Title : Scottish Parliament : Business Bulletin 158 / 2001 Author ( s ) : Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Copyright holder ( s ) Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body : © Scottish Parliamentary copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Queen's Printer for Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body . Text Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Contents Section A : Daily Business List Section B : Business Programme Section C : Agendas of Committee Meetings Section E : Written questions lodged on 2 November 2001 Section F : Motions and Amendments Section G : Bills : Notices and Amendments Section H : New Documents Section I : Petitions lodged on 2 November 2001 Section K : Progress of Parliamentary Business Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section A : Daily Business List Meetings of Committees All meetings take place in Committee Chambers , Edinburgh unless otherwise indicated . Education , Culture and Sport Committee 28th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in the Volunteer Hall , St John Street , Galashiels 1 . Scottish Borders Education Inquiry : The Committee will take evidence fromâ ' Scottish Borders Council representatives Mr John Campbell , Acting Chief Executive Mr Alan Bowman , Head of Financial Administration Lifelong Learning Department Officials Mr Graeme Donald , Assistant Director Mr David Mallen , Assistant Director Mr Kenneth Paterson , Assistant Director Ms Maria Lucia Macconnachie , Senior Education Officer Scottish Borders Council Councillors Councillor Tulley , Council Leader Councillor Anne Younger Councillor Thomas Dumble Trade Unions Ms Sue Roberts , Educational Institute of Scotland Mr Brian Bishop , Scottish Secondary Teachers Association UNISON Borders Equality in Education Ms Eileen Prior Ms Donna Allen Ms Catherine Maxwell Stuart . European Committee 14th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 2 1 . Item in private : The Committee will consider whether to take item 6 in private . 2 . Convener's report : The Convener will update the Committee on - Letter received from John Home Robertson MSP regarding the recent decision of the EC Standing Veterinary Committee rejecting proposals to recommence lamb exports to Scotland . 3 . Scottish European Structural Funds Forum : The Committee will discuss the agenda and papers for the forthcoming meeting of the Forum , scheduled for 12 November 2001 . 4 . Governance in the European Union and the Future of Europe : The Committee will hear from and discuss a draft report produced by its adviser , Dr. Amanda Sloat . Not before 3.15 pm : 5 . UK Minister for Europe : The Committee will hear from the Rt . Hon Peter Hain MP on issues relating to the Future of Europe debate . 6 . The euro and state-of preparation in Scotland : The Committee will consider a draft report into the preparation for , and policy implications of , the single currency in Scotland : a contribution to the euro debate from a Scottish perspective . Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section B : Business Programme As agreed by the Parliament on 1 November 2001 Wednesday 7 November 2001 2.30 pm Time for Reflection - The Very Reverend Dr Hugh R Wyllie , lately Minister at The Old Parish Church of Hamilton followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Executive Debate on Reports into the Investigation , Legal Proceedings and Family Liaison Arrangements in the Case of the Murder of Surjit Singh Chhokar followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business - debate on the subject of S1M-2300 Bruce Crawford : Rosyth-Zeebrugge Ferry Service ( for text of motion see Section F of Business Bulletin for Friday 5 October 2001 ) Thursday 8 November 2001 9.30 am Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate on Foot-and-Mouth Disease - Public Inquiry followed by Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Debate on The Scottish Economy followed by Business Motion 2.30 pm Question Time ( for text of questions see Section D of Business Bulletin for Thursday 1 November 2001 ) 3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time 3.30 pm Stage 1 Debate on the School Education ( Amendment ) ( Scotland ) Bill followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business - debate on the subject of S1M-2081 Mr John Home Robertson : Regulation of Opencast Mining in the Lothians ( for text of motion see Section F of Business Bulletin for Monday 1 October 2001 ) Wednesday 14 November 2001 2.30 pm Time for Reflection followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions followed by Executive Business followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Thursday 15 November 2001 9.30 am Executive Business followed by Business Motion 2.30 pm Question Time 3.10 pm First Minister's Question Time 3.30 pm Executive Business followed by Parliamentary Bureau Motions 5.00 pm Decision Time followed by Members' Business Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section C : Agendas of Committee Meetings Justice 2 Committee 6 November 2001 30th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 9.45 am in Committee Room 2 1 . Items in private : The Committee will consider whether to take item 2 in private and whether to consider in private lines of questioning for witnesses on the inquiry into the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service at its meetings on 14 , 20 and 28 November . 2 . Inquiry into the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service : The Committee will consider lines of questioning for item 3 . 3 . Inquiry into the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service : The Committee will take evidence from - Richard Stott , President and Helen Nisbet , Secretary , Procurator Fiscal Society ; Bernard Harkins , Branch Secretary , Alan Marshall , Treasurer and Debbie Hilton , local representative , Public and Commercial Services Union . 4 . Sexual Offences ( Procedure and Evidence ) ( Scotland ) Bill : The Committee will consider a revised draft report on the general principles of the Sexual Offences ( Procedure and Evidence ) ( Scotland ) Bill . Finance Committee 6 November 2001 21st Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in Committee Room 1 1 . PFI / PPP Inquiry ( in private ) : The Committee will consider its lines of questioning for agenda item 2 . 2 . PFI / PPP Inquiry : The Committee will take evidence from - Professor Michael Mumford , The Management School , University of Lancaster ; Matthew Farrow , Head of Policy , CBI Scotland ; Amanda McIntyre , Head of Modernising Government , CBI . 3 . Items in private : The Committee will decide whether to take agenda item 4 in private , and whether to consider lines of questioning for future evidence taking sessions in relation to its PFI / PPP inquiry in private . 4 . Adviser on the Budget Process : The Committee will consider potential candidates for appointment as adviser to the Committee on the Budget Process . Public Petitions Committee 6 November 2001 13th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 10.00 am in the Chamber , Assembly Hall , The Mound , Edinburgh 1 . New Petitions : Consideration of new petitions 2 . Current Petitions : Consideration of current petitions 3 . Convener's Report : Subordinate Legislation Committee 6 November 2001 30th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 11.15 am in Committee Room 3 1 . Delegated Powers Scrutiny : The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in the following Bill - Water Industry ( Scotland ) Bill at Stage 1 . 2 . Delegated Powers Scrutiny : The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in the following Bill - Fur Farming ( Prohibition ) ( Scotland ) Bill at Stage 1 . 3 . Delegated Powers Scrutiny : The Committee will consider the delegated powers provisions in the following Bill - Scottish Local Government ( Elections ) Bill at Stage 1 . 4 . Executive Responses : The Committee will consider the responses from the Scottish Executive to points raised on the following - The Processed Animal Protein ( Scotland ) Amendment Regulations 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 383 ) The Abolition of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce ( Consequential Provisions ) ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 390 ) . 5 . Draft instruments subject to approval : The Committee will consider the following - The Budget ( Scotland ) Act 2001 Amendment Order , ( Draft ) . 6 . Instruments subject to annulment : The Committee will consider the following - The Import and Export Restrictions ( Foot-and-Mouth Disease ) ( Scotland ) ( No. 2 ) Amendment ( No. 4 ) Regulations 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 394 ) The Housing ( Scotland ) Act 2001 ( Transfer of Scottish Homes Property etc. ) Order 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 396 ) The Import and Export Restrictions ( Foot-and-Mouth Disease ) ( Scotland ) ( Recovery of Costs ) Regulations 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 401 ) . 7 . Instruments not subject to Parliamentary control : The Committee will consider the following - The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( West Coast ) ( Scotland ) Partial Revocation Order 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 395 ) . 8 . Instruments not laid before the Parliament : The Committee will consider the following - The Housing ( Scotland ) Act 2001 ( Commencement No. 2 , Transitional Provisions , Savings and Variation ) Order 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 397 ) The Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 ( Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions ) Amendment Order 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 400 ) . Rural Development Committee 6 November 2001 24th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 2.00 pm in Committee Room 1 1 . Item in Private : The Committee will decide whether to take item 4 in private . 2 . Subordinate Legislation : The Committee will consider the following instrument under the negative procedure - The Potatoes Originating in Germany ( Notification ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 333 ) . 3 . Protection of Wild Mammals ( Scotland ) Bill : The Committee will consider written evidence and take oral evidence at stage 2 from - Ronnie Rose ( Scottish Gamekeepers Association ) Tom Parker ( National Working Terrier Federation ) Paul Crofts ( Scottish Hillpacks Association ) . 4 . Budget Process 2002-03 : The Committee will consider a draft stage 2 report . Local Government Committee 6 November 2001 28th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 2.15 pm in the Chamber , Assembly Hall , the Mound , Edinburgh 1 . Items in Private : The Committee will consider whether to take items 3 and 4 in private . 2 . Local Government Finance Inquiry : The Committee will take evidence from - COSLA : Councillor John Pentland , Finance Spokesperson Councillor Drew Edward , Chair of Capital Task Group Norie Williamson , Director of Finance Brenda Campbell , Financial Policy Officer . 3 . Community Care and Health ( Scotland ) Bill : The Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report . 4 . Scottish Local Government ( Elections ) Bill : The Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report . Health and Community Care Committee 7 November 2001 26th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 1 1 . Item in private : The Committee will consider whether to take item 5 in private . 2 . Time limit on debates : The Committee will be asked to agree to limit debate on emergency affirmative SSIs to 15 minutes . 3 . Community Care and Health ( Scotland ) Bill ( Stage 1 ) : The Committee will take evidence from - Scottish Care Annie Gunner , Jim Jackson and Shona Barcus , Community Care Providers Scotland Malcolm Chisholm MSP , Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care . 