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There has been exceptional interest from young people in Project Scotland. As of 13 January 2006, and since its launch in May 2005, Project Scotland has had over 6,500 enquiries leading to 1,100 applications and 324 volunteers in placements.  298 individuals have had a Project Scotland subsistence allowance approved. Post-placement assistance for Project Scotland Volunteers takes the form of the personal development fund, which was allocated up to £337,000 within the 2005-06 business plan. Of the 75 volunteers eligible to apply for the personal development fund, having completed their placement and volunteered for a minimum of six months, nine have applied and so far five personal development funds have been awarded. The remainder will be considered at the end of January. The initial focus for Project Scotland is to provide opportunities within Scotland, therefore no placements are currently located outside of Scotland.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22379 on 24 January 2006. 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/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22379 on 24 January 2006. 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/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22379 on 24 January 2006. 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/wa.search.

The policy on implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive in the UK is currently under review, and an announcement on a timetable for implementation will be made in the spring.

Scottish Executive officials have been kept appraised by colleagues in the Department of Transport as the review has progressed.

The Scottish Executive does not currently maintain a police force for the railways given that responsibility for the British Transport Police is reserved.

Following the first round of the International Development Fund, £4.3 million over three years has been allocatedfor development work in sub-Saharan Africa and Sri Lanka. Details of the projects which have received fundingare available on the Scottish Executive website:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/11/04144130.

We have also awarded core fundingto NIDOS (Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland) andIDEAS (International Development Education Association of Scotland) of £85,000 and£35,000 respectively per year for three years, to provide support to the developmentof Scottish NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) through umbrella organisations.

We have recently announced ourHumanitarian Health Fund, to encourage more healthcare professionals to undertakehumanitarian work through the provision of grants of up to £5,000 each to covertravel and accommodation costs and help purchase essential equipment, which willbe donated to the recipient country.

Further funding announcementswill be made in due course.

The chief executive of NHSScotland has met with the chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire on a number of occasions to be kept informed about the board’s emerging proposals under A Picture of Health. There are no published records of those discussions.