Chamber and committees

This information is not held centrally.Information on complaints to the Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland is contained in the Commissioner's Annual Reports, which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The Bib. numbers for the last three reports are 16262 (1998-99), 16263 (1999-2000) and 21048 (2000-01). These reports do not, however, provide a breakdown of the specific points raised (such as third-party rights of appeal) within each subject.

As the European Commission has not yet proposed such a directive, it is not possible to predict any potential implications at this time.

As of 26 April, the Executive received 404 responses. These are currently being analysed independently and a report will be published in the summer. Copies of the responses are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

We have considered the implications of the Aarhus Convention and have concluded that the planning system complies with the terms of the convention. In relation to third party appeals, this view was supported in recent research* undertaken on behalf of a number of environmental organisations, which concluded that "the Aarhus Convention does not directly further the case of third party rights of appeal". Note:* Third Party Rights of Appeal in Planning by Green Balance, Leigh Day & Co, John Popham and Professor Michael Purdue - published January 2002.

This information is not held centrally. Judgements passed by the European Court of Human Rights can be viewed on the internet at:www.echr.coe.int.

The information is not held centrally. Statutory authority for local libraries in Scotland lies with local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for the employment of staff in the services they run.

Statutory responsibility for the public library service in Scotland lies entirely with local authorities. Each local authority is responsible for employing their own staff in the library service.

Progress is reported yearly in our Social Justice Annual Report, which was published in November 2001. There is still much to do and it is important that we keep our approach to community regeneration under review and that we continue to learn from experience. We will set out further details of our future priorities and approach in our community regeneration statement, which we will publish shortly.

The announcement has no direct bearing on the position in Scotland.The Scottish Executive has also been reviewing its plans to introduce a legislative framework to safeguard public health, the environment and social objectives in a more competitive environment. It has concluded that there remains a need for such a framework. However, further consideration of some complex issues is necessary and as a result the Executive has decided that provisions relating to the framework should not be included in the Water Environment and Water Services Bill that is due to be introduced in May.

Access to higher bandwidth telecoms services is already available across central Scotland by means of leased lines. Access to services such as ADSL and cable-modem currently stands at about 43% population coverage in central Scotland (taking Central, Fife, Lothian and Strathclyde together). In addition, broadband fixed wireless access licences are expected to be available shortly in Scotland, while trials of satellite ADSL-level services are also taking place. Further roll-out of higher bandwidth services in central Scotland will be a commercial matter for the providers and will depend upon demand. The Executive is working with the enterprise agencies to develop a Scottish programme of demand stimulation measures under the DTI fund for innovative uses of broadband. Finally, the Executive is taking forward aggregated public sector procurement in the Highlands and Islands and the south of Scotland as a means of extending broadband access in those areas. The Executive will consider the need for and timing of the roll out of this approach more widely across Scotland, taking into account progress in pathfinder areas and the extent that operation of the market is increasing access to broadband services.