Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Wilson Doctrine is a matterfor the Prime Minister.

Authority to authorise interceptionof communications for persons located in Scotland, for the purpose of preventingor detecting serious crime, has been transferred to Scottish ministers but the relevantlegislation, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), is reservedto Westminster.

Section 65 of RIPA provides forany person who is aggrieved by any conduct to which the Act applies to complainto the independent Investigatory Powers Tribunal if they believe that the conducttook place in relation to them or their property in challengeable circumstances.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25269 on 8 May 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Information relating to the useof covert surveillance by relevant authorities would, if held by the Scottish Executive,be exempt by virtue of sections 31 (National Security) and 35 (Law Enforcement)of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. We believe it would be contraryto the public interest, to confirm whether or not any such information exists oris held by the Scottish Executive. The terms of this refusal are provided for bysection 18 (1) of the 2002 act.

As stated in my answer to questionS2W-21758 on 18 January 2006, the Chief Surveillance Commissioner publishes detailsin his annual report of the number of authorisations given under the Police Act1997 for property interference, and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act2000 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for directed and intrusivesurveillance.

The most recent report – Bib.number 37809, document number SE/2005/203 – was laid before the Scottish Parliamenton 3 November 2005.

All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25269 on 8 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Security Service, SecretIntelligence Service, Government Communications Headquarters and the armed forcesare all subject to the rule of law. Evidence of criminal offences committed by membersof these organisations is subject to investigation and prosecution in line withestablished procedures.

The practice of not commentingon operational matters related to the Security and Intelligence Services, as referredto in my answer to S2W-24499, exists because it has been deemed in the public interestnot to risk jeopardising the work carried out by these organisations by revealing,even inadvertently, potentially sensitive information or investigative techniques.

All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The functions of the SecurityService, Secret Intelligence Service and Government Communications Headquartersare reserved. It has been established practice for the Scottish Executive not tocomment on operational matters relating to these organisations since the Executive’sinception in 1999.

The Scotland-wide Free Bus Schemefor Older and Disabled People fully meets our commitment to extend concessionarytravel for people in the groups concerned. It is a major achievement under which over a million older anddisabled people can travel free on buses throughout Scotland at anytime of day. The first two years of operation will be critical in building up theevidence base for future analysis of the scheme. We will be happy to use this evidenceto look at where issues emerge and review the scheme in light of our experience.Meantime, we have no current plans to extend the scheme and therefore no plans to hold discussions with NHS boards.

Discussions continue with ScottishEnterprise on its budget and operating plan. However, it will continue to be forScottish Enterprise to make detailed budget allocations at local level. In allocatingits budget, Scottish Enterprise must take into account the strategic guidance providedby the Executive.

Seven of the 16 local concessionarytravel schemes included arrangements which enabled eligible people to travel witha companion either free or at a discounted rate. The schemes were the responsibilityof local authorities and information is notheld centrally on the number of people which were entitled to local authority companioncards.

Under the Scotland-wide FreeBus Scheme for Older and Disabled People, people who are eligible for the Schemeand who require assistance to travel are entitled to a companion travelling free.The criteria which apply are as follows.

People are entitled to a companiontravelling free if they:

(i) receive the higher or middlerate of the care component of disability living allowance;

(ii) receive attendance allowance;

(iii) live in a residential homeor hospital and are eligible for (i) or (ii), or

(iv) have been certified as blindand in consequence are registered as blind.