Seòmar agus comataidhean

In March 2007, we launched an adult ESOL Strategy for Scotland to help all Scottish residents for whom English is not a first language. Additional funding of £5 million was made available to support the strategy in 2007-08 and a further £9 million available over the three year period 2008-11.

In respect of the period January 2008 to 23 April 2008, we have collated the information requested and that information is set out in table A below. We do not record the number of FOI requests made to specific ministers, but we have set out the information according to particular topic areas as this is possible from the information held on the new database. We have provided information on cases which are still in progress where clarification of the information requested has been sought and not yet received or where a response has not yet been issued.

Prior to January 2008, information collated in relation to our handling of FOI requests was not uniformly recorded centrally. We have collated the information requested from the limited information available from the previous centrally held records in respect of the period from 3 May 2007 to 31 December 2007 and that information is set out in table B. We do not hold information on the number of FOI requests made to specific ministers, but we have set out the information according to particular topic areas. We have provided information on cases which are still in progress where clarification of the information requested has been sought and not yet received, where a response has not yet been issued and where there is no information centrally held on whether a response has been issued.

Table A

1 January 2008 to 23 April 2008

Table B

3 May 2007 to 31 December 2007

HM Young Offender Institution Polmont is at an advanced stage of discussion with National Grid and Fountains, one of four major companies working with National Grid in Scotland. They are in the final stages of preparing to pilot a scheme which will enable suitable young offenders to receive training with Fountains on a day release basis whilst in custody. On completion of training, and subject to a satisfactory probation period, the young offenders will be guaranteed employment. If the pilot scheme is successful we would hope to expand it to provide further opportunities for offenders to benefit from this very positive route into training and employment.

Fly-tipping is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Anyone caught fly-tipping could face a penalty of up to £40,000, six months in prison, or both if the case goes to court. On indictment a fly-tipper can face an even more severe penalty of an unlimited fine and/or two years imprisonment “ five years if its hazardous waste “ and the police also have the power to issue £50 fixed penalty fines.

The SPS is keen to ensure that employees should have a healthy balance between work and non-work life. All staff are required to seek permission from the organisation prior to undertaking secondary employment. Secondary employment includes self-employment and voluntary work. This approval is twofold; to ensure that the proposed working hours do not breach the terms of the Working Time Regulations, and that the proposed activity does not form a conflict of interest. The policy has been agreed by and is jointly signed by SPS management and the Trade Union Side.