4 . Subordinate Legislation : The Committee will consider the following affirmative instrument - The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( West Coast ) ( No. 8 ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 374 ) The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( East Coast ) ( No. 2 ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 387 ) The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( West Coast ) ( No. 9 ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 388 ) The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( Orkney ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 391 ) and the following negative instruments - The Feeding Stuffs and the Feeding Stuffs ( Enforcement ) Amendment ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 334 ) The National Health Service ( General Dental Services ) ( Scotland ) Amendment ( No. 2 ) Regulations 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 368 ) . 5 . The Scottish Budget 2002 / 3 : The Committee will consider the draft Stage 2 Budget Report to the Finance Committee . Standards Committee 7 November 2001 14th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 3 1 . Items in Private : The Committee will consider whether to take item 3 in private . 2 . Complaint in Relation to Annexe 5 of the Code of Conduct : The Committee will take evidence from Tommy Sheridan MSP . 3 . Complaint in Relation to Annexe 5 of the Code of Conduct : The Committee will resume its consideration of the Adviser's report . 4 . Complaint in Relation to Annexe 5 of the Code of Conduct : The Committee will consider whether there has been a breach of the Code of Conduct . 5 . Replacing the Members' Interests Order : The Committee will consider a paper on possible new categories of registrable interests . Transport and the Environment Committee 9 November 2001 27th Meeting , 2001 The Committee will meet at 10.30 am in the Council Chamber , Aberdeen Town House , Aberdeen 1 . Lines of Questioning ( in private ) : The Committee will consider possible lines of questioning for the witnesses on the Water Industry ( Scotland ) Bill . Not before 10.40 am 2 . Item in Private : The Committee will consider whether to take item 6 in private . 3 . Integrated Transport Issues in Aberdeen Area : The Committee will take evidence on integrated transport issues in Aberdeen and the surrounding area , and on Petition PE357 by Aberdeen City Council , from - Councillor Len Ironside , Leader , Aberdeen City Council Councillor Alison McInnes , Chair , Infrastructure Services Committee , Aberdeenshire Council Ed Gillespie , Chief Executive , Scottish Enterprise Grampian Amanda Harvie , Chief Executive , Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce . 4 . Subordinate Legislation : The Committee will consider the following negative instruments - The Fossil Fuel Levy ( Scotland ) Amendment Regulations 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 335 ) The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ( Amendment ) ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 , ( SSI 2001 / 337 ) . 5 . Aquaculture Inquiry : The Committee will receive an interim report from the reporters on the Committee's inquiry into aquaculture . 6 . Aquaculture Inquiry : The Committee will consider possible witnesses on its inquiry into aquaculture . Not before 12 . 45pm 7 . Water Industry ( Scotland ) Bill : The Committee will take evidence at Stage 1 on the general principles of the Water Industry ( Scotland ) Bill from - Alan Sutherland , Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland Tim Hooton , Colin McLaren , and Dr Donald Reid , Scottish Executive Drinking Water Regulation Team Patricia Henton ( Chief Executive ) and Tom Inglis ( Head of Policy Co-ordination ( Water )) , Scottish Environment Protection Agency Dr Jon Hargreaves ( Chief Executive ) and Councillor Robert Cairns ( Chairman ) , East of Scotland Water Authority Katharine Bryan ( Chief Executive ) , Colin Rennie ( Chairman ) , and Doug Sutherland ( Director of Finance ) , North of Scotland Water Authority Charlie Cornish ( Chief Executive ) , West of Scotland Water Authority . Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section E : Written questions lodged on 2 November 2001 S1W-19630 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts with a value of £ 100,000 and over it and the Scottish Office placed with PricewaterhouseCoopers and their predecessors , Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand , in each year since 1993 . S1W-19631 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make funding available to Grampian Health Board to enable it to make available the anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha drugs Enbrel ( Etanercept ) and Remicade ( Infliximab ) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis . S1W-19632 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards currently make available the anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha drugs Enbrel ( Etanercept ) and Remicade ( Infliximab ) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis . S1W-19633 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S1W-17239 by Ross Finnie on 21 August 2001 , whether all local authorities have completed rebilling those on low incomes under the Water and Sewerage Charges Reduction Scheme . S1W-19634 Mr Andy Kerr : To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to implement the proposals on the registration of births , deaths and marriages in Scotland outlined in the consultation paper Civil Registration in the 21st Century . S1W-19635 Mr Andrew Welsh : To ask the Scottish Executive what pilot projects have been , or are being , conducted whereby paramedics deliver clot-busting drugs before patients are taken to hospital for emergency treatment . S1W-19636 Mr Andrew Welsh : To ask the Scottish Executive what risks there are to patients from the use of clot-busting drugs . S1W-19637 Mr Andrew Welsh : To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the delivery of clot-busting drugs by paramedics before patients are taken to hospital for emergency treatment . S1W-19638 Mr Andrew Welsh : To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the effectiveness of clot-busting drugs . S1W-19639 Mr Andrew Welsh : To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust annually to run the community thrombosis service in Angus , whereby paramedics deliver clot-busting drugs before patients are taken to hospital for emergency treatment . S1W-19640 Mr Andrew Welsh : To ask the Scottish Executive whether heart attack patients in Angus who are not suitable for treatment with clot-busting drugs will be at greater risk of death or permanent disability following the proposed closure of the Coronary Care Unit at Stracathro Hospital . S1W-19641 Dorothy-Grace Elder : To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S1O-2005 by Henry McLeish on 22 June 2000 , whether it has any plans to revise its approach to ensuring availability of skilled labour in Glasgow in light of the concerns expressed by the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow in The Herald on 4 October 2001 . S1W-19642 Lord James Douglas-Hamilton : To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S1W-18538 by Mr Jim Wallace on 9 October 2001 , whether The Land Reform ( Scotland ) Bill will be published in November . S1W-19643 Michael Russell : To ask the Scottish Executive whether the issue of site ownership was a factor in the decision to choose Galashiels over Irvine as a base for the relocated jobs in the Scottish Public Pensions Agency . S1W-19644 Michael Russell : To ask the Scottish Executive whether the explanation given by the Minister for Finance and Local Government in his interview with the Irvine Times published on 2 November 2001 for the decision to relocate jobs from the Scottish Public Pensions Agency to Galashiels rather than Irvine is consistent with the previous explanation given by its officials to North Ayrshire Council . S1W-19645 Michael Russell : To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs it plans to relocate to North Ayrshire as part of its commitment to decentralising government departments and what the timescale is for any such relocation . S1W-19646 Michael Russell : To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in producing and providing support and teaching materials for schools for the new National Qualifications ; what its timetable is for the completion and provision of this material , and whether this timetable is on schedule . S1W-19647 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes exist for serious sex offenders serving sentences of more than four years and in which prisons these programmes are delivered . S1W-19648 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive how many psychologists are employed or contracted to the Scottish Prison Service for the treatment of sex offenders and in which prisons they are based . S1W-19649 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive how long the governor of each prison establishment had been in his or her present position as at 31 October 2001 . S1W-19650 Nicola Sturgeon : To ask the Scottish Executive why there has been a rise from 273.4 in 1998 to 802.9 whole-time equivalents in 1999 in the number of NHS nurses whose specialty is classified as " other " as opposed to a more specific specialty according to Skipper ( 3 ) published by the Information and Statistics Division of the Common Services Agency and whether it will give a more detailed breakdown of the specialities or areas within which those nurses classified as " other " work . S1W-19651 Nicola Sturgeon : To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reclassify the categories of nurse used in NHS statistical returns so as to make the published statistics more informative . S1W-19652 Brian Adam : To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow compulsory repair orders to be served on commercial properties . S1W-19653 Iain Smith : To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S1O-3798 by Lewis Macdonald on 20 September 2001 , how many responses it has received in total to its consultation document Review of Strategic Planning ; how many related to strategic planning arrangements in Fife , and how many were opposed to the proposals for strategic planning in Fife . S1W-19654 Nora Radcliffe : To ask the Scottish Executive how many sections of trunk road were ( a ) opened and ( b ) significantly upgraded in order to increase capacity in each year since 1979 . S1W-19655 Nora Radcliffe : To ask the Scottish Executive how many significant upgrades to sections of trunk roads it is currently planning in order to increase capacity . S1W-19656 Nora Radcliffe : To ask the Scottish Executive how many miles of trunk road were ( a ) created and ( b ) substantially upgraded in order to increase capacity in each year since 1979 . S1W-19657 Nora Radcliffe : To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on the enhancement of the trunk road network in each year since 1979 . S1W-19658 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any performance or achievement related awards that have been made to prisons since 1997 . S1W-19659 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison officers have attained qualifications at higher national diploma level and above since 1997 , broken down by qualification and by prison . S1W-19660 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive how many sex offenders were serving sentences of four years or over in each prison for part or the whole of each year since 1993 . S1W-19661 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive how many sex offenders undertook the Stop programme at ( a ) HM Prison Barlinnie and ( b ) HM Prison Polmont in ( i ) 1999 , ( ii ) 2000 and ( iii ) so far in 2001 . S1W-19662 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive whether sex offender programmes are operated at HM Prison Saughton ; if so , whether it will detail the programmes which are operated and how many prisoners undertook them in ( a ) 1999 , ( b ) 2000 and ( c ) so far in 2001 and , if no programmes are operated , why this was and what plans it has to start such programmes . S1W-19663 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison visiting committees have made representations to it or the Scottish Prison Service on the treatment of sex offenders in prisons since 1997 ; whether it will detail any such representations , and what the outcomes were of any such representations . S1W-19664 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the Investors in People ( IiP ) programme in each prison and when IiP status was awarded to each prison . S1W-19665 Stewart Stevenson : To ask the Scottish Executive how many