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The Scottish Ambulance Service takes patients, or groups of patients, who have a medical need for transport to and from appointments. The service tries to ensure that resources are used in the most cost effective and efficient way possible. This means that, where possible, routes are planned to allow groups of patients to travel in one vehicle whilst at the same time trying to balance the length of time individual patients have to spend in the vehicle.

The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Interim outcome of consultation report.

The Getting it Right for Every Child programme is a long-term transformational change programme across services'' culture, systems and practice to improve outcomes for children and young people across Scotland. It is being developed through pathfinder projects and learning partnerships rather than legislation and thus does not impose any statutory obligations although the relevant police forces are key partners in these projects.

The Getting it Right for Every Child programme is a long-term transformational change programme across services'' culture, systems and practice to improve outcomes for children and young people across Scotland. It is being developed through pathfinder projects and learning partnerships rather than legislation and thus does not impose any statutory obligations. As the programme focuses on ensuring that children and young people receive appropriate, proportionate and timely support its implications, in terms of the criminal justice system, are more for the police as a service responding immediately to children and young people who may have support needs rather than the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

The option to appoint a safeguarder is only available for children who are referred to a Children''s Hearing. Where children are called as witnesses in court proceedings a number of measures can be used in the court to provide for their support and protection. All child witnesses are also entitled to the measures provided for in the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004. As child victims and child prosecution witnesses they will also be referred to the Victim Information and Advice service of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas are set on the basis of scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The 2009 quotas were set on the basis of stock assessment advice received from ICES in 2008 and we expect no further advice from ICES until June 2009. That advice will be used as the basis to determine TACs and quotas for 2010.

Local authority appointment procedures for senior posts must comply with the legislation contained in the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 (the Act) and related regulations. Section 15 of the Act allows for parental representation to HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) on matters of interest or concern. HMIE must take account of any representations received and may use it to inform future education authority and school inspections.

The Regulatory Impact Assessment published in May 2008, contains an impact summary.

The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Interim outcome of consultation report.

There are multifarious parts to the quota settlement which impact on the management of fisheries. Since December there has been discussion of many aspects of the settlement in a number of government/industry groups including the Scottish Fisheries Council and its constituent subgroups, the West of Scotland Task Force and the Conservation Credits Group. I have also met with fishing associations across Scotland to hear at first hand how the quota settlement and associated conditions are impacting on fishermen.