Chamber and committees

National Veteran''s Day is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence and major decisions on the funding of events is a matter for them. We are aware that the MoD have made funding available to the cities of Stirling and Aberdeen and to the town of Kelso to facilitate Veterans'' Day events.

The Scottish Government is fully supportive of these and other events across Scotland to recognise the valuable contribution that veterans make to our civic society and will work closely with local authorities and event organisers to provide assistance and support where appropriate. In doing so, ministers will carefully consider any requests for assistance with funding and any invitation to attend an event.

National Veterans Day (NVD) is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and major decisions about the funding of events to mark NVD are a matter for them. MoD officials have kept their Scottish Government counterparts informed of decisions to provide funding to the cities of Stirling and Aberdeen and to the town of Kelso for NVD events.

The Scottish Government fully supports those communities across Scotland who choose to undertake activities to recognise the valuable contribution made by veterans and their families to Scotland''s civic society. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with the MoD and other veterans'' organisations where the need arises to ensure that events in Scotland that are memorable and meaningful for our veterans'' communities.

Yes. We have included proposals to add light pollution to the statutory nuisance provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in the Public Health etc (Scotland) Bill, which is currently being considered by the Parliament.

The light controls proposed refer to all fixed light emitters, other than lighthouses.

NHS Borders is committed to improvingaccess to NHS dental services in Roxburgh and Berwickshire. Plans are currentlyproceeding for the creation of two six surgery dental units, one in Coldstream andthe other in Hawick.

We have no currentplans to add to the powers housing associations already have to deal with antisocialbehaviour.

We have no currentplans to add to the robust powers already available to housing associations (andlocal authorities) under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

The ScottishGovernment has a national antisocial behaviour strategy which was introduced withthe Antisocial Behaviour Act 2004. The strategy, which applies to all includingtenants is currently under review, the findings of which will be reported to Parliamentby the end of 2008. There are provisions in the act that give registered sociallandlords and local authorities robust powers to address antisocial behaviour oftheir tenants. The Act also contains provisions to ensure that private landlordsfulfil their responsibility to address the behaviour of their tenants.

The GP contract has built-infunding to reflect the additional costs of providing primary medical services inrural areas.

Around £300 million is distributedon the basis of the Scottish Allocation Formula, which is weighted to the needsof rural practices.

Rural practices also benefitfrom an income guarantee which ensured that in the move to the new contract in 2004,no practice received less funding for the provision of core essential services.

The Scottish Executive is currentlyconsidering the most appropriate action in relation to the restrictions placed onthe provision of trustee indemnity insurance under the Charities and Trustee Investment(Scotland) Act 2005.

I am clear that the restrictionsplaced on the provision of indemnity insurance were an unintended consequence of the legislation. I have discussed the issue with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and am sympathetic to the proportionate approach theyhave adopted in relation to the matter.

Following a competitivetendering exercise, conducted in line with the Scottish Government’s Proceduresfor Commissioning and Managing Social Research, Ipsos MORI has been appointed toconduct the independent evaluation of the free school meal trial for primary 1 to3 pupils. Ipsos MORI is evaluating the trial by collecting data on the change inschool meal uptake from the five trial local authorities, including Scottish Borders,and through assessing any changes in attitudes and behaviours of primary 1 to 3pupils and their parents that are evident within the trial period.