To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer by Rhona Brankin to my supplementary question to S1O-2259 on 20 September 2000 and the answer to question S1W-11344 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 18 December 2000, when it intends to discuss with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities the impact of the non-payment of discretionary bursaries by some local authorities and any implications of this for the implementation of the National Cultural Strategy.

The Executive corresponded on this subject with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in December last year. The payment of discretionary bursaries remains a matter for each local authority. Although COSLA offered to re-issue its existing guidance on discretionary bursaries, it did not propose to strengthen it and explained that the approach to discretionary bursaries by individual councils would reflect the many competing demands being faced by them.