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The Scottish Government encourages owners to inspect their properties on a regular basis to identify any repair needs. There are also powers available to local authorities under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to intervene where owners are not carrying out necessary works to keep a building in a good state of repair.

The Scottish Government has no plans to fund a voluntary inspection scheme but would encourage people concerned about maintenance of their building to contact their local authority who may be able to provide advice or assistance.

None. The relevant areas of land to be purchased cannot be identified until a preferred scheme is selected.

The detailed design, assessment and statutory process cannot commence until a preferred route is identified. A preferred route will not be identified until route options have been consulted upon. It is too early to consider a future timetable for any resulting infrastructure.

The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Stage 2 assessment of the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Inverness Airport was completed in August 2008. More recently Transport Scotland have undertaken an assessment of infrastructure requirements between A9 Inshes and A96 Nairn to support the Local Development Plan process being undertaken by The Highland Council. Transport Scotland and the Highland Council are currently considering the findings in the context of its implications for the adjacent local road network. It is anticipated that the study will be published once these issues are fully resolved.

The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Stage 2 assessment of the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Inverness Airport was completed in 2008 at a cost of £943,561.72.

The A96 Inshes to Nairn study commenced in August 2009 and £1,011,988.16 has been spent to date. Any budget for further work can only be allocated once the current studies are completed.

A decision on whether or not to opt into the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime is a matter for the UK Government in consultation with Scottish Ministers.

The Scottish Government will take a view on opting into the proposed Directive once negotiations are further advanced and once consultation with stakeholders has taken place.

Negotiations on the wording of the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime are underway. The Scottish Government is ensuring that the UK Government’s negotiating stance takes into account Scottish issues; and will take a view on the proposed Directive when its shape and scope is clearer, and once consultation with stakeholders has taken place.

It is expected that the planned victims’ rights Bill will, amongst other things, implement any legislative requirements flowing from the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime. A decision on the timing of the planned Bill will be informed by progress on negotiations on the proposed Directive.

No final decisions have been made on the measures that will be included in the proposed victims’ rights Bill. Those decisions will be informed by the final shape and scope of the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-00151 on 31 May 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx.