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A Best Value framework was introduced on a voluntary basis by all Scottish local authorities in 1997. The stated aim of this framework was the pursuit of continuous improvement in both corporate management and direct service provision.The Scottish Local Government Bill will be introduced to Parliament at the end of April 2002. It will give statutory force to the existing Best Value framework. This framework seeks to provide councils with the maximum flexibility to develop policies and deliver services in the way that best reflects local needs and circumstances, while delivering value for money.

We are keen to help local authorities' efforts to improve services and share good practice. As local authorities pursue continuous improvement under Best Value we expect them to use the information in inspection reports and the Accounts Commission's value for money reports to challenge their current levels of performance and take action to achieve the standards of the best.The consultation paper we are publishing today entitled Renewing Local Democracy: The Next Steps also seeks views on the best way of further supporting local government in its efforts to improve services.

National planning policies encourage the re-use of previously developed or underused land. Such sites can make an important contribution to the supply of land for housing. However, the amount of previously developed land varies greatly across Scotland. The Executive has therefore not set targets for the use of such land, as what might constitute a meaningful and challenging target in one planning authority area may be wholly unreasonable or unachievable in another.

The Scottish Executive has no function in relation to the provision of local electoral registers.

No. I believe that the information already sought from candidates, as referred to in the answer given to question S1W-23539 on 12 March 2002, is as far as we need go at this time.

The Scottish Executive has agreed to continue funding the Edinburgh Sheriff Court In-court Advice Project, including the mediation element of the project, for the next three years at a total cost of £213,000. I know this decision will be warmly welcomed by all those involved with the project and will bring stability and continuity. The project has proved to be an effective means of providing additional support to court users, helping them to understand the issues that brought them to court. It has also contributed to a more efficient use of court time and resources.I can also announce that the Phase 2 research report on the In-court Advice Project is published today.

The Scottish Executive has a wide range of targets to protect and improve Scotland's environment. These include investing in secondary sewage treatment for more than 80% of Scotland's population compared to less than 50% previously, introducing legislation in 2002 to protect and improve the water environment and establishing two National Parks by early 2003.The Cabinet Sub Committee on Sustainable Development, chaired by the First Minister, is implementing the Executive's commitment to integrate environmentally and socially sustainable development into all its policies.

In the Programme for Government, published in September 1999, the Scottish Executive gave a commitment to tackle damp and cold houses by improving 100,000 houses suffering from dampness and condensation under the Warm Deal by 2003. More than 130,000 houses have already been improved.

The Executive does not have specific targets for the reduction of any backlog in council house repairs. However, Audit Scotland has a performance indicator which measures the number of repairs to council houses, the proportion of these completed within councils' target times, the number of emergency repairs and the number of emergency repairs completed within the target time. Audit Scotland published its latest figures on these targets on 17 January 2002. In addition, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 introduced a single regulatory framework for local authorities and registered social landlords. This means that, in future, Communities Scotland will be assessing local authorities in relation to a number of performance standards, including an efficient and effective responsive repairs service.

There are no plans to set targets for the introduction of resource accounting for local authority housing finance.