senior management staff are currently employed at the headquarters of the Scottish Prison Service and how many of these have had work experience within a prison in the last ( a ) one , ( b ) three and ( c ) five years . S1W-19666 Nora Radcliffe : To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is planning to introduce in areas where peak-time concessionary fares for bus travel are available to pensioners and / or disabled people in order to ensure that any such fares continue to be available following the introduction of free off-peak bus travel for pensioners and disabled people . S1W-19667 Dennis Canavan : To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its consultation document on the review of the European Blue Badge Scheme of parking concessions for disabled people . S1W-19668 John Farquhar Munro : To ask the Scottish Executive how many digital hearing aids have been distributed by Highland Health Board in each of the past three years . S1W-19669 Mr Adam Ingram : To ask the Scottish Executive how many ( a ) paediatricians and ( b ) psychiatrists have undergone specific training in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . S1W-19670 Mr Adam Ingram : To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the establishment , remit and budget of the Scottish Medicines Consortium . S1W-19671 Mr Adam Ingram : To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified psychiatric nurses are currently employed on the NHS 24 helpline . S1W-19672 Mr Adam Ingram : To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that special educational needs training is a core unit within teacher training courses . S1W-19673 Mr Brian Monteith : To ask the Scottish Executive when it first learned of Scottish Amicable's decision to make 430 compulsory and voluntary job cuts at its headquarters at Craigforth , Stirling . S1W-19674 Mr Brian Monteith : To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of Scottish Amicable or the Prudential to discuss the 430 job losses at the headquarters of Scottish Amicable in Craigforth , Stirling , and whether it will make available any papers or documents referred to at these meetings . S1W-19675 Fergus Ewing : To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the European Commission in opposition to the draft Physical Agents Directive on vibration and place copies of any such representations in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre or , if it will not make direct representations , whether it will make such representations to Her Majesty's Government and place copies of these in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre . S1W-19676 Fergus Ewing : To ask the Scottish Executive what savings will result from the establishment of NHS Highland to replace Highland NHS Board , Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Highland Primary Care NHS Trust in the current and in each of the next two budgetary years and whether it will place a breakdown of such savings in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre . S1W-19677 Mr Adam Ingram : To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S1W-17592 by Susan Deacon on 6 September 2001 , when it will publish the review by the Chief Medical Officer on the mapping of the relationship between the various bodies with an interest in clinical quality . Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section F : Motions and Amendments A full list of outstanding motions is available to view each Monday in paper copy at the Chamber Desk or alternatively on the Scottish Parliament web site as Outstanding Motions . Items marked with an asterisk ( * ) are new or have been altered . Asterisks in the text show the extent of alterations made . Motions which members wish to be considered for debate as members' business in the Parliament are marked with a hash symbol ( # ) * S1M-2404 # Iain Smith : Strategic Planning in Fife-That the Parliament notes the strong opposition from Fife Council , residents and community councils in Fife to the proposals contained in the Scottish Executive's consultation document Review of Strategic Planning which would split Fife for strategic planning purposes between the cities of Dundee and Edinburgh ; further notes that Fife Council is the only local authority area proposed to be split for strategic planning purposes ; recognises that Fife Council shares boundaries with other major public sector agencies such as Scottish Enterprise Fife , NHS Fife and Fife Tourist board which , together with its unique geography , make Fife ideally suited for strategic planing as a single unit , and therefore considers that the Scottish Executive should review its proposals in the light of the consultation and retain Fife as a single strategic planning area . Supported by : Robin Harper * * S1M-2403 # Margaret Smith : Edinburgh Tourism Action Group-That the Parliament acknowledges the work and success of Edinburgh Tourism Action Group ( ETAG ) in a difficult financial and international climate ; commends its work as a model of best practice in private and public sector partnership , between private companies and the City of Edinburgh Council , Edinburgh and Lothian Tourist Board and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian ; acknowledges Edinburgh's position as a tourist gateway to Scotland and one of the world's premier city destinations , and believes that the Scottish Executive should do all it can to support ETAG and the 25,000 people who work in the tourist industry in Edinburgh . Supported by : Robin Harper * * S1M-2402 # Alex Fergusson : Research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-That the Parliament notes the privately funded research to be carried out by Dr Derek Pheby in Bristol , and that being carried out by Dr Vance Spence in Dundee , into the factors which may be involved in the development of severe myalgic encephalomyelitis ( ME ) ; recognises that ME is a condition growing in incidence among both adults and children in Scotland , and considers that the Scottish Executive should take the lead within the UK by commissioning further research under the remit of the NHS into the causes of , and cures for , this debilitating condition . Supported by : Mr John McAllion * , Mary Scanlon * , Nicola Sturgeon * , Tommy Sheridan * , Margaret Smith * , Robin Harper * * S1M-2401 # Cathy Peattie : 15th Anniversaries of Greentrax and Kilbirnie Records-That the Parliament congratulates Greentrax and Kilbirnie Records on their 15th anniversaries ; recognises the contribution of these companies , and in particular Ian Green , to traditional music in Scotland , and hopes that together they will continue to build upon their achievements . * S1M-2400 # Bristow Muldoon : Proposed Closure of Binny House , Sue Ryder Care-That the Parliament condemns the unilateral and disgraceful decision by Sue Ryder Care to close the Binny House care centre in Ecclesmachan , West Lothian ; considers that this shows a complete disregard for the interests of the residents and staff of the centre ; believes that by walking away from very substantial offers of additional finance from health boards and local authorities Sue Ryder Care has demonstrated bad faith , and further believes that , unless this decision is reversed , local authorities and the NHS should regard Sue Ryder Care as an unsuitable partner for any future care projects . Supported by : Mrs Mary Mulligan * , Robin Harper * S1M-2399 # Proposed New Testing System of Scallops ( lodged on 1 November 2001 ) Mr Andrew Welsh * , Robin Harper * S1M-2398 # Digital Hearing Aids ( lodged on 1 November 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * , Mr Andrew Welsh * S1M-2397 # Arbuthnott Formula and Funding of Grampian Health Board ( lodged on 1 November 2001 ) Richard Lochhead * , Robin Harper * S1M-2396 Moratorium on GM Foods ( lodged on 1 November 2001 ) Roseanna Cunningham * , Alex Neil * , Robin Harper * , Fergus Ewing * , Dorothy-Grace Elder * , Mr Andrew Welsh * S1M-2395 # Remploy and Social Inclusion ( lodged on 1 November 2001 ) Robin Harper * S1M-2393 Science and the Parliament Event , November 15 2001 ( lodged on 1 November 2001 ) Mr Andrew Welsh * , Robin Harper * S1M-2392 Enough is Enough ( lodged on 1 November 2001 ) Robin Harper * S1M-2391 Recent Alleged Comments by Sheriff Ronald Smith on Peace Protestors ( lodged on 31 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * , Robin Harper * S1M-2389 Centrally Held Information ( lodged on 31 October 2001 ) Robin Harper * S1M-2388 # Son-Rise Program ( lodged on 31 October 2001 ) Robin Harper * S1M-2387 The Charter for Equality and Diversity in Ageing ( lodged on 31 October 2001 ) Robin Harper * S1M-2386 Wallace Clan Contribution to New York Fire Department Fund ( lodged on 30 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2376 Use of Cannabis ( lodged on 29 October 2001 ) Robin Harper * S1M-2375 Literature on Scottish History , Heritage and Culture ( lodged on 29 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2374 Close the Cattle Incinerator at Carntyne , Glasgow ( lodged on 29 October 2001 ) Robin Harper * S1M-2373 # Psychiatric Hospital Closures ( lodged on 26 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2372 Institutional Racism ( lodged on 26 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2371 Licensing of the Sale of Fireworks ( lodged on 26 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2368 People Management in Scottish Universities ( lodged on 25 October 2001 ) Tavish Scott * , Maureen Macmillan * , Rhoda Grant * S1M-2367 Outdoor Access for All ( lodged on 25 October 2001 ) Maureen Macmillan * S1M-2366 # Consultation and Advocacy Promotion Service ( lodged on 25 October 2001 ) Maureen Macmillan * S1M-2360 The Pearce Institute in Govan ( lodged on 24 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2359 Sue Ryder Care Home , Marchmont House , Greenlaw ( lodged on 24 October 2001 ) Alex Fergusson * S1M-2339 # Violence Against Women - 16 Days Campaign 2001 , 25 November - 10 December 2001 ( lodged on 22 October 2001 ) Brian Fitzpatrick * , Maureen Macmillan * S1M-2337 # Scottish Science Library ( lodged on 22 October 2001 ) Lord James Douglas-Hamilton * , Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2335 16 Days Campaign ( lodged on 19 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2332 Devolution of Broadcasting ( lodged on 18 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2331 # Scottish Agricultural College , Auchincruive ( lodged on 18 October 2001 ) Mr Murray Tosh * , David Mundell * , Stewart Stevenson * , Lord James Douglas-Hamilton * S1M-2329 Afghanistan ( lodged on 17 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2327 Binny House , Ecclesmachan , West Lothian ( lodged on 16 October 2001 ) John Scott * S1M-2326 Importance of the Construction Industry ( lodged on 16 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2325 Liquid-based Cytology / Human Papilloma Virus Test ( lodged on 16 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2320 Water Charges Relief Scheme ( lodged on 11 October 2001 ) Alex Fergusson * S1M-2319 # Future of Highland Air Services ( lodged on 11 October 2001 ) Maureen Macmillan * S1M-2318 # The First Scottish Ecumenical Assembly ( lodged on 9 October 2001 ) Maureen Macmillan * S1M-2316 # Reversal of Her Majesty's Government's Decision on Mixed Oxide Fuel Plant at Sellafield , Cumbria ( lodged on 9 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2305 # Scottish Huntington's Association ( lodged on 4 October 2001 ) Dorothy-Grace Elder * S1M-2304 # Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Free Status ( lodged on 4 October 2001 ) Dr Elaine Murray * Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section G : Bills : Notices and Amendments New amendments to Bills lodged on 2 November 2001 Protection of Wild Mammals ( Scotland ) Bill - Stage 2 After section 1 Mike Watson 53 After section 1 , insert - Exception : stalking and flushing from cover ( 1 ) A person does not contravene section 1 ( 1 ) by using a dog under control to stalk a wild mammal , or flush it from cover ( including an enclosed space within rocks , or other secure cover ) above ground for the purpose of - ( a ) protecting livestock , fowl ( including wild fowl ) or game birds in , or crops growing at , a particular place from attack by wild mammals ; ( b ) providing food for consumption