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Decisions on whether to provide supported bus services are a matter for individual local authorities. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28208 on 2 September 2002, which demonstrates that expenditure on supported bus services varies between local authorities and reflects local circumstances. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

Scottish Enterprise Fife is taking action in line with the direction and priorities set out in the Executive's A Smart, Successful Scotland. This sets out the foundation for sustained improvement in economic performance in Scotland. It focuses on three key challenges for raising productivity:Growing businessesGlobal connectionsLearning and skillsProvision of information on programmes and projects is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.The Fife Local Economic Forum, of which Scottish Enterprise Fife is a member, provides a mechanism for co-ordinated delivery of local economic development activities.

Following consideration of the corridor study recommendations and the consultation process, preparation work for the A80 upgrade should begin later this year with a view to construction work commencing around 2008, with completion of a scheme to upgrade the A80 around 2010.

The cultural co-ordinator posts are supported over 2002-03 and 2003-04 by £1.75 million from the Scottish Executive to complement funding from the local authorities. The recent spending review announcement provides additional money to allow the cultural co-ordinator programme to run for a further two years until 2006 and further details will be announced in due course.

The Scottish Executive has issued no guidance to local road authorities on the use of weedkiller along kerbs and roadsides. Advice published in 1997 jointly by the Scottish Office and COSLA, Rural Road Management and the Environment, remains Scottish Executive policy.

The Scottish Executive was approached to support the hosting of the World Medical and Health Games in Stirling in 2003. We were not able, however, to offer any financial support for the event.

There are currently no plans for transcripts of criminal and civil court cases to be made available in the Parliament's Reference Centre or the National Library.

The Executive believes that the identification of local priorities for economic development and the delivery of co-ordinated economic development activities is dealt with most effectively by partnerships of local organisations and agencies. Scottish Enterprise Fife, in following the Smart Successful Scotland strategy, is taking action to encourage the growth of businesses, improvements in skills and the creation of new employment opportunities. There are already in place effective arrangements for dealing with redundancy situations and the Fife PACE (Partnership Action For Continuing Employment) team provides a wide range of early interventions to alleviate job losses and assist those affected. The Fife Local Economic Forum provides a robust mechanism for driving forward an agreed economic agenda for the area and has the potential to deliver real results in terms of sustainable economic development. This largely fulfils the role that a task force might have.

Question S1W-26333 was answered on 16 September 2002.

The Executive is in touch with Buckingham Palace about this anniversary but no plans have yet been made.