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Yes, applicants of age 57 and over will be considered for employment by the Scottish Parliament.

Many Borders textile companies, particularly those specialising in cashmere, achieved good sales growth last year. However, competitive pressures continue to grow in this sector and future prospects will therefore depend largely on companies positioning themselves most advantageously in the specialist markets in which they excel. Scottish Borders Enterprise is undertaking particular initiatives to help companies become more competitive and, with its recently launched website, is helping to market Borders textiles worldwide. Borders textiles companies also benefit from a broad range of support measures available from the Scottish Executive across Scotland.

The Partnership for Scotland agreement committed the Executive to reviewing the existing arrangements for factoring former local authority houses. Consideration is presently being given to developing a mechanism to achieve this and, as necessary, to effect this in the forthcoming Housing Bill.

The Scottish Executive provides funding for flu immunisation and issues guidance in accordance with medical advice on those who would most benefit from vaccination.The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is the expert advisory group on vaccination and immunisation to the four UK Health Departments. Their expert advice determines the policy for the flu vaccination programme and that advice recommends that the vaccine is offered to over 75s and other specific vulnerable groups. They do not recommend vaccinating all over 65s. This advice is kept under regular review and is relayed to GPs annually before the time for them to commence flu immunisations.

At its meeting on 1 February, Highland Health Board discussed and agreed an action plan for implementing each of the five recommendations contained in the Scottish Health Advisory Service report. The plan will be taken forward in partnership with the Highland NHS Trusts and the Highland Council in the context of a local strategy for care of older people. The target dates for implementation of four of the recommendations range between May and August this year. The remaining one (relating to a manpower review) will be completed by April 2001.The Scottish Health Advisory Service will follow up progress on implementation of the recommendations, but the Scottish Executive will also monitor how they are being taken forward. We would expect any plans for improvements to services for older people to be reflected in the Health Improvement Programme for Highland and in the Trust Implementation Plans for 2000-01.

All of the estimated £140 per week contributed towards their care costs by people in residential care in 1998-99 is accounted for by costs other than nursing care costs. The higher contributions made by people in long term nursing care reflect the additional costs of providing such care. 30% of the estimated £200 per week thus is accounted for by nursing care costs.

It is for Highland Health Board and the Highland NHS Trusts to consider and respond to the recommendations in the report. I understand that they are doing so and that recommendation 3 will be taken forward as part of the development of a Highland-wide strategy and action plan for services for Older People.

The Scottish Executive is at present considering a Regional Selective Assistance application from Signum Circuits. However no new awards of Regional Selective Assistance may be made until agreement has been reached with the European Commission on the detail of the new Assisted Areas map.

No. It is neither custom nor practice of the UK Government or the Executive in Scotland to publish its legal advice.

Scottish Executive officials undertook to examine this matter for the Justice and Home Affairs Committee. I have today laid in the SPICe a copy of the letter to the clerk.