by a living creature ; ( c ) protecting human health ; or ( d ) preventing the spread of disease , but only if that person acts to ensure that , once a wild mammal is found or emerges from cover , it is shot , or killed by a bird of prey , as soon as possible . ( 2 ) A person does not contravene section 1 ( 1 ) by using a dog under control to flush a fox from below ground , but only if that person - ( a ) acts to ensure that the fox is flushed as soon as possible after it is located and shot as soon as possible after it is flushed ; ( b ) takes all reasonable steps to prevent injury to the dog ; ( c ) holds a valid firearms licence or shotgun certificate ; and ( d ) is either - ( i ) the owner or lawful occupier of the land on which the activity takes place ; or ( ii ) has the written permission of the owner or lawful occupier of that land to undertake that activity . Section 3 Mike Watson 54 In section 3 , page 2 , line 30 , leave out rabbit or Section 7 Mike Watson 55 In section 7 , page 4 , line 34 , at end insert - ( ) does not include a rabbit Mike Watson 56 In section 7 , page 4 , line 34 , at end insert - ( ) does not include a rodent Proposals for Members' Bills Names marked with an asterisk ( * ) are new names of support . Proposals that have attracted 11 supporters have those supporters' names shown in bold . The member who lodged such a proposal has the right to introduce a Member's Bill to give effect to that proposal under rule 9.14 . Robin Harper : Proposed Organic Food and Farming Targets Bill-Proposal for a Bill to require the Scottish Executive ( a ) to establish targets to increase the proportion of land that is certified organic , by a specified date ; and ( b ) to take steps including the preparation of an action plan to ensure those targets are met . ( lodged 1 November 2001 ) Supported by : Tavish Scott , Irene McGugan , Donald Gorrie , Tommy Sheridan , Dennis Canavan , Colin Campbell , Linda Fabiani , Kenny MacAskill , Bruce Crawford , Richard Lochhead , Fiona McLeod , Ms Margo MacDonald Iain Smith : Proposed University of St. Andrews Medical Postgraduate Qualification Bill-Proposal for a Bill to amend the Universities ( Scotland ) Act 1966 to allow the University of St. Andrews to introduce a postgraduate research degree for qualified medical practitioners . ( lodged 1 November 2001 ) Supported by : Keith Raffan , Mr Keith Harding , Brian Monteith , Marilyn Livingstone , Murdo Fraser , Helen Eadie , Bruce Crawford , Margaret Smith , Tavish Scott , Nora Radcliffe , Donald Gorrie , Ian Jenkins , Scott Barrie , Tricia Marwick Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section H : New Documents Other Documents The following document was laid before the Parliament on 2 November 2001 and is not subject to any Parliamentary procedure Scotland's Budget Documents 2001-02 : Budget ( Scotland ) ( No. 2 ) Act 2001 for the year ended 31 March 2002 ( SE / 2001 / 253 ) Committee Reports The following Reports are being published on 5 November 2001 - Equal Opportunities Committee , 3rd Report 2001 : Civic Participation Event on the Race Relations Acts ( SP Paper 427 ) Transport and the Environment Committee , 13th Report 2001 : Report On Subordinate Legislation ( SP Paper 439 ) European Documents Members wishing to see a list of European documents received in the Parliament should contact the clerk to the European Committee ( stephen . i mrie @ scottish . p arliament . u k ) . Members are reminded that a complete set of all documents received is held by SPICe in G15 , PHQ and copies can be made available on request . Additionally , SPICe holds a set of Briefing Papers produced primarily for MEPs covering the views of the UK Government on proposals for EC / EU legislation . These are now being made available to all MSPs and parliamentary staff . Copies can be obtained on the SPICe page of the Parliament's intranet . Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section I : Petitions lodged on 2 November 2001 The following Petitions were lodged with the Parliament on 2 November 2001 - PE417 Petition by Brian Smith calling for the Scottish Parliament to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Cowal Peninsula and the islands of Bute and Inchmarnock become part of the core area of the proposed Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park . PE418 Petition by Mr Gordon Clyde Ford calling for the Scottish Parliament to take the necessary steps to ensure that ( a ) objectors are consulted on the choice of the Reporter in a Local Plan Public Inquiry or , ( b ) in case of multiple objectors the choice is made by the Inquiry Unit in Edinburgh alone and not by the local authority and , ( c ) the final Report is returned to the Scottish Executive for decision instead of the local authority . Business Bulletin No. 158 / 2001 Monday 5 November 2001 Section K : Progress of Parliamentary Business For further information on the progress of Bills , subordinate legislation and committees shown in this section , please contact either the relevant clerk or web site ( end of Section for addresses ) Bills in Progress Note : Where a Bill is listed below with a date for Stage 2 ( or for a day at that Stage ) , the deadline for lodging amendments for that Stage ( or that day ) is 2.00 pm , two sitting days earlier ( e . g . 2.00 pm on Monday for a Stage 2 meeting on Wednesday ) . Where a Bill is listed with a date for Stage 3 , the deadline is 4.30 pm , three sitting days earlier . Amendments should be lodged with the clerks to the Stage 2 committee . Community Care and Health ( Scotland ) Bill Stage 1 ( evidence , Health and Community Care Committee ) 7 November Freedom of Information ( Scotland ) Bill Stage 1 ( evidence , Justice 1 Committee ) 13 November Fur Farming ( Prohibition ) ( Scotland ) Bill Stage 1 ( evidence , Rural Development Committee ) 27 November Police and Fire Services ( Finance ) ( Scotland ) Bill Passed 1 November Protection from Abuse ( Scotland ) Bill Passed 4 October Protection of Wild Mammals ( Scotland ) Bill Stage 2 ( evidence , Rural Development Committee ) 6 November Public Appointments ( Parliamentary Approval ) ( Scotland ) Bill Stage 1 ( evidence , Local Government Committee ) 18 December School Education ( Amendment ) ( Scotland ) Bill Stage 1 ( debate , meeting of the Parliament ) 8 November Scottish Local Government ( Elections ) Bill Stage 1 ( Local Government Committee ) 6 November Sexual Offences ( Procedure and Evidence ) ( Scotland ) Bill Stage 1 ( Justice 2 Committee ) 6 November Water Industry ( Scotland ) Bill Stage 1 ( evidence , Transport and the Environment Committee ) 9 November Subordinate legislation in progress ( date of laying ) ( Lead Committee ) Affirmative Instruments The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( West Coast ) ( No. 8 ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 374 ) ( 11 October 2001 ) ( Health and Community Care ) The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( East Coast ) ( No. 2 ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 387 ) ( 22 October 2001 ) ( Health and Community Care ) The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( West Coast ) ( No. 9 ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 388 ) ( 22 October 2001 ) ( Health and Community Care ) The Food Protection ( Emergency Prohibitions ) ( Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning ) ( Orkney ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 391 ) ( 24 October 2001 ) ( Health and Community Care ) The draft Sheriff Courts ( Scotland ) Act 1971 ( Privative Jurisdiction and Summary Cause ) Order 2001 ( 25 October 2001 ) ( Justice 2 ) The draft Small Claims ( Scotland ) Amendment Order 2001 ( 25 October 2001 ) ( Justice 2 ) The draft Budget ( Scotland ) Act 2001 ( Amendment ) Order 2001 ( 1 November 2001 ) Negative Instruments Subject to annulment until 11 November 2001 The Highlands and Islands Agricultural Programme and Rural Diversification Programme ( Scotland ) Amendment Regulations 2001 ( SSI / 2001 / 319 ) ( 21 September 2001 ) ( Rural Development ) The Farm and Conservation Grant Amendment ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI / 2001 / 321 ) ( 21 September 2001 ) ( Rural Development ) Subject to annulment until 14 November 2001 The Building Standards ( Scotland ) Amendment Regulations 2001 ( SSI / 2001 / 320 ) ( 24 September 2001 ) ( Transport and the Environment ) Subject to annulment until 17 November 2001 The Housing ( Scotland ) Act 2001 ( Registered Social Landlords ) Order 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 326 ) ( 27 September 2001 ) ( Social Justice ) Subject to annulment until 18 November 2001 The Education and Training ( Scotland ) Amendment Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 329 ) ( 28 September 2001 ) ( Enterprise and Lifelong Learning ) Subject to annulment until 21 November 2001 The Feeding Stuffs and the Feeding Stuffs ( Enforcement ) Amendment ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI / 2001 / 334 ) ( 1 October 2001 ) ( Health and Community Care ) Subject to annulment until 22 November 2001 The Potatoes Originating in Germany ( Notification ) ( Scotland ) Order 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 333 ) ( 2 October 2001 ) ( Rural Development ) The Fossil Fuel Levy ( Scotland ) Amendment Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 335 ) ( 2 October 2001 ) ( Transport and the Environment ) The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ( Amendment ) ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 337 ) ( 2 October 2001 ) ( Transport and the Environment ) Subject to annulment until 25 November 2001 The Foot-and-Mouth Disease ( Marking of Meat , Meat Products , Minced Meat and Meat Preparations ) ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 358 ) ( 5 October 2001 ) ( Rural Development ) The National Health Service ( General Dental Services ) ( Scotland ) Amendment ( No. 2 ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 368 ) ( 5 October 2001 ) ( Health and Community Care ) Subject to annulment until 28 November 2001 The Import and Export Restrictions ( Foot-and-Mouth Disease ) ( Scotland ) ( No. 2 ) Amendment ( No. 3 ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 367 ) ( 8 October 2001 ) ( Rural Development ) The Processed Animal Protein ( Scotland ) Amendment Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 383 ) ( 19 October 2001 ) ( Rural Development ) Subject to annulment until 1 December 2001 The Abolition of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce ( Consequential Provisions ) ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 390 ) ( 23 October 2001 ) ( Rural Development ) Subject to annulment until 2 December 2001 The Legal Aid ( Employment of Solicitors ) ( Scotland ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 392 ) ( 24 October 2001 ) ( Justice 1 ) Subject to annulment until 4 December 2001 The Import and Export Restrictions ( Foot-and-Mouth Disease ) ( Scotland ) ( No. 2 ) Amendment ( No. 4 ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 394 ) ( 26 October 2001 ) ( Rural Development ) Subject to annulment until 8 December 2001 The Housing ( Scotland ) Act 2001 ( Transfer of Scottish Homes Property etc ) Order 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 396 ) ( 30 October 2001 ) ( Social Justice ) Subject to annulment until 10 December 2001 The Import and Export Restrictions ( Foot-and-Mouth Disease ) ( Scotland ) ( Recovery of Costs ) Regulations 2001 ( SSI 2001 / 401 ) ( 1 November 2001 ) Committee Business Dates indicate when the next meeting is due to take place on the relevant subject . Audit 13 November Education , Culture and Sport See Section A Enterprise and Lifelong Learning 14 November Equal Opportunities 13 November European See Section A Finance 6 November Health and Community Care 7 November Justice 1 13 November Justice 2 6 November Local Government 6 November Procedures 20 November Public Petitions 6 November Rural Development 6 November Social Justice 14 November Standards 7 November Subordinate Legislation 6 November Transport and Environment 9 November [ CENSORED : table inserted here in original giving contact information ] This work is protected by copyright . All rights reserved . The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse , support or recommend the views expressed in this document .


