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To encourage the movement of freight by rail, the Scottish Executive has committed £39 million over the next three years (2001-04) towards the Freight Facilities Grant and Track Access Grant schemes. The Executive will consider applications for grants under these schemes from industry throughout Scotland, including the Highlands. Applications are assessed against value for money and environmental benefits criteria.

Scotland does not currently participate in the Open University (OU) Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programme. Institutions are able, however, to offer any course on a part-time basis provided it meets the requirements set out in the Guidelines for Initial Teacher Education in Scotland. No proposals have been received for such a course from the OU since 1992.Registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) is a requirement for teaching in all education authority schools in Scotland. All teachers who have not trained in Scotland and who wish to teach here must seek exceptional admission to the GTCS register. As long as a teacher with a qualification through the OU in England fulfils the council's requirements with regards to academic qualifications, professional training and relevant experience there should be no difficulty in gaining entry to the register of persons entitled to teach in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive has had regard to the Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector. The new maintenance term contracts require the successful bidder to fulfil any obligations arising from TUPE. Each of the winning contractors has transferred affected staff under TUPE terms.Specimen copies of the Instructions for Tendering and Part 11 of the Contract Agreement which refers to TUPE have been lodged in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Work to improve road safety on this route was completed last year, as part of a Route Accident Reduction Plan on the A828 between Connel and Ballachulish. This included signing and lining measures at Duror and the Achindarroch and Cuil Bay junctions. Further safety improvements including the final stage of the Duror footway scheme and improved visibility at the Achindarroch junction are being progressed by BEAR Scotland Ltd.

The first claim for compensation in these circumstances was turned down in 1996.

Our legal advice is that policy on compensation for fish farmers in these circumstances is not in breach of these provisions. Consideration has been given to a range of case law, including Handyside v UK. The matter is currently being examined by the European Court of Justice.

No such estimate has been made. The provisions of Decision 90/424 apply to neither of the fish diseases for which compulsory slaughter has been required.

We are aware of no such schemes.

Such plans have been proposed and rejected as any Government contribution would be tantamount to compensation. We have, however, secured and implemented an amendment to EC fish health legislation to allow fish to be withdrawn from infected farms at a rate determined by the level of disease present. It is our hope that the withdrawal scheme will enable compulsory slaughter to be an insurable risk and to this end my officials have had meetings with insurance industry representatives.

Guidance was issued to local authorities in Finance Circular No. 1/2001, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 12527).