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I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.

In 1996, the Scottish Diet Action Plan Eating for Health made a number of recommendations and included nutritional guidelines targeted primarily at pre-school and school age children. Education authorities and schools have been implementing these recommendations to varying degrees. In February 1999 the Her Majesty's Inspectorate report Drug and Nutritional Education identified good practice and areas where action was needed. In addition, the Scottish Consumer Council and the Health Education Board for Scotland jointly published their research School Meals Service in Scotland, on 19 November which covers a number of issues. The Food in Schools Conference which was held in May 2001, and was supported jointly by the Scottish Executive, the Food Standards Agency, the Scottish Consumer Council and the Health Education Board for Scotland also reported on 19 November. The main outcome from the conference was agreement on the need for a national strategy for school meals to include standards for nutritional content and dining facilities within a framework which eliminates the stigma associated with free school meals. To take this agenda forward I recently announced, together with the Ministers for Health and Community Care and Social Justice, the establishment of an expert panel to make recommendations for wide ranging improvements in the delivery of school meals. Chaired by a Director of Education, the panel's remit will be provide Scottish ministers with fully costed recommendations, and an implementation and monitoring strategy to:Establish standards for the nutritional content of school mealsEliminate the stigma attached to free school meals and improve take upImprove the presentation of school mealsThe expert panel will include representatives from a wide range of sectors and stakeholders and it will operate in a consultative and participatory manner to ensure that the views of key groups such as parents, children and young people are taken into account. The panel is expected to report in the autumn of 2002.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20232.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20235.

Consultation on individual Public Transport Fund projects is a matter for the promoting authority, in this case Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority. However, I have been assured by the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority that a public consultation exercise is being planned once key legal and contractual issues have been resolved.

As agreed at the debate on this issue on 24 May, an audit of current levels of swimming provision is under way. A questionnaire seeking a wide range of information has been sent to local authorities and will provide an up-to-date picture of opportunities available for school pupils. Responses are expected early this month. We will announce the findings of this survey and any subsequent action thereafter.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19754 on 26 November 2001.

Under the scheme announced on 15 November, it is for the Primary Care Trust to agree with the dental profession locally how best to target the available funding. One of the areas in which we have indicated we wish to see this funding used is to make practices more child-friendly.On 21 November, there was also an announcement about the introduction of a caries prevention scheme, including fissure sealing and preventative work, for six and seven-year-olds in Scotland.