When it comes to choosing a solar panel , electricians may base their decision on nominal efficiency factors or the price per Watt peak . These are of course two important criteria – but , from a long-term perspective , simply not enough . After all , solar installations must last for 25 years . And they will , provided they are installed correctly and are of good quality . But how do you actually recognise good quality in a solar panel ? For Conergy Australia general manager David McCallum , such panels must fulfil three criteria : they must be high-yield , solid and safe . Efficiency delivers high-yield The solar cells themselves are responsible for the yield factor . Innovative cell designs can deliver efficiencies of 16 % to 23 % , depending on material and processing effort . The market is currently dominated by cells with two metallic collector contacts on the upper side – ' busbars ' . Some manufacturers print three busbars instead of two onto their solar panels to allow for more efficient dissipation of the generated power . David says there are definite benefits in improved power distribution . " Three busbars help to reduce contact resistance between the cells . The result is increased and more consistent module efficiency . " He also believes that combined with suitable cell connectors , the use of three busbars provides more reliability in terms of power generation . David and his colleagues also favour bypass diodes when it comes to module manufacturing . " They function like a protection switch for the cells . If , for example , foliage should shade individual cells , the bypass diodes will channel away power , thus protecting the shaded cells , " he explains . " Once sunlight is no longer impeded , the bypass diodes switch back to their original mode , and the module will once again work at full capacity . " High-quality components provide stability Even the highest yield is of little use if the module does n't last for its projected 25-year lifespan . The production process must lead the way into the right direction . Premium quality components , like specialist solar glass and a robust frame , provide the necessary protection for the fragile cells . But even for solar glass , the choice is endless : smooth , unstructured , micro-structured , heavily structured or even specially coated glass is on offer . Each and every glass type is designed to conduct as much sunlight as possible into the solar module . " Heavily structured glass types tend to attract contaminants , which over time will lead to a decrease in the module's capacity , " David explains . " The module frame stabilises the solar module , and protects both the glass and the cells . The most robust frames are those made from anodised aluminium . They are much more scratch-resistant than coated frames . " David also warns about possible hazards due to hollow enclosures . " Frames should not have any hollow enclosures , as these could collect water , which can then turn to ice in the winter in Australia's cooler climates . As a result , the frame could buckle or even burst . " In summer , contaminants like pollen or dust will find no adhesion , which means that moss growth can be avoided . Contaminants of that type can be particularly critical , as they will permanently shade cells , which will result in a significant loss in module capacity – and in consequence in output of the entire solar installation . The safety aspect is one of the most important criteria to bear in mind when shopping around for solar modules . David therefore advises electricians to pay particularly close attention to the junction box . Faulty construction or poor workmanship can , under certain circumstances , create a fire hazard for the entire solar plant . " I generally advise against clamp , plug or screw connections . These could easily come undone or corrode if installed improperly . The resulting arc could cause the junction box to catch fire . " Instead , he recommends molded junction boxes made from non-flammable plastic with soldered connections . These are moisture-protected and vacuum-sealed , providing maximum safety . Solar module manufacturers offer many safety options : warranties , certifications and positive capacity tolerances . The actual scope of services provided is determined individually by each manufacturer . A warranty period of five years for solar modules should be the absolute minimum offered . " If the solar modules will be deployed in regions with severe weather conditions , electricians should look for additional certifications , like ammonia resistance , or for special certifications regarding corrosion-resistance if the solar modules will be installed in coastal regions . "


These procedures are for complaints regarding Admissions only COMPLAINTS PROCEDURES FOR APPLICANTS These procedures are to be followed when an applicant wishes to lodge a complaint concerning any aspect of the applications process . Complaints should be made in writing and referred , in the first instance , to the Admissions Officer . The Admissions Officer shall reply to the complainant stating that the complaint is being dealt with and that a full , written reply will be sent within 15 working days . The Admissions Officer shall refer the complaint to the appropriate Admissions Tutor / administrative Officer for comment , together with the original application form and all relevant supporting material . All papers should be returned to the Admissions Office within 5 working days . The Admissions Officer shall refer the complaint plus departmental comments to the Dean of Admissions who shall advise as to appropriate action . The Admissions Officer shall communicate the decision of the Dean to the candidate .


Here 's a quick & dirty of the ' trouble ' currently plaguing Paula Deen . A former employee of Deen and her brother Bubba Hiers filed a lawsuit against them , citing both sexual and racial discrimination . At the forefront of the allegations were Deen's own racist remarks and her usage of the " n-word . " During her deposition , Deen admitted that she had used the word before on several occasions . She insisted that neither she nor her family were racist or stereotyped or discriminated against any race or gender . But the racially-charged language she readily used ( and admitted to ) suggested something entirely different . During her deposition she even admitted to planning an old fashioned southern event , complete with a black-only staff of servants . She stated that she decided against the party because of the obvious backlash and public relations problems that would have obviously resulted from it . Once all this information became public , people began to come out of the woodwork to condemn Deen , her show , and her apparently racist position . She immediately released a video apology that appeared rushed , forced , half-hearted , and disingenuous . She later released a second apology which brought a similar amount of ire . Most opponents claimed that Deen did n't mean what she was saying when she apologized and that she was forced into it to try and save face . But unfortunately for Paula Deen , her apologies most definitely did not save face . Funny thing – in show business today , most people do n't take too kindly to racism . In the wake of this sensation , the Food Network decided against renewing Deen's contract ( which expired yesterday ) . And many of her other publishers and networks have followed suit . As mentioned already , Deen's publisher has dropped her for the upcoming release of her cookbook . As an ABC News report describes , her networks and agencies dropping her include the following : Smithfield Pork : An international distributor of all sorts of pork products Wal-Mart : Wal-Mart has decided against ordering any new Paula Deen based products in the wake of this news . Target : Target stores will also be phasing out all Paula Deen merchandise from their retail outlets and online stores . Home Depot : Home Depot also announced that they were cutting ties with Deen and no longer carrying her cookware and other merchandise . Novo Nordisk : The manufacturer of Type 2 Diabetes drugs , Novo Nordisk had Deen as a spokeswoman when she revealed she was suffering with the disease . She 'll suspend operations as a spokeswoman to focus her efforts on her current debacle . Caesars Entertainment : This company had used Deen's name in a variety of restaurants in several places on the east side of the country . They plan to re-brand the restaurants and phase out Deen's name altogether . QVC : QVC is suspending sales of Deen-related merchandise , although they claim the severing of sales is only temporary . J.C. Penney : Based on all the bad press , J.C. Penney will be phasing out all Deen merchandise from their stores . Sears and Kmart : Both stores also decided to abandon the Paula Deen ship due to all the negative press . Walgreens : All Deen-branded food products will be slowly phased out and no longer reordered for this pharmacy chain . With a list this expansive , can you say witch hunt ? Poor Paula is lucky she was n't cast out of the country and placed into exile for her misdeeds . But the truth here is pretty apparent : no company wants to keep themselves linked to something when it stinks . And the current situation with Paula Deen definitely stinks . A Look on the Other Side Let 's take a moment to play devil's advocate and argue in defense of Deen . Think about her background and her upbringing . She was born in the 1940s in the south . She came from a fairly lucrative family background of rich , white southern blood . It 's no surprise that language like this was common for her in her upbringing . In her deposition , you ca n't fault Paula Deen for being completely open and honest about her misstep . She was willing to admit that yes , she has used the racial slur before . She admitted that she had probably used it several times , too . That sort of honesty is uncommon for someone in a position like Deen's . At least you can commend her for that . But you ca n't commend her for allowing that racism and that type of language to continue long after her southern youth . The suit alleging her discrimination came long after she had come into celebrity prominence . If she was indeed non-discriminatory toward any race or gender , then why was this sort of conduct continuing to occur ? There 's no explanation that could justify the use of racist language for any reason . Unfortunately for her , Deen is paying dearly for her mistakes . Her entire empire is crumbling before her ( at an extremely rapid rate , too ) . She 's losing traction in all the areas that have made her a fortune and a celebrity . And all of this is because of actions she has taken – and has continued to take – even though she asserts she was n't racist and did n't discriminate . As unfortunately as the situation is for her , there 's no one Deen can blame but herself .


