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I understand that Scottish Borders Council is considering a range of measures to deal with the deficit identified in its education budget. Until this process is complete it will not be possible for the council to state for certain what the impact will be on any specific part of the education programme. The Executive expects that Scottish Borders Council will do everything it can to minimise the effect on pupils' education.

I am still waiting for Scottish Borders Council to publish their allocations from the £416,000, which was designed to benefit all schools in the Borders.

The Scottish Executive's support to local authorities for the development of the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) comes through the Excellence Fund. Local authorities are all committing considerable amounts from their own resources to support NGfL developments. The extent of that contribution is a matter for local decision.

Each authority is entitled to draw its share of the NGfL Excellence Fund programme provided that it has agreed with the Scottish Executive an Improvement Plan setting out how it will work towards the various objectives of the programme, including the target pupil:computer ratios. Money may be vired between Excellence Fund programmes subject to approval by the Scottish Executive.

Money is drawn down twice a year, on certification by council officials that valid expenditure has taken place. Authorities are required to report annually on progress and to notify any significant change from their original Improvement Plans. The Scottish Executive also monitors progress on certain of the NGfL targets though the annual School Census.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16563.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16563.

Within the Scottish Executive Health Department, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland and, as such, is the main departmental funder of NHS-related research. CSO spent £46,021 on research into the treatment of dementia in 1999-2000, £110,677 in 2000-01 and expects to spend £210,683 in 2001-02. There was no expenditure by CSO on research into the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease in 1999-2000 and 2000-01 but CSO expects to spend £3,200 in 2001-02.CSO would be pleased to consider funding further research proposals into the treatment of Alzheimer's and other dementia illnesses which would be subject to the usual peer group and committee review.

The circular does not identify specific penalties.

Since 1999-2000, £4 million has been earmarked each year within the total provision for local authority non-housing capital for these schemes. An additional £15.5 million was secured for the Spending Review period, bringing the total available for 2001-04 to £27.5 million.

The council have not published the necessary information by 29 June 2001, the date mentioned in Circular 5/2000 as the latest date by which information should be published. I expect that information to be made available as soon as possible.

The Accounts Commission for Scotland has the overall responsibility for issues concerning the accounts of local authorities in Scotland, including the responsibility for the appointment of auditors. The Controller of Audit may decide to make a report to the Accounts Commission on a particular matter arising out of or in connection with the accounts of any local authority, or the Accounts Commission may ask him to produce such reports as it requires. This is a matter for them.Any report made by the Controller of Audit to the Accounts Commission shall be copied to any local authority named in the report and to any other person as the Controller of Audit or the Accounts Commission think fit. The local authority would be obliged to pass copies of the report to each member of the authority and make additional copies available for public inspection.