We have not examinedthe divorce laws of Poland in any detail. We research and study the legalsystems of other countries where we feel that their systems and practices can informand develop policy here, mindful that care is needed in importing features of othersystems which may not be directly applicable to Scotland.

The information requestedis not held centrally.

Information is not held centrallyon the cost to local authorities of the 2003 Scottish Parliament and local governmentelections. However, information published in Scottish Local Government Statistics2003-04 shows that local authorities spent  £4.2 million in that year on conductingelections and £7.2 million on the registration of electors. Full details of thepublication are at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/02/20724/52956.

Information is not held centrallyon the cost to local authorities of the 2007 Scottish Parliament and local governmentelections. Information is provided by local authorities on the overall annual costsof holding elections and for the registration of electors and this information ispublished annually in Scottish Local Government Statistics. Scottish Local GovernmentStatistics 2006-07 is due to be published in February.

The Scotland Office is responsiblefor meeting costs associated with the Scottish Parliament elections. The main expenditureassociated with running local government elections is normally met by local authoritiesfrom within their own budgets. For the 2007 elections the Scottish Government fundedthe following specific elements.

Funding to local authorities associated with the introduction of electronic counting	£3.56 million
Research on format of local government ballot paper	£22,795
Electronic counting software verification	£12,955
Printing and web conversion costs of code of practice for observers at local authority elections	£268
Estimated costs of printing and web conversion of legislation dealing with the local authority elections and local government boundary review	£7,200
VoteScotland campaign - run jointly with the Electoral Commission	£1.25 million
Payments to DRS Data & Research Services	£1.26 million

 

The main expenditure on the Scottish Parliament elections was by the Scotland Office and on the local elections by localauthorities. Detailed information on those costs is not held centrally. The ScottishGovernment spent just over £384,200 in total in 2003 in connection with the Scottish Parliament and local government elections. Of this, £371,600 was spent on a publicitycampaign for both elections (carried out jointly with the Electoral Commission)with the balance spent on opinion research and research on media coverage specificto local authority elections.

Health and socialcare support should be available to all family members. Responses will be determined by individual needs andwill address physical and mental wellbeing.

The national BreathingSpace telephone advice line and Samaritans provide confidential support and adviceto people experiencing low mood, depression or anxiety. Breathing Space, which includesa particular male needs focus, can refer callers to appropriate sources of supportin their own locality.

Scottishministers have appointed reporters from the Scottish Government Directorate of Planningand Environmental Appeals to conduct a public local inquiry into the proposed Beaulyto Denny transmission line. Their role is to hear and consider all the evidencepresented to the inquiry, including both oral and written evidence, and to reportback to ministers who will ultimately be responsible for determining the application.Historic Scotland’s written evidence to the inquiry will be considered as part ofthat process. It would be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to offer commenton any evidence which is subject to this inquiry process.

The eligibility testsfor legal aid in cases of family breakdown apply equally to both parties.

The Scottish Governmentis committed to delivering effective support for families experiencing breakdownand has invested considerably in the family support sector. The incentive for parentsto participate in mediation is that it yields consensual outcomes on issues to beresolved on family breakdown. This is beneficial for the parents and children involvedand further incentives are not considered necessary.