Great Famine , also called Irish Potato Famine , Great Irish Famine , or Famine of 1845 – 49 , famine that occurred in Ireland in 1845 – 49 when the potato crop failed in successive years . The crop failures were caused by late blight , a disease that destroys both the leaves and the edible roots , or tubers , of the potato plant . The causative agent of late blight is the water mold Phytophthora infestans . The Irish famine was the worst to occur in Europe in the 19th century . Famine ( 1997 ) , commemorating the Great Famine , sculpture by Rowan ... In the early 19th century , Ireland's tenant farmers as a class , especially in the west of Ireland , struggled both to provide for themselves and to supply the British market with cereal crops . Many farmers had long existed at virtually the subsistence level , given the small size of their allotments and the various hardships that the land presented for farming in some regions . The potato , which had become a staple crop in Ireland by the 18th century , was appealing in that it was a hardy , nutritious , and calorie-dense crop and relatively easy to grow in the Irish soil . By the early 1840s almost half the Irish population – but primarily the rural poor – had come to depend almost exclusively on the potato for their diet . The rest of the population also consumed it in large quantities . A heavy reliance on just one or two high-yielding types of potato greatly reduced the genetic variety that ordinarily prevents the decimation of an entire crop by disease , and thus the Irish became vulnerable to famine . In 1845 a strain of Phytophthora arrived accidentally from North America , and that same year Ireland had unusually cool moist weather , in which the blight thrived . Much of that year's potato crop rotted in the fields . That partial crop failure was followed by more-devastating failures in 1846 – 49 , as each year's potato crop was almost completely ruined by the blight . Starving Irish people raiding a government potato store ; wood engraving from the ... The British government's efforts to relieve the famine were inadequate . Although Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel continued to allow the export of grain from Ireland to Great Britain , he did what he could to provide relief in 1845 and early 1846 . He authorized the import of corn ( maize ) from the United States , which helped avert some starvation . Under the Liberal ( Whig ) cabinet of Lord John Russell , which assumed power in June 1846 , the emphasis shifted to reliance on Irish resources and the free market , which made disaster inevitable . An overview of the Great Famine in Ireland . Much of the financial burden of providing for the starving Irish peasantry was thrown upon the Irish landowners themselves ( through local poor relief ) and British absentee landowners . Because the peasantry was unable to pay its rents , however , the landlords soon ran out of funds with which to support them , and the result was that hundreds of thousands of Irish tenant farmers and labourers were evicted during the years of the crisis . Under the terms of the harsh 1834 British Poor Law , enacted in 1838 in Ireland , the " able-bodied " indigent were sent to workhouses rather than being given famine relief per se . British assistance was limited to loans , helping to fund soup kitchens , and providing employment on road building and other public works . The Irish disliked the imported cornmeal , and reliance on it led to nutritional deficiencies . Despite those shortcomings , by August 1847 as many as three million people were receiving rations at soup kitchens . All in all , the British government spent about £ 8 million on relief , and some private relief funds were raised as well . The impoverished Irish peasantry , lacking the money to purchase the foods their farms produced , continued throughout the famine to export grain , meat , and other high-quality foods to Britain . The government's grudging and ineffective measures to relieve the famine's distress intensified the resentment of British rule among the Irish people . Similarly damaging was the attitude among many British intellectuals that the crisis was a predictable and not-unwelcome corrective to high birth rates in the preceding decades and perceived flaws , in their opinion , in the Irish national character . The famine proved to be a watershed in the demographic history of Ireland . As a direct consequence of the famine , Ireland's population of almost 8.4 million in 1844 had fallen to 6.6 million by 1851 . The number of agricultural labourers and smallholders in the western and southwestern counties underwent an especially drastic decline . A further aftereffect of the famine was thus the clearing of many smallholders from the land and the concentration of landownership in fewer hands . Thereafter , more land than before was used for grazing sheep and cattle , providing animal foods for export to Britain . Victims of the Irish Potato Famine arriving in Liverpool , Eng . ; illustration in the ... About one million people died from starvation or from typhus and other famine-related diseases . The number of Irish who emigrated during the famine may have reached two million . Ireland's population continued to decline in the following decades because of overseas emigration and lower birth rates . By the time Ireland achieved independence in 1921 , its population was barely half of what it had been in the early 1840s . Victims of Ireland's Great Famine ( 1845 – 49 ) immigrating to North America by ship ; wood ... Britannica Web sites The worst famine to occur in Europe in the 19th century was the Irish Potato Famine , which resulted in the deaths of about one million people . The famine is also called the Great Potato Famine or the Great Irish Famine . The potato was the staple food of Ireland at the time , with most of the population relying on it for much of their diet . Poor people who lived in rural areas tended to eat potatoes almost exclusively . From 1845 to 1849 a plant disease caused the potato crops in Ireland to fail , year after year . Without potatoes to eat , the people went hungry .


Over the past 12 years ACS has resolved a variety of IT issues and have implemented many IT solutions for a broad range of Clients . Below is what a few of our clients have thought of our services : Morgan Hunt began working with ACS over 10years ago when our business was founded . Over the years Morgan Hunt has flourished and we are delighted to have worked with ACS all the way through rapid expansion across our all businesses . We enjoy an excellent level of service from Huw and his team who continue support us in our London , Manchester and Moscow offices . A professional reliable and helpful service , thank you ! Morgan Hunt Ltd Fox Rodney Search has been a client of ACS for several years . We have always found them to be very approachable and easy to talk to . ACS goes that extra mile to help their customers and that is fully appreciated . Fox Rodney Search Ltd Thank you for the high levels of customer service given by ACS to my organization . None of us are technically minded any instructions given to myself or my staff are ' user friendly ' . Your service has proved to be most trustworthy and cost effective . Chambers Communication Lt


Ghehe , just looked at the dates . First I looked at summer school dates , and I thought it clashed . But summerschool is exactly one month later . Whoo for that . But , then I looked at the timetable for my exams , and I found out that on the 7th of June I have a bloody difficult exam . ( I already have to take three resits in August .. ) It 's a hard choice to make .. But I 'm going to think about it for well , let 's say .. until the day before .. ( I hope I 'll choose to go , though , ofcourse )


East Staffordshire schools girls football tournament 31 May 2006 On Wednesday 10 th May , girls from local primary schools in years 3 & 4 , 5 & 6 across East Staffordshire were invited to Shobnall Leisure Complex in Burton on Trent for the Annual Girls Football Tournament . In the Years 3 & 4 tournament , four teams participated , Richard Wakefield were the eventual winners . The years 5 & 6 had seventeen teams participating . William Shrewsbury won a very tense final after extra time against Tower View . On Tuesday 16 th May , five teams participated in the years 7 & 8 , with Abbot Beyne beating John Taylor in the final to become the winners of the tournament . In the years 9 & 10 tournament five teams participated with Thomas Alleynes winning a close encounter against John Taylor in the final . Liam Rooney , Sports Development Officer , said : " It was fantastic to see so many teams representing their school playing football and enjoying themselves . The high quality of football being played by all teams shows that Girls Football is getting more and more popular each year . " The winners from each age group were invited to represent East Staffordshire in the Youth Games on the Saturday 20 th May , where they competed against the best of Staffordshire's eight other Local Authorities . Liam continued : " William Shrewsbury won the years 5 & 6 tournament , a tremendous achievement by everyone that was involved . In the years 7 & 8 tournament , Abbot Beyne finished runners up and in the years 9 & 10 tournament , Thomas Alleynes came away with the fair play trophy . " Overall , East Staffordshire came away with the most trophies , this was a fantastic achievement by all the schools which were representing East Staffordshire . " Further information please contact Liam Rooney , Sports Development Officer on 01283 505914


Finding Your Next Superstar Although your admissions staff is likely complete at this point in the cycle , it 's never too early to start the search for new talent . How to spot the next superstar to bring in well-qualified students who will be retained and wo n't require heavy discounting to enroll ? One who will stay more than a year or two , wo n't experience premature burnout and has the potential to be promoted ? While your own student ambassadors and tour guides are an obvious starting point , beware of filling your permanent openings exclusively from their ranks . As a young alumnus , your current student guides will likely have only one institutional perspective , and that , from a student point of view . Can they adjust that focus to include the viewpoints of families and referral sources , as well ? One obvious danger of going directly from the classroom to an entry-level admissions office at the same college or university is that your new staffer will not know his or her " subject " well . As a student , his or her " subject " was English , or education , or business . Now , as an alumnus and novice admissions counselor , the subject to master is " your institution . " Can your new staffer transcend his or her personal student experiences to take a broader , objective view ? Finally , your new hire must be as proficient in knowing your competition as he or she is in your institution . They must not only be able to present a compelling " 30-second elevator message " about your own campus , but also need to know equally well the competitive advantages of competing colleges and universities . That 's why it is often advantageous to hire a graduate of an aspirational school . So , a word to the wise is , look beyond your own campus for new hires . The ideal candidate is someone who has mastered the " s-w-o-t " formula ( strengths , weaknesses , opportunities , threats ) of both your campus and that of at least one competing institution . This person might be an alumnus of your school who has gone on to graduate at a peer institution , or vice - versa . A third choice might be someone who , as a consultant or vendor , has worked with a number of similar colleges and universities , including your own . When looking for your next " superstar , " beware of candidates who say they want to enter the admissions profession because they " love people . " Obviously , you would not hire a candidate lacking in interpersonal skills . The challenge is that while a viable , long-term member of your team must enjoy working with a wide range of people , he or she must also possess many other equally important attributes , among them high energy , ability to manage details , a thick skin , perseverance in the face of