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The decision to use the TETRA technical standard in the procurement of a new communications system for the police was based on independent advice to the Home Office. That advice concluded that the TETRA standard was the only standard to meet the needs of the police service.

The TETRA standard is the only technology which currently meets the requirements of the police. Airwave provides, for example, encrypted communication and a very high standard of voice clarity and coverage.

The term “exchanging capabilities” is not used to describe any of the services provided by O2 to the police.

TETRA currently supports access to the Scottish Criminal Record Office criminal history system and the Police National Computer for person and vehicle checks. It does not at present support administrative functions such as filing reports.

The TETRA system does not support General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). It does, however, support a data transfer service which is similar to GPRS.

In response both to the recommendations of the Stewart Report and of the Transport and Environment Committee’s inquiry into radio telecommunications, amendments were made to the planning legislation and guidance for telecommunications in 2001.

The Executive published National Planning Policy Guideline 19 (Bib. number 15218), Planning Advice Note 62 (Bib. number 16043) and Circular 5/2001 (Bib. number 17462) to accompany these changes.

Guidance issued to Scottish Water and the former Water Authorities on sustainable development was not specifically issued to the Water Industry Commissioner. but was available to him on request.

This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

To remain within the city-based bidding rules of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the only events that a London Olympic Games could possibly stage outside London were the sailing and football competitions. Scotland went through the appropriate channels to be considered for inclusion in the London bid to stage an element of both events and was successful in securing Hampden Park as a venue for some of the Olympic football matches. This was included in the London 2012 candidature file submitted to the IOC on 15 November 2004.

There will also be opportunities for hosting training camps and the staging of other competition events in Scotland in the run-up to the games. The creation ofEventScotland to deliver our major events strategy will have a significant roleto play in this objective. Through EventScotland and its partners we have, forexample, already been successful in attracting the 2007 mountain bike world championship to Fort William which requires a commitment to successfully deliverthe 2005 and 2006 mountain bike world cups in the lead up to 2007. The World Championships at Fort William will be the last major mountain bike Cross Country competition before the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and a key event for all riders and their national cycling federations.

Existing guidance recognises that cumulative impacts may, in particular circumstances, need to be addressed before consent is granted. With the assistance of the Environmental Advisory Forum, we are considering whether there is need for additional policy guidance or advice. Local authorities have two representatives on the forum.