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Fife Constabulary, in discussion with other enforcement agencies, is taking steps to ensure that, following the introduction of the proposed ferry service, a commensurate level of policing would be in place at the port to counter the assessed threat posed by criminal and other interests.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The SPS operates a system of induction and sentence management for prisoners. This, together with the health checks carried out on admission, aims to identify prisoners with serious problems as a result of, for example, autism. Education staff working in prisons draw up individual learning plans for and with prisoners. A diagnosis of autism would result in particular care being taken to engage the learner appropriately.

The detailed management and delivery of the curriculum in Scotland rests with education authorities and schools. To support the role of schools and education authorities, advice and guidance on the curriculum is provided by the Scottish Executive and other agencies. National guidelines on the 5-14 curriculum for environmental studies provide schools with the opportunity to promote the teaching and learning of skills associated with the countryside. There are also opportunities within the National Qualifications framework for the development of such skills.

The principal responsibility for school provision in rural and urban areas lies with the education authorities. There are statutory consultation requirements which authorities must undertake where they propose to close a school. This ensures that there is a full opportunity for all relevant issues surrounding any proposed closure of a school to be aired and considered.

The Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit has reported that discussions with Tayside Police about the fatal accident on the A90 at Friarton Bridge in November 2001 did not identify any road defect or requirement for specific engineering measures to be undertaken. Notwithstanding this report, BEAR Scotland Ltd has been asked to investigate the Friarton Bridge area in general, as part of the annual trunk road safety programme, to determine whether any measures could be introduced to improve safety at this location.

Local authorities and others in rural areas have access to a range of support measures already in place, or being introduced. These include our current Youth Crime Review investment of £23.5 million over three and a half years. Every local authority will carry out an audit of demand and resource so the area's needs can be identified and met. In addition, up to £21.75 million of the £87 million total available nationally for sport and physical education from the New Opportunities Fund has been earmarked for schemes intended to divert young people from offending behaviour. Furthermore, the community education grant scheme of over £1 million supports voluntary youth organisations who operate throughout Scotland, including rural areas.

It is for the board to consider their position in light of local needs and planned best responses to those needs, against the background of expectation set out in the original Framework for Mental Health and the support group forward agenda which includes specific attention on the creation/expansion of eating disorder services.

The Scottish Executive has no plans to arrange a ministerial visit to the Ballinluig junction. However, officials have visited the site on many occasions to meet with local community representatives, Tayside Police and BEAR Scotland Ltd. Visits have included safety inspections, safety audits, and onsite meetings to discuss ways of increasing safety at the junction.In addition, I have met with various parties to discuss this matter including John Swinney MSP, local Community Council representatives and the Chief Constables of Tayside Police and the Northern Constabulary.

The Scottish Executive's Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit will meet with Tayside Police to determine the circumstances of the accident and consider whether immediate remedial measures need to be undertaken.

In 1995 Tayside Regional Council carried out a review of options for providing grade separation of the Ballinluig junction, by providing slip roads connecting the northbound carriageway of the A9 to the A827 Ballinluig to Killin Road. This study took into account earlier work carried out by Acer Consultants in 1992, which considered the provision of low flow grade separation. The outcome of the Tayside Regional Council's study was that none of the options brought forward could be economically justified within the competing priorities of the trunk road programme at that time.At my request, consultants are now re-examining options for improving road safety at this junction, including those previously considered by Tayside Regional Council with a view to identifying and costing an improvement scheme that may be taken forward.