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A guidance document for local authorities on the operation of the Strategic Waste Fund (SWF) is currently being prepared. The SWF is for local authorities to implement the findings of Area Waste Plans which are being developed as part of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland. The plans should include measures to comply with the EU landfill directive. An initial draft of the guidance document has been discussed with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Waste Advisers. It is intended that an amended draft be issued to all local authorities for comment.

The application of the Disability Discrimination Act to education does not take effect until September 2002. The Act will increase the availability of educational opportunities and the choices for parents of school age children.

The Scottish Executive has not issued any specific guidance on the extent to which parents of a disabled child may choose the mainstream school that they wish their child to attend. Parents of any child are entitled to make a placing request to their education authority as regards the school to be attended by their child. Placing requests for disabled children, in common with all other children, have to be considered under the framework in the Education Act 1980 (as amended), and education authorities can turn down those requests only for reasons set out in the legislation.

However, section 15 of the Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc Act 2000 includes a requirement for education authorities to provide for all children in mainstream schools, except in certain specified circumstances. The Scottish Executive is currently preparing guidance for local authorities on this presumption in favour of mainstreaming.

I have no plans to change the three tests set out in the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, namely probabilis causa, financial eligibility and reasonableness. The detailed financial tests are generally uprated annually in line with changes in social security benefits

My officials are presently in preliminary discussions with the Law Society of Scotland about civil legal aid remuneration.

The review undertaken by Sir Andrew Leggatt dealt primarily with Tribunals operating in reserved areas. Officials of the Scottish Executive maintained contact with the Lord Chancellor's Department throughout the review process. They contributed information and advice to the review team about tribunals operating in reserved areas in Scotland, and the need to take account of the distinctive nature of the Scottish civil justice system.

The Executive does not plan to issue a formal response to the consultation paper. Officials will, however, continue to discuss with relevant officials in the Lord Chancellor's Department, arrangements for taking forward consideration of the policy options and issues arising from the Leggatt Report. The purpose of this contribution will be to ensure that whatever proposals for change ultimately emerge serve the needs of the people of Scotland and are consistent with the principles of the Scottish civil justice system.

The operation of civil legal aid and its interaction with other parts of the justice system are kept under constant review. Necessary changes to the scheme, whether by primary or subordinate legislation, are presented to the Scottish Parliament for consideration and approval. The financial limits are generally increased on an annual basis in line with benefits increases.I await with interest the forthcoming report of the Justice Committee 1 into legal aid and will consider any proposals for change that the committee may recommend.

A detailed analysis of the applications for civil legal aid in each year is set out in the Annual Report of the Scottish Legal Aid Board. The board's report for 2000-01 was laid before the Parliament on 18 July.

There are at present no plans to conduct such a review.