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I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23849 on 20 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23849 on 20 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23849 on 20 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at .

Rateable values of all non-domestic property in Scotland, including wind farms, are determined by the Scottish Assessors who, in carrying out that function, act independently of the Scottish Government. Statute requires that all rateable values must be reviewed every five years. The Assessors are currently revaluing all non-domestic property in preparation for the next revaluation which comes into effect on 1 April 2010 and will take into account a number of different factors in determining the valuation of non-domestic properties. Scottish ministers have no locus to intervene in this process.

The Scottish Government published the responses to Strengthening for the Future: A consultation on the reform of the Children''s Hearings System on 1 May 2009. The responses are available on the Scottish Government website:

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Responses to Strengthening for the Future: A consultation on the reform of the Children''s Hearings System were received from the following individuals and organisations in the Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles local authority areas:

Alasdair Allan MSP;

North Area Children''s Panel;

Orkney Children''s Panel Advisory Committee;

Orkney Children''s Panel;

Orkney Islands Council;

Shetland Children''s Panel;

Shetland Children''s Panel Advisory Committee;

Shetland Island Council;

Shetland Safeguarders'' Group;

Western Isles Children''s Panel;

Western Isles Children''s Panel Advisory Committee, and

Western Isles Panel of Safeguarders.

A majority of the responses raised the importance of the local dimension in the children''s hearings system.

The responses are available on the Scottish Government website:

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We will publish a draft Bill by the end of June 2009.

Responses to Strengthening for the Future, the consultation on the reform of the children''s hearings system, were received from Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles and have been published along with the other responses on the Scottish Government website:

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We have carefully listened to all the responses and taken the time to adapt our policy to more closely address the concerns and issues raised. As a result we are bringing forward proposals for two, not one, national bodies:

A new body, the Scottish Children''s Hearings Tribunal, will be responsible for all functions associated with the Children''s Panel, including recruitment, selection and training of panel members.

The Scottish Children''s Reporter Administration will continue to deliver the Children''s Reporters service.

Yes. Our proposed reforms are for a locally delivered, nationally supported children''s hearings system, and will build on the children''s hearings system''s strong foundations of supporting local communities, with local people making decisions for local children, across Scotland.

The Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) financial tables set out the funding available for each of the 30 European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development measures the programme draws on. These are grouped under eight broad headings in the Scottish Government budget. The different parts of the SRDP are funded through one or more of these budget lines.

In order to retain budget flexibility and in response to stakeholders'' views, the budget provision for Rural Priorities was not ring-fenced in total or within each budget line. Rural Priorities spending comes from budget headings which also fund other SRDP spending, for instance on Land Managers Options and on legacy payments for agreements entered into under the previous programme.

At the start of the SRDP, taking assumptions for the amount of spending on the other elements within the relevant budget headings, around £500 million was expected to be available for new commitments under Rural Priorities overall. The amount actually available for new commitments under Rural Priorities will depend on a number of factors, including the level of uptake for demand-led elements within the relevant budget headings, and any future policy changes.

Of the £500 million, the following sums fell within the budget headings for agri-environment, business development and forestry:

(a) Agri-Environment	£170 million
(b) Business Development	£ 90 million
(c) Forestry	£150 million