Seòmar agus comataidhean

We support theprinciples of the Scottish Compact, last reviewed in 2004, which was explicitthat we should apply best practice in funding and in the administration ofgrants. We support the practice of three-year funding for the voluntary sectoracross the public sector and encourage the use of longer term fundingagreements, where possible, to provide a stable and efficient operatingenvironment for the sector.

The Scottish Governmentis committed to distributing the remaining funds in relation to the Scottish TransportGroup pension funds surplus. Of the original £126 million surplus, there is approximately£135,000 remaining. This money has been reserved for distribution to identifiedeligible former pension scheme members and claims continue to be received.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

It is the managingagent’s responsibility to ensure its contractors are paid in a reasonable time.However, it is a contractual requirement placed on the managing agent thatcontractors are paid within 30 days of satisfactory completion of the work and onsubmission of a valid invoice.

Regular contract compliancemeetings are held between the managing agent and Communities Scotland. At thosemeetings the issue of payments to installers is discussed and the managingagent has indicated it makes every effort to pay contractors as quickly as possibleon receipt of a valid invoice.

The Executive has already putin place a number of initiatives to tackle noise across Scotland. Theseinclude the antisocial behaviour legislation, which covers noise from privatedwellings, dispersal powers, and provisions to allow the police to seize vehiclesdriven antisocially.

The last available figures forthe year to 31 March 2006 are as follows:

Start-Up Businesses Assisted– 2005-06

Local Authority Area
Aberdeen City	364
Aberdeenshire	573
Angus	198
Argyll and Bute	93
Clackmannanshire	102
Dumfries and Galloway	294
Dundee City	230
East Ayrshire	202

 

Start-Up Businesses Assisted– 2005-06

Local Authority Area
East Dunbartonshire	202
East Lothian	189
East Renfrewshire	145
Edinburgh, City of	1,029
Falkirk	259
Fife	760
Glasgow City	929
Highland	1
Inverclyde	188
Midlothian	206
North Ayrshire	238
North Lanarkshire	565
Perth and Kinross	244
Renfrewshire	311
Scottish Borders	241
South Ayrshire	220
South Lanarkshire	504
Stirling	154
West Dunbartonshire	199
West Lothian	282

 

The EC Environmental Noise Directiverequires us to provide the European Commission with an estimate of the number ofpeople living in dwellings exposed to different levels of ambient noise from certainconurbations and transport sources, both within and outwith town centres. This informationwill be obtained through a strategic mapping exercise and will form the basis foraction plans designed to manage noise issues and effects, including noise reductionif necessary.

The revised sports strategyis currently being finalised, I expect the revised strategy to be published earlythis year.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:

Currently, 27 installers areengaged by Scottish Gas to undertake the installation of gas central heatingsystems under the central heating programme.

As I noted in my response toS2W-30591 on 15 January 2007, in principle allocations at Stage 1 are only intendedto give an indication of financial support which may be available for any project.However, actual investment decisions are only made after receipt of a Stage 2 applicationand after careful consideration of such by sportscotland.

Decisions on whether to investand the level of investment are the responsibility of sportscotland. Sportscotlandwill consider making a Stage 2 investment decision based on the merits of the projectunder consideration and the level of funding requested. No project is pre-judged.

All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30591 on 15 January 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.