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In 2008, the Scottish Government commissioned The Government Actuary''s Department (GAD) to review the operation of the Winding Down Scheme. The Scottish Government is currently considering GAD''s report and will respond to the recommendations in due course.

The recruitment and deployment of supply teachers are matters for local authority employers to determine.

Recruitment and deployment of supply teachers are matters for local authority employers to determine. Local authorities have their own locally agreed procedures and the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers has developed a Code of Practice on the Use of Temporary Contracts to assist them in managing their staffing requirements.

The recruitment and deployment of supply teachers are matters for local authority employers to determine.

Two of the recommendations of the Teacher Employment Working Group report published last year referred to post probationers and supply work. These are:

Recommendation 4: Local authority employers should wherever possible use post-probation teachers to fill supply vacancies

Recommendation 5: Local authorities should consider making more use of permanent supply pools to ensure stable employment opportunities are available to post-probation teachers.

The purpose of these recommendations is to help to develop more opportunities for those newly qualified by reducing the use of retired teachers in supply. The recommendations on supply are for local authorities as the employers of teachers to take forward while bearing in mind both employment and age legislation.

We are taking forward the recommendations of the Teacher Employment Working Group. When the results of the 2008 teacher census became available the Scottish Government immediately recommended to the Scottish Funding Council that intakes for initial teacher education post graduate courses in 2009 be reduced by 500 places. Further reductions to training places will be made in 2010-11.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27179 on 22 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The relevant legislation is The Local Government Finance Act 1992 and The Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) (Scotland) Order 1997.

Deceased tenants are exempted by the 1997 Order, subject to the criteria set out in that Order.

This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0917-01.htm

Schools Renewables Development Officers (SRDOs) are continuing to work with Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) to ensure that the educational implications and benefits of the package of measures announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 5 January are effectively integrated into Curriculum for Excellence. For example, the SRDOs are working with individual authorities and schools on twinning exercises between schools in order to expand pupils'' knowledge outwith their own school. Where possible, this will be supported and documented on the LTS website.

The Curriculum for Excellence experience and outcomes were launched in April and will ensure that sustainable development education is integrated into all areas of the curriculum. This will support our aims of developing young people as responsible global citizens with knowledge and understanding of the world and Scotland''s place in it and who are better able to evaluate complex environmental, scientific and technological issues.