Seòmar agus comataidhean

The information requested isprovided in the following table.

Number of Applicationsto the Scotland-Wide Free Bus Scheme for Each Local Authority as at 17 March 2006

Local Authority	Application Count
Aberdeen City	32,576
Aberdeenshire	25,312
Angus	15,611
Argyll and Bute	11,530
City of Edinburgh	52,734
Clackmannanshire	6,010
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar	1,312
Dumfries and Galloway	16,048
Dundee City	23,634
East Ayrshire	16,071
East Dunbartonshire	13,034
East Lothian	15,789
East Renfrewshire	10,573
Falkirk	24,367
Fife	43,166
Glasgow	66,213
Highland	15,013
Inverclyde	11,409
Midlothian	11,394
Moray	9,786
North Ayrshire	19,182
North Lanarkshire	36,571
Orkney Islands	2,698
Perth and Kinross	17,339
Renfrewshire	22,173
Scottish Borders	15,065
Shetland Islands	2,520
South Ayrshire	16,433
South Lanarkshire	35,007
Stirling	11,832
West Dunbartonshire	11,408
West Lothian	18,417
Grand Total:	630,227

 

It is only possible to identifythe ethnic group of the head of household.

In Scotland in 2002-03to 2004-05, after housing costs, an estimated 6% of children living in householdsthat are in relative low income poverty, have a minority ethnic head of household.Before housing costs the figure is estimated to be 7%.

In Scotland in 2002-03to 2004-05, after housing costs, an estimated 42% of children with a minority ethnichead of household, live in households that are in relative low income poverty. Beforehousing costs the figure is estimated to be 41%.

The Department for Work and Pensionsare developing a long-term measure of child poverty – which the Executive will adopt.This is being introduced this year in two stages. Future low income estimates forall individuals, working age adults and pensioners will be brought in line withthe equivalisation methodology used in the new child poverty measure from next year.

Full details on current and futuremethodologies for calculating low income estimates can be found in the latest ScottishHouseholds Below Average Income 2004-05 publication (Bib. number 39177 on pages8-10).

It is only possible to identifythe ethnic group of the head of household.

In Scotland in 2002-03to 2004-05, after housing costs, an estimated 94% of children living in householdsthat are in relative low income poverty, have a non-minority ethnic head of household.Before housing costs the figure is estimated to be 93%.

In Scotland in 2002-03to 2004-05, after housing costs, an estimated 24% of children with a non-minorityethnic head of household, live in households that are in relative low income poverty.Before housing costs the figure is estimated to be 21%.

I am advised by the Food StandardsAgency that affected farms are subject to statutory controls under the terms of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and the current restrictions are specifiedin the Food Protection (Emergency Prohibitions) (Radioactivity in Sheep) Order 1991(SI 1991/20), as amended.

In order to ensure food safety,a monitoring system known as “Mark and Release” is operated to ensure that sheepexceeding the 1,000 Becquerel per kilogram (Bq/kg) control level do not enter thefood chain. Sheep from restricted areas are live-monitored for radioactivity usingportable radiation monitors prior to being moved. Sheep exceeding the control levelmay either be kept on-farm and subsequently re-monitored; or marked with an indeliblepaint and moved under licence. Marked sheep are prohibited from slaughter forthree months and a set rotation of colours under “Mark and Release” allows sheepto be automatically released from slaughter controls three months after the useof a particular colour ceases.

No copies of the RegenerationPolicy Statement: People and Place and the Summary document are uncollected.Copies not posted out are being used by the Scottish Executive as part of itsprogramme of communication and discussion on regeneration in Scotland, asforeshadowed in the Statement itself.

Copies not posted out arebeing used by the Scottish Executive as part of its programme of communicationand discussion on regeneration in Scotland, as foreshadowed in the statement itself.

Two thousand, one hundredand fifty-five copies of the Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Placeand the Summary document were posted to a wide range of organisations inthe public, private and voluntary sectors involved in regeneration in additionto distribution by hand to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre on theday of publication. These include local authorities, the enterprise networks,academics and researchers, financial institutions, construction and other tradeorganisations, professional bodies and housing associations.

The roles andresponsibilities of the Communities portfolio have altered several times since1999 and the information requested is not readily available and could only beobtained at disproportionate cost.

The total cost of producing,printing and distributing the Regeneration Policy Statement: People and Placeand the Summary document was £32,088.