frequent rejection and a strong work ethic . If your new hire offers the potential for promotion within your office , this individual will need to become conversant with market research , demographics and yes , with student financial aid formulas . That leads us to another peril of hiring young graduates who think of endless admissions travel as " fun " and " exciting . " As the novelty of the road inevitably begins to wear off , it 's vital to make sure that the candidate's expectations about the job are a good fit with the reality of the counselor's position . The former cheerleader and fraternity president may be great with people , but what about the myriad details that go with the position , the arranging of appointments , the prospect research , the follow-up , the transcript review ? Look for experience with task-oriented projects as well as those involving primarily social interaction . Because turnover is costly and detrimental to team building in your shop , how can you identify those who will stay beyond a year or two ? The reality is that the bright , promising young hires you seek are the same talented young graduates who will have many other options . But you can minimize turnover by giving them a reality check about the job , being honest and thorough in your job description and interview process . While there 's no magical formula , check the candidate's resume for continuity and commitment to one or more organizations during their college years . If the candidate played soccer and acted in the drama club all four years , that 's a better recommendation than one who lists a dozen short-term activities . Ask direct questions of references : Is this a candidate likely to stay more than a year or two ? Is he or she qualified for promotion ? How does he / she handle setbacks and details ? The admissions world is replete with successful directors , deans and vice presidents for enrollment who started as entry-level counselors . Likewise , it is full of former admissions staffers who , after an initial burst of enthusiasm , could not sustain any demonstrable success . By incorporating these suggestions into your hiring plan , you can maximize your chances of finding the former and minimize the odds of recruiting the latter . 2 Comments


Dear Ms. Blacksmith , Did you know that in Genovia : · Only 33 % of kids get to see the inside of a high school classroom ? · 56 % of kids will die from starvation or easily-curable diseases before they see adulthood ? · 98 % of the population is illiterate ? When I 'm asked why we should care about what happens in Genovia , I think about Sophie . When Sophie first came to our school , she could n't read . As the eldest sister , she was in charge of caring for her siblings while her parents went out and worked . Her future looked bleak : without an education , she was destined to live a life on the streets . Because of our mobile school for Genovian children , we were able to provide comprehensive care for Sophie's whole family . Sophie went to school , while her younger siblings were also cared for . Sophie is in medical school now . Her goal ? To become a doctor , and come back to work with Genovian children to provide much-needed health care . Investing in Sophie's life , was like investing in all the children of Genovia . This year , we have the ambitious goal of opening more Mobile Classrooms . Wo n't you consider helping us give the children of Genovia a brighter future ? After all , your small investment can last for generations . Sincerely , Francis Fake , Executive Director Hope for Genovia


Wipeout Pulse ( stylised as wipEout pulse ) is a futuristic racing video game developed by SCE Studio Liverpool and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable . It was first released in December 2007 in Australia and Europe , and in February 2008 in North America . A PlayStation 2 port was released exclusively in Europe in June 2009 . The game is the seventh instalment of the Wipeout series and serves as a sequel to Wipeout Pure . It takes place in 2198 and revolves around players competing in the FX400 anti-gravity racing league . The game was developed by Sony Studio Liverpool . Production was centred around focusing on the feedback left by fans regarding Wipeout Pure , and improving on aspects where the development team thought they had failed in with the predecessor . The game features sixteen licensed music tracks from techno artists , including Kraftwerk . Wipeout Pulse received positive reviews upon release . Critics praised the graphics and presentation , although some criticised the repetitiveness and hard difficulty . From left to right clockwise , the interface displays the number of laps , the teams of competing players , speedometer , shield strength , current playing song , and lap time . Wipeout Pulse is a racing game set in 2198 , one year after the events of Wipeout Pure . As with its predecessor , the game revolves around players competing in the FX400 anti-gravity racing league . Players pilot anti-gravity ships owned by racing corporations ( collectively refereed to as " teams " in-game ) . There are ten teams in Wipeout Pulse , with one ship available for each – although the player will have the ability to upgrade and change the appearance of their ships . Each ship has different characteristics ; depending on the team chosen , its ship will vary in terms of handling , speed , acceleration and shield strength . Every ship is equipped with an energy shield which will protect the player from damage sustained from weapons fire or colliding with walls , although energy is taken away if this happens . If the shield completely runs out , the ship will explode and the player will be eliminated from the race . In addition , the player's ship is equipped with air brakes which can be used for manoeuvring through difficult corners at high speed . The game features a number of weapons which can be utilised to destroy other opponents or for self-defence . Defensive weapons range from shields – which make the player's ship invulnerable to damage for a short period – to land mines and stationary bombs . Offensive weaponry vary from machine guns , missiles , plasma bolts , and a " quake " – which comes in the form of a devastating earthquake that will damage all opponents . The campaign mode features sixteen grids divided into cells , each containing a separate event which will vary from ordinary races to tournaments . Once the player finishes the event in a single cell , they will earn " completion points " needed to progress to the next grid . Clearing a cell will unlock additional cells adjoining it . Returning game modes from Wipeout Pure includes single races , tournaments , time trials , and the " Zone " mode , which involves the player's ship automatically accelerating to extreme speeds . A returning game mode from Wipeout 3 is " Elimination " , which revolves around a group of competitors attempting to destroy each other the quickest in a set amount of time . Wipeout Pulse was developed by Sony Studio Liverpool ( formerly known as Psygnosis ) . Colin Berry , the lead designer of the game , stated in an interview that the team had received a lot of positive feedback from Wipeout Pure , and was willing to use parts of the feedback to " help shape some elements of Pulse " . According to Berry , some people had felt that the previous game was too difficult ; the ships were considered too fast and the artificial intelligence ( AI ) too advanced , whereas others thought that the game was too easy and they wanted " something more challenging to keep them coming back " . The development team also took steps to decrease the feeling of repetition , which was often cited as one of the main complaints of Wipeout Pure . In addition , the team altered the game's difficulty settings so that players were given the choice to change the speed of the game at any time , in the event that they " got stuck " . Reflecting on this , Berry said : " We want the people who buy it , to see all the game , we do not want to lock them out " . During development , the team decided early on to focus on creating new content rather than bringing back old race tracks which were featured in previous Wipeout games . Berry , however , acknowledged that classic tracks " went down well " and sought out the possibility of introducing them through future downloadable content ( DLC ) . Berry stated that by the end of Wipeout Pure , Sony Studio Liverpool had designed almost 100 tracks as potentials to include in subsequent games , although the team were only satisfied with 32 of them . The remainder of the tracks were either disregarded or amalgamated into other games . Berry reflected that the tracks using the same 3D computer graphics software as its predecessor meant that certain repetition appeared and caused the team to " dry up on ideas " . The developers recognised that track design was an important aspect to the game , and also accepted the difficulty in designing a track that is both memorable and enjoyable . Berry felt concerned that the team were starting to repeat design features , and thus decided to create new variables to the track design : as a result of this , the team conceptualised the " mag strip " – a section of a track which would feature artificial gravity so that a player could safely circumnavigate loops , steep slopes , and upside down sections . After the release of Wipeout Pure on the PlayStation Portable , rumours circulated that a port was in development for the PlayStation 2 . In January 2009 , Sony issued a statement saying : " There are over 9.5 million PS2s in the UK and we will continue to support this large userbase with software on an ongoing basis " . The PlayStation 2 version was released exclusively in Europe in June 2009 , featuring enhanced graphics and all of the DLC . The game also features sixteen licensed music tracks in addition to customisable soundtracks from techno artists , including Kraftwerk , DJ Fresh , and Skream . The game received positive reviews upon release . It holds an average score of 82 per cent at Metacritic , based on an aggregate of 40 reviews . Critics unanimously praised the game's visuals and presentation . Jeff Haynes of IGN stated that the game was " Wipeout at its purest " , praising the visual presentation of the courses , cities , and other environments . Gabe Graziani of GameSpy thought the graphics were beautiful and also commended the design of the tracks . Eduardo Zacarias of GameZone stated that Wipeout Pulse was a " very visually pleasing game with some solid visual effects " , and also praised the detailed tracks and ships . A reviewer from Game Revolution considered the game's level of detail to the tracks and smooth framerate to be " staggering " on a handheld . The reviewer also praised the " meticulously constructed " backdrops and " incredibly styled " presentation . Guy Cocker of GameSpot said that the visuals were " superb " , though he thought that many aspects were similar to its predecessor , Wipeout Pure . A reviewer from Edge described the visuals as " even smoother , brighter , and sharper than Pure's " . The various aspects of gameplay were mostly praised , although some reviewers criticised the game's repetitiveness and difficulty . Tom Bradwell from Eurogamer praised the new " Elimination " mode , stating that it was initially " alarming " and frustrating , but admitted that it " grows to be rather good " . Cocker enjoyed the new tracks , the difficulty levels , and the promise of downloadable content , although he noted that it had not been made available in the United States at the time of his review . Game Revolution's reviewer surmised that Wipeout Pulse was a more refined version of Wipeout Pure , stating that despite all of the solid and reliable gameplay , the game did not revolutionise the series . Regarding general gameplay , Zacarias opined that Wipeout Pulse " does n't deliver " despite the variety in the game modes and " racetrack front " . Haynes similarly gave a negative opinion on the gameplay , stating that the repetition of tracks and balance of weapons for the AI was disappointing . Graziani criticised the game's difficulty , saying that it was " extremely challenging to the point of being impenetrable for the uninitiated " . Edge ' s reviewer described the game as simply another instalment of Wipeout .


