Seòmar agus comataidhean

The allocation of additional provision for road maintenance for 2006-7 and 2007-08 will have no impact on the Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) or the Aggregate External Finance (AEF) for 2004-5 or 2005-6.

In 2006-07 and 2007-08 an extra £60 million has been added to the Roads and Transport GAE provision. The £60 million figure was allocated across three different areas of GAE; road maintenance, winter maintenance and road lighting.

It should be noted that GAE is not funding but it is an increase in the provision for local authority expenditure funded from a combination of central government funding through Aggregate External Finance (AEF) and funding raised locally by local authorities through the council tax.

It is of course the responsibility of local authorities to set their own local priorities but, local government having made the case for increased resources, the Scottish Executive looks to local authorities to play their part in ensuring that local roads are properly maintained.

The Quality of Life fund allows councils to support local issues that improve the lives of people and the fabric of the communities they live in. I have been flexible in how local authorities can use this funding, including supporting local programmes that are working to build safer communities and providing better local facilities for children and young people.

The recent spending review confirmed an additional £100 million for 2006-2008. This reflects our Partnership Agreement commitment to support the improvement of quality of life for people across Scotland.

Yes.  We keep all of our policies under review as a matter of course.  Since the whole issue of smoking is to be the subject of parliamentary debate, we decided to review our position on the provision of a smoking room when the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill reaches Stage 1.

The Executive issued a consultation document today. This is being sent to agricultural, horticultural, environmental and consumer groups; to those growers who are authorised to issue plant passports, and to those with current or recent outbreaks of quarantine pests. Copies of the documents pertaining to the consultation, which will run for 12 weeks, will also be placed on the Scottish Executive website. I have also made arrangements for a copy of the consultation to be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34640).

The Executive is committed to fully accessible public transport. People with disabilities should enjoy the same opportunities to travel in Scotland as other members of society. To achieve this, we are working with public transport providers and others to improve access to services and facilities across Scotland.

A number of projects funded through the Integrated Transport Fund, the Public Transport Fund and the Rural Transport Fund have allowed for greater accessibility. In addition, the Executive sponsors the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS). MACS was established to advise Scottishministers on the transport needs of disabled people and how to improve accessibility.

The primary statutory responsibility for access for disabled people rests with the UK Government and is currently being delivered by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). However, the Executive has been working closely with the SRA to provide a more accessible rail transport network in Scotland.

For example, the new ScotRail franchise includes a £40 million rolling programme of investment throughout the life of the franchise, which includes £20 million scheduled for station upgrades. In planning and delivering these investments, account will be taken of the particular needs of disabled people.

It is for local authorities to determine what action they take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Executive provides support for a range of schemes which can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including measures such as the public sector energy efficiency scheme.

The review concluded that SIDAB makes a valuable contribution to the consideration of large Regional Selective Assistance cases and should continue as an non-departmental public body. However, some minor changes to operating practices were recommended and these are currently being implemented.

Copies of the SIDAB PFMR have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34419).

These UK regulations were laid before both Houses of the UK Parliament on 11 November 2004. A copy of the instrument has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34509).

We are very conscious that the City of Edinburgh Council and providers have concerns about the allocations announced. I have met with COSLA on several occasions to discuss their concerns and have offered to slow down the rate of redistribution with the aim of ensuring that the pace of change and redistribution is manageable locally.

A new announcement on Supporting People allocations is expected shortly.