part of the historic concordat with local government, it is a matter for each local authority''s CPP to determine which individual investments will be most effective in driving the achievement of key outcomes.

This information is not held centrally.

The arrangements for, and content of, continuing professional development are for teachers and their employers to determine. However, the Scottish Teacher Education Committee (STEC), comprising the Deans/Heads of Faculties of Education of the seven universities providing initial teacher education (ITE), have developed a framework for Inclusion, which was launched by me on 27 April 2009.

The framework identifies the values and beliefs, professional knowledge and understanding and the professional skills and abilities, in terms of inclusive education, to be expected of both student teachers and of qualified teachers at whatever stage of their career. A key part of the framework is an extensive web-based repository of resources, advice and guidance for all teachers seeking further assistance with specific aspects of inclusive education. The resource covers advice on teaching pupils with dyslexia.

The potential for a new railway station at Bonnybridge was specifically considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR). However, no proposal for Grangemouth emerged from the initial option generation exercise, nor was it proposed by any stakeholders.

The recommendations of the STPR are based on the most robust analysis and evidence available taking the future needs of Scotland''s strategic transport infrastructure into account. This concluded that there was no case for additional stations to meet the strategic transport needs in the area.

In addition, recent consideration by Transport Scotland found that reopening either railway station could potentially have an adverse impact on the existing rail network, such as the Grangemouth Freight Hub and the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvements Programme which are included in the STPR recommendations.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22344 on 24 April 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22344 on 24 April 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The information requested is given in the Annual Report and Accounts of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2005 - Bib. number 38375 at page 8.

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2006 - Bib. number 41309 at page 16.

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2007 - Bib. number 43531 at page 18.

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2008 - Bib. number 46507 at page 20.

Copies are also available on the OSCR website (www.oscr.org.uk).

Title to the land included in a compulsory purchase order is taken following the making of a General Vesting Declaration (GVD). Notice of the making of a GVD is served on the landowners specifying the date on which the land will vest in the Scottish ministers. Once the land has vested, the former owners are entitled to claim an advance payment of compensation which, if claimed, is required to be paid no later than three months from the date of the application for such a payment.

The Scottish Court Service assumed responsibility for collection and enforcement of fiscal penalties (fines, compensation and a combination of both) as of 10 March 2008. The responsibility for collecting fiscal fines previously lay with the district courts.

The detailed information requested (from 10 March 2008) is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47910).

The Scottish Court Service assumed responsibility for collection and enforcement of fiscal penalties (fines, compensation and a combination of both) as of 10 March 2008. The responsibility for collecting fiscal fines previously lay with the district courts.

The detailed information requested (from 10 March 2008) is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47909).

Transport Scotland''s budget in 2009-10, as published in Scotland''s Budget Documents 2009-10: Budget (Scotland) Bill Supporting Document for the year ending 31 March 2010, will be £2.229 billion.