Title of Research Survival strategies of bone and cartilage cells Summary of Research Skeletal cells use specialised mechanisms to survive disease , overuse , drug side-effects and ageing hormonal systems . Skeletal health and repair depends on replenishment of ageing cells from precursor stem cells , efficient function of mature cells and adequate life span . Current treatments such as corticosteroids , HRT , bisphosphonates , statins and intermittent PTH affect skeletal cells to different degrees at all of these levels . While much is known about the molecular players that control survival and death in the immune system , brain and in cancer cells , the skeleton remains under studied . This prevents improvements in drug design and hampers development of new therapeutic technologies such as tissue engineering and use of bone marrow stem cells . Promotion of survival of healthy bone cartilage is essential for retaining mobility in an ageing population . This study seeks to provide fundamental understanding of the strategies used by skeletal cells to survive , so that we can harness this knowledge to produce more effective drugs .


Mark Wright is an accomplished writer " currently scraping out a living as a freelance " contributing to various magazines , writing for Big Finish's range of Doctor Who audio dramas and turning out the odd book along the way ( he 's currently planning to write a guide to the Indiana Jones adventures ) . OTT caught up with Mark as he battled with deadlines to complete his latest book , 1001 DVDs You Should Own , to ask him about his recent publication 24 : Season 2 : The Unofficial Guide , published by Contender Books . OTT : So , how come you did n't write the 24 book for Contender last year ? MARK WRIGHT : I first came to work for Contender when I was commissioned to write the production notes and booklet for the first box set of The Professionals on DVD . Lee Binding , who commissioned me for that work , recommended me to the company's book division when they were keen to do a guide to the first season of 24 . I was asked to write the book , but unfortunately in the time scale they wanted the finished manuscript , I was working on a Doctor Who script whilst still holding down a 9 - 5 job at What DVD , so it just was n ' t possible . This was a real shame , as books was a direction I really wanted to go in . Jim Sangster is a mate , and as he had written some highly successful episode guides himself , I happily recommended him . As it was , I was commissioned to write a guide to CSI : Crime Scene Investigation , so I got to do my book after all ( although that never saw the light of day for reasons I sha n ' t bore you with - but I 've got a fully typeset manuscript sitting on my desk ) . OTT : What was the brief this time around ? Were you looking to follow up on what Jim had done , or take a different direction for the second book ? MARK WRIGHT : When it came to season two , naturally Jim was the first choice to handle it , but he had just got a commission for the official Spooks book , so the project was handed to me . I had just gone freelance , so was incredibly keen . I wanted to keep intact a lot of what Jim had done with the first volume , but take some of the elements into a more humorous direction . The strength of the first book is the mini-essays that discuss a related theme from the episode in detail , and Jim is so good at doing those and basically , I 'm not , so I decided to lose that aspect and expand the categories of the guide . So we get analysis of Jack's character , and Kim's dumbness , and I went for sections like " Fashion Police " , that kind of thing . I also wanted some sort of episode review and rating system ( which also satisfies the legal angle of unofficial publishing of this nature ) , so hence the " Debrief " and " Pulse Rate " sections . OTT : What were the actual mechanics of writing the book ? MARK WRIGHT : I was commissioned to wrote the book in October , and had a delivery date of late May to tie in with the transmission of the final episode in the US . So , of course , I did n't start writing until April ! It was easy to write the up front sections as that was all to hand , researchable material like actor profiles and synopsis of the first season . I also had interviews with Dennis Haysbert and Leslie Hope from the publicity rounds for the first season DVD , so that really strengthened the front section . The most difficult thing to write was the actual synopsis of the episodes . The plots are so involved with 24 that you really have to include everything and that can take a couple of hours . It 's very dry writing , and you always wonder if you should be spicing it up with comments and off the cuff lines , but that would probably get in the way . Those are the sections that make the writing process arduous . The fun bits are the categories where you can actually be creative and put your own voice into the writing . I did drag my heels a little bit , so I think I 'd watched the first 10 episodes by the time I started writing . But that was a good idea as the general feel of the season was established by then , all the conventions and characters were in place , so I could work with running jokes by that point . I wrote the main block of the episode guide section at my parents ' in Yorkshire over Easter . I was house-sitting so I had the place to myself and just got my head down . At that stage I was doing around three episodes a day , which is about nine hours work . I ca n ' t really say how long the book took to write as I dragged my heels so much . Writers can probably get work done in half the time it actually takes them , but we wait until the last possible second before having to do it . There are far too many cups of tea , trips to the shop for a bun , computer-games to play and episodes of Doctors to watch before getting on with any work . OTT : Presumably you came to 24 series two with some preconceptions . What had you thought of the first series ? Were you a hardcore fan ? And what were your hopes for series two ? MARK WRIGHT : Like most people , I thought that season one was highly disjointed , however entertaining . That 's even more apparent when you watch the season back to back on DVD , which was my first experience of 24 . I actually interviewed Leslie Hope when I 'd seen just the first episode ! I would n ' t say I was a hardcore fan at this point . I thought the real-time aspect got in the way of good storytelling , especially when you watch in the UK and it blatantly is n't in real-time . But the performances were compelling all round , and TV is rarely this entertaining , which will always be 24 ' s virtue . The gimmick is secondary . OTT : How did you think series two compared to the first ? This time around the whole 24 episodes were plotted in advance - do you think that made a difference ? MARK WRIGHT : I thought it was much more polished and confident . There was an air of pushing the envelope a bit , of a team who 'd had chance to play and beat out the main points . At first I thought it was a mistake to detonate the bomb when they did , and was n ' t sure if they could pull the narrative back from such a high point of adrenaline . But then I realized that the final act was much more contemplative , having the courage to examine the ramifications of that event . OTT : What 's your take on the slightly gratuitous torture sequences this time around , and the continuing plot device of people being locked in rooms ? MARK WRIGHT : Anyone who has heard my Doctor Who plays will know that I 'm never averse to a bit of torture , but perhaps things were taken a little far . It 's a debate that could go on and on . There are bad people in the world who do bad things , and good people in the world who have to do bad things to bad people to get information . I think it 's well within Jack's character to act in the way he did towards Ali and Marie , and to have our central character die at the hands of torturers made for one of the best cliffhangers in that real adventure serial style . We know Jack will survive , but it 's damn exciting ! I do think that the torture and murder of Paul Koplin in front of Kate Warner was a bit much though , especially when the poor bloke had his old man chopped off . Now that was just cruel . As for the constant turnaround of people being locked in rooms , I think it 's good fun actually . It 's a convention of the series in the same way that running up and down corridors is part of Doctor Who and red shirts dying is part of Star Trek . I do think Palmer should have phoned out for pizza and watched a movie when he was locked up - that was a lovely widescreen TV he had in that room . OTT : Likewise , how do you view Kim's storylines ? An annoying distraction from the main plot , or a welcome second layer ? MARK WRIGHT : I 'm in two minds about this one . On the one hand , the constant need to have Kim in danger was a bit silly . But then there are moments when she absolutely breaks your heart . Her reaction to Jack's apparent sacrifice with the bomb was beautifully played by Elisha Cuthbert . I loved the plotline with Kevin Dillon as the loony survivalist , but I think all of Kim's adventures were justified in that one moment when she guns down Gary Matheson . Jack must force his daughter to become a killer , and it 's a wonderful character moment that really pays off . OTT : What do you think have been this year's stand-out moments ? Do they compare to the highpoints from series one ? MARK WRIGHT : George Mason was a joy throughout . I cried when he went down with the bomb . That was the best episode by far . The return of Nina Myers was handled well and I was a big fan of the team-up between Jack and Yusuf Auda . It was like a different show , and I suspect that might form something of a blueprint for season three . The cliffhanger ending felt too tacked on to be truly successful , but still fun , although you have to be a real fan to realize the connection back to season one . I had to look twice . I do n't think season one had that many standout moments , aside from Terri's death . I think the team wanted more " events " this time round , almost playing to the crowd a little too much , but I reckon they pulled it off . OTT : Earlier this year you guested on BBC3's 24 " fanzine " , Pure 24 . How was the experience of doing live TV ? Do the studio audience collectively watch the episode together as the show suggests ? And what 's your take on this kind of programme ? MARK WRIGHT : Pure 24 was a blast . I was very surprised to be on there , but it was great fun . At the end of the day , I 'm a hack , and then I 'm being flown to Manchester to do some telly . Very bizarre . I 've done TV and radio before from my days working on What DVD magazine so the live aspect was n ' t too daunting , and I love the atmosphere of a TV studio . The Pure 24 team are lovely , and everybody has a laugh . It was great being on that first show with Lennie James as I 'd seen him in so many things , and he gave me a couple of suggestions for the book , like the drinking game . All in all it was a great experience and one that I 'd love to do again . As far as I know the audience watch the episode together , but the couch guests are across the road discussing the episode with Zara the Assistant Producer . I think shows like this are good if the fan base is there , and 24 seems to have that kind of fan who do want to discuss the episode over the watercooler on Monday morning . Pure 24 sort of preempts that , and I tend to think if the BBC feel there 's an audience for shows like this , then why not ? It 's been successful enough to warrant a third series next year . OTT : How important do you think the real time format is to 24 ' s success ? MARK WRIGHT : I think it might become a hindrance for season three and get in the way of telling a good story . It was fine for the first two as it was almost believable , but I 'm not sure about it for season three . It was a great hook for the audience to begin with , but now we know the characters so well , do we really need it ? Having said that , take away the real-time aspect , and I guess you lose what makes the show so unique . OTT : Where next for the series ? Is there anything left for it to do ? MARK WRIGHT : I think we 'll get a more personal story for season three . You ca n ' t really get any bigger than a nuclear bomb going off , there 's nowhere else to go , unless you want to do 24 hours of an alien invasion ( now that might work ! ) I think we 'll see things much more from Jack's perspective , see him happier and back at work , maybe in the field . I would n ' t like to say if any of the hanging plot strands from season two will be picked up , but from what I 've been hearing it will take place a couple of years later during Palmer's campaign for re-election ( so it seems he survives ) . And as for Kim being gay ? I think that might be too many people listening to internet gossip ! WITH THANKS TO MARK WRIGHT