Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18860 on 8 January 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 costs identified within the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) reflect the likely range of funding required to deliver the recommended interventions.

In STPR Report 4, the first phase of the A9 upgrading from Dunblane to Inverness is expected to have a cost in the range £500 million to £1bn. This is broken down as Dunblane “ Perth £100 million to £250 million, Broxden and Inveralmond junctions £50 million to £100 million, partial dualling (Perth “ Blair Atholl) and 2+1 sections £500 million to £1 billion.

These costs will be refined as the more detailed design and development work associated with each intervention moves forward with the aim of reaching a final estimate.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18851 on 8 January 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-18851 on 8 January 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.

Dualling the A9 remains a priority for the Scottish Government.

The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) outlines a programme for the next 20 years. It is expected that the design and development work associated with a number of projects will be taken forward to allow early delivery within the STPR period. On the A9, design work is already progressing for the dualling of the Birnam to Luncarty section.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18854 on 8 January 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.

This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0108-01.htm

The latest available information on the capacity of publicly funded mainstream schools (primary and secondary) comes from the school estates survey which was published in September 2008. In April 2008, the average capacity of publicly funded mainstream schools was 360. Information on the capacity of special schools was not collected. Guidance for authorities on determining school capacities was issued by the Scottish Executive in Circular 3/2004 and can be found on the Scottish Government website using the following link.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/01/20528/50013.

The following is the original answer (published on 19 December 2008); see below

The latest available information on the capacity of publicly funded mainstream schools (primary and secondary) comes from the school estates survey which was published in September 2008. In April 2008 the average capacity of publicly funded mainstream schools was 363. Information on the capacity of special schools was not collected. Guidance for authorities on determining school capacities was issued by the Scottish Executive in Circular 3/2004 and can be found on the Scottish Government website using the following link.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/01/20528/50013.

We will be discussing with the Scottish Funding Council and Universities Scotland how we might encourage higher levels of philanthropic giving to Scottish universities.

Details of the new funding arrangements for the General Fund for Universities and the Horizon Fund for Universities are outlined in the Scottish Funding Council''s response to the New Horizons report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce. Their response is available on the Scottish Government website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/UniversitiesColleges/16640/hetaskforce/JFTTSFCresponce.