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As private residential accommodation, tenement flats and related stairs and closes are exempt from the provisions of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005. In these circumstances, any issues which individual occupiers might have in connection with people smoking in communal areas within tenement buildings require to be resolved privately.

Priorities for distribution of lottery funding in Scotland by the BIG Lottery Fund are set by Scottish ministers in policy directions made with the consent of the Secretary of State. In accordance with these priorities, decisions on distribution of lottery funds are made by the Big Lottery Fund, independently of Scottish Ministers. Information on such decisions is available from the Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund, 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow G2 8JB, tel: 0141 242 1400.

Priorities for distribution of lottery funding in Scotland by the BIG Lottery Fund are set by Scottish ministers in policy directions made with the consent of the Secretary of State. In accordance with these priorities, decisions on distribution of lottery funds are made by the Big Lottery Fund, independently of Scottish Ministers. Information on such decisions is available from the Chief Executive, Big Lottery Fund, 1 Atlantic Quay, 1 Robertson Street, Glasgow G2 8JB, tel: 0141 242 1400.

The first set of national best practice indicators (BPIs) for public procurement in Scotland will be published today. The project is a significant step forward in the procurement reform programme and will be rolled out across the wider public sector.

The BPIs were developed by a working group with representation from all parts of the public sector, including local authorities, health, higher education/further education and government agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The project will encourage procurement teams within public sector organisations to focus on the priority areas of efficiency, collaboration, compliance, skills and e-procurement with a view to delivering improved value for money and supporting more efficient, effective and coordinated service delivery.

Copies are available at www.scotland.gov.uk/BPIprocurementsummary.

The latest authoritative study for the UK on this matter, was the 10th Report of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment, published in June 2005, on The incidence of childhood cancer around nuclear installations in Great Britain. This study concluded that there was no evidence of excess numbers of cases in any local 25km area around any of the nuclear power stations.

The Scottish Government is aware of the recommendations made by the Sentencing Commission in August 2006, in particular that steps should be taken to introduce a procedure that gives effect to a system of sentencing guidelines.

As set out in our manifesto, we believe that such a system would deliver more consistent and transparent sentencing and intend to set up a sentencing council to take this work forward. We plan to consult with key interests and stakeholders, especially the judiciary, on the issues around establishing such a body before coming forward with detailed proposals.

The Scottish Government is working with key partners across the justice system to improve the quality of information collected on child and vulnerable witnesses following the completion of the implementation of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 in April this year. We are also considering how best this information can be made publicly available. In undertaking this work we will take into account the findings of the early evaluation of the first phases of implementation of the 2004 act, which is nearing completion and will be published later this summer.

Examples of recent work by agencies in this area include the Scottish Court Service''s (SCS) monitoring system that captures information in relation to the throughput of applications placed before the court. The SCS is also improving the collection of information on how effectively special measures operate when evidence is being led. The police service is rolling out a revised standard police report (SPR2) which will improve the collation of information on witness vulnerability.

The Scottish Government together with key partners are reviewing the methods for the collection of information on vulnerable witnesses following the completion of the implementation of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13016 on 27 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.

The Scottish Court Service (SCS) has been developing its recording of information on the numbers of applications for special measures since the beginning of the phased implementation of the 2004 act in April 2005. Figures for special measures actually used are not available, but since many cases involving applications for special measures do not proceed to trial they will be less than the numbers of applications made.

SCS records show that in the sheriff court in 2005, 55 children had applications granted for live television links and 119 applications granted for screens. Between January and September 2006 these figures stood at 99 and 111 respectively. From October 2006 the SCS put in place revised returns to collect details of defence and Scottish Children''s Reporter Administration applications. The figures were as follows:

Children''s Hearing Court Proceedings - October 2006 to March 2007

Measures	Applications Granted Children	Applications Granted Adults
Live TV Link	16
Screens	15
Use of Supporter	7
Use of Prior Statements
Evidence by Commissioner
None
Totals	38	0

 

There are no records of applications being tendered by the Defence in this period.

From April 2007 the Sheriff Courts were asked to include figures on Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) applications and the returns are as follows:

Applications by the COPFS (Sheriff Courts) - April 2007 to December 2007

Measures	Applications Granted Children	Applications Granted Adults
Live TV Link	204	14
Screens	495	29
Use of Supporter	458	12
Use of Prior Statements	1
Evidence by Commissioner
None	68
Totals	1226	57

 

Applications by the Defence (Sheriff Courts) - April 2007 to December 2007

Measures	Applications Granted Children	Applications Granted Adults
Live TV Link	11	2
Screens	5	3
Use of Supporter	10	2
Use of Prior Statements
Evidence by Commissioner
None	13	1
Totals	39	8

 

Applications relating to Children''s Hearing Court Proceedings - April 2007 to December 2007

Measures	Applications Granted Children	Applications Granted Adults
Live TV Link	5
Screens	10
Use of Supporter	13
Use of Prior Statements	5
Evidence by Commissioner
None	1
Totals	34	0

 

The SCS has compiled figures for High Court applications in 2007 as follows:

Applications by the COPFS

Measures	Applications Granted
Live TV Link	163
Screens	152
Use of Supporter	345
Use of Prior Statements	0
Evidence by Commissioner	1
None	47
Total	708

 

Applications by the Defence

Measures	Applications Granted
Live TV Link	0
Screens	0
Use of Supporter	3
Use of Prior Statements	0
Evidence by Commissioner	0
None	0
Total	3

 

It has not been possible to differentiate between those applications involving children and adults in the time available.

Information on the economic benefit to Scotland of golf and of bagpiping is not held centrally. However, recent research on 70 golf courses around Scotland shows that the value of golf tourism to Scotland is estimated to be nearly £97 million from these courses alone. VisitScotland is currently working to determine the total value of golf tourism to Scotland. Estimates from previous Ryder Cup tournaments suggest that it is reasonable to expect that there will be positive economic impacts on Scotland through hosting the 2014 Ryder Cup “ likely to lie in the range of £82 million to £148 million.

It is currently not possible to provide information on the numbers of adult vulnerable witnesses as defined by the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004 that are called to give evidence in courts. However, the Scottish Government together with key partners are reviewing the methods for the collection of information on adult vulnerable witnesses following the completion of the implementation of the 2004 act.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13016 on 27 May 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.