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The Scottish Executive is taking forward a procurement exercise to bring broadband to every community in Scotland by the end of 2005. This intervention is supplier neutral and will not stipulate any particular technology for providing access.

European Union anti-discrimination rules require us to treat students from European Union member states in the same way that we treat students who are nationals of our State with regard to tuition fee support. Ultimately it is for the courts to decide the definitive interpretation of such rules.

The Water Industry Commissioner (WIC) re-appointment falls within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Commissioner’s Code of Practice allows for first reappointments (i.e. a second term of office in the same role) to be made without open competition, provided a formal assessment has been carried out which confirms satisfactory performance during the first term of office.

A formal appraisal of the WIC was carried out by the Executive. This report allowed ministers to consider Mr Sutherland for reappointment.

Between1 January 2004 and 31 May 2004, 86.2% of the suppliers’ invoices processed by the Scottish Executive’s Accounting System were paid within 30 days of the date of receipt, orwithin the terms of specific contracts. This compares with 74.8% for the same periodin 2003, and 74.4% for this period in 2002, when teething problems with a new computerisedfinancial system led to a drop in levels of performance.

The Executive is taking a rangeof steps to improve performance. For example, the rollout of the EaseBuy electronic procurement system will ensure that these paymentsare made consistently and promptly. For low value ad hoc purchases the Governmentprocurement card operates like a credit card, ensuring that suppliers get paid withina few days by the credit card company, while the Scottish Executive gets a monthly consolidated invoice fromthe card company. For other items, we have analysed in which parts of the Executivelate payments arise, and are tackling those problems.

Our public consultation Rights of Appeal in Planning ends on 30 July 2004.We intend to make all non-confidential responses available to the public.

A copy of all the responses to the consultation (except those where the individual or organisation has requested confidentiality) will be placed in the Scottish Executive library in Saughton House, Edinburgh, by 27 August 2004. They can be viewed by visiting the library. Copies can also be provided by post.

We also intend to post a digest of responses received to the consultation, along with an analysis of those responses, on the consultation pages of the Executive’s internet website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/ after the analysis has been completed.

The Executive’s report Comparative Study of Business Tax Revenue estimated that the revenue raised from business transport taxes in Scotland was equal to 1.1% of GDP in 2000 compared to 1.4% for the UK as a whole. These figures follow the definition of business transport taxes used by the Confederation of British Industry and includes vehicle excise duty and fuel excise duty paid by businesses.

Vehicle duty and excise fuel duty rates are set at the UK level and these rates do not vary across the regions of the UK. Therefore, differences in total business transport tax revenues, relative to GDP, will in part reflect differences in usage patterns in terms of vehicles and fuel consumption across UK regions not differences in rates.

The Home Office decision refers only to financial support for the National Neighbourhood Watch Association an independent organisation which operates in England and Wales and which has no equivalent in Scotland. The Home Office will continue to provide support and advice for local schemes under the neighbourhood watch movement. Local neighbourhood watch schemes in Scotland are set up and supported by the police and the Executive provides support by way of free publicity materials. The question of the use of the Neighbourhood Watch logos by local schemes is currently being pursued by the Home Office with a view to taking action to assert Crown copyright to protect the name and standing of the neighbourhood watch movement.

I refer the member to my answer to the answer given to question S2W-9087 on 28 June 2004. 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/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to my answer to the answer given to question S2W-9087 on 28 June 2004. 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/webapp/search_wa.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.