To ask the Scottish Executive what specific policies and resources it has put in place to stimulate and support corporate social responsibility.

The Scottish Executive is committed to encouraging business to contribute positively to society, in whatever form that might take. A wide range of Scottish Executive policies promote the three main strands of corporate social responsibility (CSR) – social, environmental and economic.

The Scottish Executive also supports the work of Scottish Business in the Community, a business-led organisation which promotes CSR to Scottish business. Examples of our support include representation on the board and project funding for initiatives dealing with Employer Supported Volunteering, Healthy Working Lives and reducing the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Other examples of ways in which we support CSR include:

Determined to Succeed, through which we are encouraging businesses to support schools on enterprise education. More than 7,000 school/business partnerships have been established – nearly four times the target set for the end of 2006; the Executive’s agreement with Microsoft, signed in January, and outlining the company’s commitment to devote its entire CSR effort in Scotland to help tackle NEET, and

£400,000 funding for "Kick Start", through which Scottish Premier League football clubs will double the number of vulnerable young people taking part in programmes to increase their skills.