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None - by their very nature. By definition, non-governmental organisations are not created by the Scottish Executive.

I do intend to publish the conclusions of recent meetings between Ministers, the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit and businesses, now that the series is complete. I will discuss with the Minister for the Parliament your suggestion for a debate.

The Independent Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment reviewed the current evidence on exposure and use of organophosphates and their effects on health. Its report of November 1999 concluded that acute poisoning from organophosphates causes acute ill health with evidence to support long-term symptoms of acute poisoning can occur as nueropsychological abnormalities and periphery neuropathy. The committee also concluded there is insufficient evidence that prolonged low level exposure to organophosphates is hazardous to health.

This paper was an independent initiative of Scott Wilson (Rail), transport consultants. The Scottish Executive did not commission it and had no involvement in its preparation.

The closure of railways and railway stations is a reserved matter. However, in preparing our directions and guidance for the replacement of the Scottish franchise, the Scottish Executive will build on the Franchising Director's insistence that current levels of service should be secured as a minimum.

No. The rate poundage figure for 2000-01 of 45.8 pence was set to ensure that the total tax income from non-domestic rates, after appeals, remained unchanged in real terms as a result of the 2000 Revaluation of non-domestic rates. A paper detailing this calculation was made available on 17 January 2000 and is available from SPICe.

It is not the practice of the Scottish Executive to disclose whether they have taken legal advice on an issue, nor to disclose the nature of any legal advice received. I am satisfied that there is nothing in the regulations which is incompatible with any legal obligation to which the Executive is subject, including the obligation to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Officials wrote to UHI on 6 April setting out issues for UHI to resolve with its Academic Partners before we can reach a decision on whether to approve the application submitted on behalf of a new institution, called UHI, to be designated as a provider of higher education, eligible for funding by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. These are, broadly, technical issues surrounding service level provision, and constitutionaI issues concerning the respective responsibilities of UHI and its Academic Partners. I met Sir Fraser Morrison, Chairman of UHI, the company promoting the University of the Highlands and Islands Project, on 9 June, and he was able to give me an encouraging report of progress in addressing the outstanding issues. I have no plans to meet Professor Duffield.

Designation is a necessary first step for all higher education institutions seeking university status. In addition, they must satisfy rigorous academic, breadth and numeric criteria. These have been agreed by all four UK Ministers with responsibility for higher education and the Privy Council, which is responsible for authorising use of the word "university" as part of an institution's title. UHI would be expected to meet these criteria.

Of the £9.86 million development funding provided to the University of the Highlands and Islands Project over the years 1996-97 to 1999-2000, £3.68 million has been spent on academic development, £4.12 million on information and communication technology investment and development and £2.06 million on the costs of the Project's Executive Office.

The project has yet to provide a breakdown into these categories of the £1 million in the current financial year.

UHI, the company promoting the University of the Highlands and Islands project, applied in December 1998 for designation of a new institution. Designation is a necessary first step for any institutions that wishes to apply for university status.

Designated institutions seeking university status must first meet stringent criteria agreed UK-wide by the four Ministers with responsibility for higher education and the Privy Council, which consents to applications for a university title. The criteria cover academic achievement, subject breadth and student numbers, and require the establishment of a track record. UHI, like other institutions seeking university status, would have to fulfil these criteria.

Responses to the consultation paper A New Strategy for Scottish Tourism were collated by the Scottish Tourist Board on behalf of the Executive. The STB took all responses into account, and played a significant role in the drafting of the Executive's new tourism strategy. The responses to the tourism consultation exercise are available for public inspection, and were placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).