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Along with his partners in EMBT-RMJM, Enric Miralles contributed to the formal Stage D (scheme design) drawings both before his illness, and during his period of recuperation following surgery in America. These drawings were approved by the client on 20 June 2000 and are available for inspection. The SPCB has no reason to seek any ancillary material from the architect in support of that submission.

There are no such plans. However, Donaldson's College administer a course to train tutors of lip reading. Students enrolled on the course usually fund themselves or are sponsored by employers. Local authority staff are eligible for funding from the £5 million budget provided by the Scottish Executive for in-service special educational needs staff development and training.

No; it is for Midlothian Council as local roads authority to take whatever action it considers necessary in developing its proposals to upgrade the A701.

Consistent information is not currently available. Statistics on delayed discharges and the reasons for them are now routinely collected on a quarterly basis. Information on the first quarter will be analysed in July and published shortly thereafter.

SPCB Report No 4 of 30 March 2000 to MSPs made clear that, based on the latest design proposals, the project can be delivered for £195 million. The Quantity Surveyor's "Stage D" cost report for June 2000 is consistent with that figure. The Holyrood Progress Group would advise MSPs if there were any change to that position.

The procedures for the appointment of clerks and support officers to service the committees of the Parliament are the same as those in place for the appointment of other staff in the Parliament.
The SPCB is an equal opportunities employer and all external recruitment to fill permanent vacancies is undertaken by fair and open competition. Where a vacancy arises, a decision will be taken, in consultation with the Personnel Office, whether to advertise the post externally or limit the field to existing staff. A job description, including the skills, knowledge and experience required, is drawn up and made available to applicants. A shortened version of this appears in an advertisement. Applications received are considered and the selection of those applicants worthy of an interview is determined by reference to the criteria previously agreed and published. Job interviews take place before a panel of three parliamentary staff. The panel is chaired by a member of staff from the Personnel Office and where the post is in the Clerking Directorate, the other two members are drawn from appropriately qualified staff in that Directorate. The interviews are structured and all applicants are assessed against the skills, knowledge and experience required to fulfil the job description. The applicant who achieves the highest score, providing this is on or above the pass mark, will be appointed to the post. For posts in the Clerking Dirctorate, which comprises the Committee Office and the Chamber Office, appointments are made to the Directorate as a whole, except where a post requires specialist skills and/or knowledge and experience. Staff are thereafter deployed as required to meet the business needs of the Directorate. In exceptional circumstances, however, the Clerk reserves the right to make appointments to particular posts from within the ranks of the parliamentary staff group.

It is important that the Parliament’s management is able to exercise its judgement in allocating resources to support committees and the many other areas of parliamentary business, to help maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of that support. That judgement is exercised under the overall authority of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

The Corporate Body remains ultimately responsible for the Holyrood Project. Under the arrangements agreed with the Holyrood Progressing Group, the clerk will have delegated authority in respect of the management of the project though this will be exercised under the oversight of the Progressing Group. The day-to-day management of the project will be the responsibility of the Holyrood Project Director.

The post of Head of External Relations Division in the Executive Secretariat was filled by assignment as part of a round of moves for Heads of Division within the Scottish Executive to fill vacancies arising from retirement and promotion and for career development purposes. Decisions on postings for Senior Civil Servants are taken by Scottish Executive senior management and do not require the approval of Ministers.

The Parliament's commission for the design of the Holyrood building is with the joint venture company EMBT/RMJM, who have been working on the project continuously. The lead architect Enric Miralles has remained involved throughout his treatment and recuperation in America, and will shortly be returning to his office in Spain.