There is no set statutory procedurefor individual members of the public to request the call-in of planning applications.

Some planning applications requireto be formally notified to the Scottish ministers because they may raise issueswhich could justify call-in of the application for determination by the Scottishministers. The notification procedures do not set a period for additional objectionsor representations to be made to the Scottish ministers. However, the ministerswill give due consideration to any objections and representations made to the planningauthority on the application, and any that they have received directly, prior todeciding whether or not to call in a notified application.

Where proposals do not fall intoa category requiring formal notification, the Scottish ministers still have powersto call-in the application prior to the planning authority issuing its decision.It would be open to an individual to make their views known to Scottishministers who would consider whether or not call-in of the application was justified.

Whilst the Scottish Executive provides advice on the provision of music tuition in the classroom, primarily inthe form of curriculum guidelines, it is the responsibility of individual education authorities and headteachers to make decisions on how best to provide music educationin their schools.

The Scottish Executive providesadvice on the provision of music tuition in the classroom, primarily in the formof curriculum guidelines. It is for local authorities and schools to make decisionson the various forms of music tuition that will be made available to pupils.

the Scottish Executive has produced further guidance for local authorities on good practicein the management of music tuition services and that encourages local authoritiesto offer tuition on contemporary and traditional instruments and support ensembleswhich perform contemporary and traditional styles of music.

The Scottish Arts Council hasbeen charged by the First Minister with administering £17.5 million over the nextthree years to assist education authorities in ensuring that every primary schoolpupil has the opportunity to have at least one year’s free music tuition beforethey reach primary six.

Information on uptake of instrumentaltuition in schools is not collected centrally.

the Scottish Arts Council’s audit of youth music provision in Scotland, publishedin February 2003, highlighted that the provision of instrumental instruction variedacross local authorities.

The Scottish Executive is usinga variety of methods to increase participation in instrumental tuition through theprovision of additional funding of £17.5 million over this and the next two yearsfor youth music tuition announced by First Minister on 26 February 2003. The ScottishArts Council has been charged with administering funding for this initiative andwill encourage local authorities to offer a diverse spread of provision in a rangeof styles and genres.

The interpretation of planningpolicy and guidance is a matter for the planning authority, in the first instance.

Complaints about the handlingof applications can be made through the planning authority’s own complaint procedures.Where an objector feels that they have suffered injustice or hardship as a resultof maladministration or service failure on the part of the planning authority, itwould be open to them to make a complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

Planning decisions are also opento review in the courts. Neither the ombudsman nor the courts deal with complaintsabout the exercise of the planning authority’s legitimate discretion in reachinga decision.

There is currently no proportionalsplit of resources between different public transport modes.

The Prime Minister's Initiative(PMI), launched in June 1999, aims to attract more overseas students to the UK. The Scottish Executive is involved with the funding and development of this strategy in partnershipwith other devolved administrations, UK government departments, British Council and Trade PartnersUK. Measures to enhance overseas student recruitment as part of the PMI includea three-year branded global marketing campaign, expansion of the Chevening scholarshipscheme and streamlining work and visa regulations. A Scottish version of the brandlogo and marketing materials have been developed as part of the PMI strategy foruse by Scottish institutions and EducationUKScotland on their own promotional materials.In addition, EducationUKScotland(formerly Scottish Education and Training) is an initiative supported and fundedprimarily by the education sectors and also by British Council Scotland. The Scottish Executive has agreed to provide £50,000 per annum to support the activities of theorganisation in 2003-04 and 2004-05. In return for that investment, we expect theorganisation to take forward some of the recommendations related to overseas studentscontained in the Framework for HigherEducation in Scotland, in partnershipwith the sectors and other stakeholders. EducationUKScotland’s primary objectiveis to promote Scottish education effectively in overseas markets with the aim ofattracting more overseas students to Scottish institutions in all sectors.

In addition to the activitiesoutlined above, the Executive is also looking more broadly at ways of attractingand retaining fresh talent for Scotland’s longer term prosperity.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Home Office on matters related to UK immigrationpolicy, including the recent introduction of charges for applications to extendleave to remain in the UK.

The financial arrangement referredto is not with Communities Scotland but Scottish Homes.

The financial arrangements enteredinto at the time of transfer were part of the overall sale agreement. However, Iunderstand that it is open to Cube Housing Association to explore with ScottishHomes the option of either re-financing the loan with an alternative financial institutionor re-scheduling the loan with Scottish Homes. This will be subject to any contractualobligations or relevant prescribed regulations.

The last review of witness expenseswas conducted in February 2001.

Witness expenses in respect oftravel and subsistence rates, childminding rates, fees paid to professional witnessesand fees paid to expert witnesses are currently under review. Revised rates willbe implemented in the near future.