Although a reserved matter, the Scottish Government actively supports companies with national pre-eminence in their sector who seek to use "Scottish" or equivalents in their company name.

This information is not held by the Scottish Government. We understand that the OECD does not collate this data from individual countries in the UK.

The information requested is not held centrally.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37531 on 25 November 2010. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Based on comparison of one-off ScotRail passenger counts conducted in March 2009 and March 2010, after introduction of the half-hourly service in December 2009, there have been the following changes in passenger numbers of each station on the Kilmarnock to Glasgow rail line:

Weekday	% Difference
Glasgow Central	55
Crossmyloof	70
Pollokshaws West	2
Kennishead	44
Priesthill and Darnley	N/A
Nitshill	12
Barrhead	18
Dunlop	93
Stewarton	116
Kilmaurs	141
Kilmarnock	204

 

Under the terms of the Public Finance and Accountability Scotland Act 2000 all accountable officers of the Scottish administration and of public bodies are under a specific duty to ensure that arrangements are in place to secure best value. As public bodies are accountable to ministers, and through ministers to the Parliament, the Scottish Government does not consider it necessary to apply an express statutory duty to public bodies in respect of best value.

Compliance with the duty of best value is an auditable requirement for public bodies under section 22(1)(c) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. Audit Scotland set out its approach in the leaflet Auditing Best Value in central government bodies which is available on the Audit Scotland website at:

http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/corp/2009/bv_audit_best_value_central_gov.pdf

Scottish ministers are clear that best value is a powerful tool for improving performance and accountability across the public sector, including local government, central government and public bodies.

Public bodies are responsible for managing their own business systems and processes. This includes determining the most effective use of information and communications technology in accordance with any relevant obligations, including openness, accountability and the duty of best value.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Since April 2002, there has been a duty of best value on accountable officers to ensure arrangements are in place to secure best value. Compliance with the duty of Best Value is an auditable requirement for public bodies under section 22(1)(c) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. The organisation''s auditors will typically audit performance alongside its finances. Audit Scotland set out its approach in the leaflet Auditing Best Value in central government bodies which is available on the Audit Scotland website at:

http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/docs/corp/2009/bv_audit_best_value_central_gov.pdf

Guidance about best value in public bodies was issued in 2003 and revised in 2006. In May 2009, Officials wrote to all chief executives of agencies, non-departmental public bodies, non-ministerial departments and public corporations reminding them of the specific duty on accountable officers to ensure that arrangements are in place to secure best value. A small reference group, the Best Value Reference Group, was also formed.

The Best Value Reference Group is currently refreshing the guidance on the duty of best value for public bodies. The group also worked closely with Audit Scotland on the development of its 18 best value toolkits. These toolkits are used by Audit Scotland auditors during the annual financial audit of a public body. The toolkits were published in August 2010 and are available on the Audit Scotland website at:

http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/work/toolkits/.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority provides the following information:

Information Technology Related Qualifications in Scottish Schools at Higher Level (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Level 6) 2001-2010¹

Qualification	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Higher Level Computing	X	X	X
Higher Level Information Systems	X	X	X
Higher Level Computing (reviewed version)2				X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Higher Level Information Systems (reviewed version)3				X	X	X	X	X	X	X
PC Passport				X	X	X
PC Passport (refreshed version)4							X	X	X	X
National Progression Award in Digital Media Production									X	X
National Certificate in Digital Media Computing									X	X
National Progression Award in Computer Games Development										X

Notes:

1. Year indicates session. For example, 2002 means session 2002-2003 (August 2002 to June 2003).

2. Higher Computing was reviewed as part of the NQ review in 2003.

3. Higher Information Systems was reviewed as part of the NQ Review in 2003.

4. A refreshed version of PC Passport was introduced in August 2007.