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I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Full structural surveys, which are expensive, are not normally commissioned unless indications from visual inspections, settlement or other problems indicate that they are necessary. A visual survey was carried out in August 1994 to ascertain the extent of the problem of rain penetration through the numerous cracks in the mass concrete walls. This survey also included investigation of external wall foundations at four locations. We do not believe a full structural survey now is necessary or would be good value for taxpayers money, as we already know that the cells are too small for integral sanitation; there is no access to night sanitation; there is no electrical power in cells or in cell fire detection system; the windows are below SPS security standards and non-compliant with the current building regulations in terms of daylight factor and natural ventilation, and site services for electricity, gas, water and drainage are at full capacity, indeed at times overloaded, or in need of replacement. The term "state of exhaustion" is a brief summary of the factors which make the current accommodation not in our view fit for purpose.

The £20 million of Inclusion Programme funding through the proposed National Priorities Action Fund is ring-fenced within the Social Justice strand of the fund in both 2002-03 and 2003-04. The £7.8 million for in-service training in special educational needs (SEN) for staff is also ring-fenced as Specific Grant in both 2002-03 and 2003-04. In addition, £5 million central government grant has been allocated through the SEN Innovation Grants Programme over 2002-03 and 2003-04, for the specific purpose of funding voluntary and non-statutory organisations across Scotland to carry out projects in the field of special educational needs.A further £8.8 million central government grant is allocated to the seven grant-aided special schools for 2002-03, for the specific purpose of supporting these schools, and is provided under the Special Schools (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1990.

The Secure Accommodation Advisory Group has provided a report on the availability and use of secure accommodation. I am considering the report's findings and will make an announcement on this shortly. However, in order to assist in the better strategic management of the secure estate, local authorities were asked in September 2001 to provide an estimate of their need for secure places. Borders Council indicated that their need for secure accommodation was steady annually, at one place and this need was being met.

The following criteria and priorities were set out in the grant application pack:

• promoting inclusive policies in mainstream and special schools
• approaches to improving links, and sharing skills/expertise between special and mainstream schools
• empowering parents to enable them to participate fully in their children's education
• improving children's participation in decisions which affect them
• promoting integrated and co-ordinated approaches to service delivery (e.g. key worker role)
• offering new approaches to advice and resolution of disagreements between professionals and families

We are writing to those unsuccessful applicants who have requested feedback on their bids. This includes Independent Special Education Advice and a letter outlining the reasons for refusing funding was issued to them on Thursday 30 May.

We have no plans to do so.

The following table shows the latest centrally available data for headcount and whole-time equivalent of speech therapists by NHS board in Scotland:Speech Therapists in Scotland by NHS Board at 30 September

	Headcount				WTE
	1998	1999	2000	2001P	1998	1999	2000	2001P
Scotland	824	844	887	882	686.4	708.1	744.4	739.6
Argyll and Clyde	62	62	62	66	52.4	52.9	53.7	56.2
Ayrshire and Arran	41	46	49	54	36.2	40.2	41.7	45.8
Borders	18	18	19	20	15.5	16.0	16.7	17.2
Dumfries and Galloway	25	28	26	29	22.3	25.5	22.2	23.8
Fife	63	46	67	50	49.4	37.9	51.6	40.1
Forth Valley	42	46	53	54	34.1	36.5	43.5	43.3
Grampian	94	101	101	96	70.9	78.3	78.9	74.4
Greater Glasgow	139	147	155	156	122.6	128.1	136.3	137.6
Highland	31	29	28	33	27.2	24.6	24.2	28.4
Lanarkshire	104	107	100	102	94.5	95.4	89.7	90.3
Lothian	133	138	148	143	100.4	109.2	117.9	112.9
Orkney	4	4	4	3	2.7	2.7	2.7	2.4
Shetland	4	3	3	3	3.7	2.5	2.7	2.7
Tayside	58	64	66	66	48.7	53.4	56.6	57.3
Western Isles	6	5	6	7	5.8	5.0	6.0	7.0

^PProvisionalNote:1. These data are released under National Manpower Statistics from Payroll.2. Whole-time equivalent (WTE) is calculated by dividing the number of contracted hours by the conditioned hours for the group of staff.

The information requested is not held centrally. Data on waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant is collected at speciality level only. The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in Neurology, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner, in the year ending 31 December 2001, by NHS board of residence, is given in the table.NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times for a First Out-patient Appointment with a Consultant in Neurology, Following Referral by a General Medical Practitioner, by NHS Board of Residence. Year Ending 31 December 2001^P

NHS Board	Median Wait
Argyll and Clyde	80 days
Ayrshire and Arran	97 days
Borders	78 days
Dumfries and Galloway	101 days
Fife	66 days
Forth Valley	70 days
Grampian	88 days
Greater Glasgow	95 days
Highland	59 days
Lanark	106 days
Lothian	28 days
Orkney	120 days
Shetland	97 days
Tayside	66 days
Western Isles	56 days
Scotland	69 days

^pProvisional.Source: ISD Scotland.

The information requested is not held centrally.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The Constructing the Future report bore the name of Eric Murch as he was governor of Low Moss at the time, but as stated by Mike Crossan it was prepared in conjunction with the management team at Low Moss.

Responsibility for business support services in Scotland rests largely with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) networks. Access to business advisers for small businesses in Scotland, including sub-postmasters, is already available. It is accessible in the Scottish Enterprise area through the Small Business Gateway and in the HIE area by contacting the Local Enterprise Company (LEC) direct. Dedicated training for subpostmasters on business planning and diversification has been offered in a number of Scottish Enterprise LEC areas, and more is planned in the HIE area.