Within the Scottish Executive, my Office has responsibility for supporting the "Scottish Science Centres Network". This Network of four science centres, each of which remains a separate legal entity with independent charitable status, came into being in June 2004. This was as a result of the then Scottish Executive's decision to provide a funding package to help encourage greater collaboration and ensure a more viable future for the centres in recognition of their role in making science accessible and inspiring.

  The four science centres involved are:

—  Glasgow Science Centre.

—  Our Dynamic Earth (Edinburgh).

—  Satrosphere Science Centre (Aberdeen).

—  Sensation (Dundee).

  With the exception of Satrosphere, the above were all established as Millennium projects. The Executive's funding of Glasgow Science Centre is restricted to its hands-on "Science Mall", including a planetarium; its IMAX cinema and Tower are outwith the scope of our funding.

  As elsewhere in the UK, there is a range of science-related visitor attractions in Scotland (including zoos/wildlife centres and industrial-heritage museums), but the four attractions above are generally recognised as "science centres" due to their hands-on and interactive exhibits and activities, coupled with a particular emphasis on making science accessible and reflecting current issues and events involving science.

  Scottish Executive funding for the science centres is provided as grants made under the auspices of Section 23 of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 (as amended) rather than "grant in aid" or on a "provision of goods and services" basis. The Science Centres retain their independence; they are neither agencies nor subsidiaries of the Scottish Executive. Such a collaborative Network of separate science centres is believed to be unique in Europe.

  Support for the centres covers funding for "operational" purposes, to fund their anticipated deficit according to their business plans for the year ahead. Additional grants are available for match-funding exhibition renewals, small scale exhibit upgrades, and to encourage collaborative exhibitions and other education-related projects.

  The Network developed and produced a joint Strategy in partnership with the Scottish Executive, in December 2005. This can be found on the Scottish Executive website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/06113103/31038

  Towards the end of 2006 the Scottish Executive commissioned two reports to help assess the impact of its funding since 2004 and to identify how any future funding could be prioritised. The first of these was carried out by HM Inspectorate of Education, to evaluate the quality and extent of the educational facilities provided at the Centres. This is due to be published by the end of June. The second is a consultants' report, carried out by Halcrow, looking at the economic impact of the science centres' funding. It has also scoped a series of possible future interventions, including the impact of taking a more outcome-based approach to funding, and the implications of introducing free entry at the science centres. The Halcrow report is due to be published before the end of July.

  The current funding programme ends in March 2008. The new Scottish Ministers will consider in due course whether the programme should continue, in the context of their priorities and the reports mentioned above, and in line with the Comprehensive Spending Review due to be undertaken this year.

June 2007