To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom assistants were working in state schools in each academic year since 1999.

Information on the number of classroom assistants employed in state schools in each academic year from 1999 is not held centrally. However, information on the number of classroom assistants employed through the Excellence Fund for each financial year since 1999 has previously been provided in answer to questions S1W-14460 on 15 May 2001 and S1W-32263 on 9 January 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .