Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24918 on 7 May 2002.

The Executive's plans are set out in the Action Plan for the Social Services Workforce, which was published on 18 April 2002.

No representations have been made. However, sportscotland is considering with relevant councils issues relating to the provision of national sports facilities including those at Meadowbank.

National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space provides guidance to planning authorities on the protection of playing fields. This confirms that playing fields should not be redeveloped except where:the retention or enhancement of the facilities can best be achieved by the redevelopment of part of the site without affecting its sporting potential and its amenity value; orthere would be no loss of amenity, and alternative provision of equal community benefit and accessibility would be made available, andthere is a clear long-term excess of pitches, playing fields and public open space in the wider area.Sportscotland take the guidance contained in NPPG 11 into account when considering development proposals.

The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 contains no provisions whose effect is to restrict relief on water and sewerage charges to charities. Section 40 of the act enables Scottish ministers to make regulations reducing the water and sewerage charges, or exempting from these charges, those specified in the regulations. Using this power, Scottish ministers made the Water and Sewerage (Exemption) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 (SSI1358) on 27 March 2002. The regulations, which came into effect on 1 April, set out conditions to be satisfied if premises are to be exempted from water and sewerage charges in the period to 31 March 2006. The main conditions are that premises were not paying the full charge for water and sewerage services on 31 March 1999 and that those responsible for paying the charge have an annual income of £50,000. Sports clubs that satisfy these and the other conditions in the regulations will receive an exemption, regardless of whether or not they are registered charities.

Since December 1997, when the requirement to notify such applications to the Scottish ministers was introduced, seven cases involving the possible loss of playing fields have been referred to ministers for consideration.

Consequentials from all relevant Capital Modernisation Fund allocations are calculated according to the Barnett formula and added to the Scottish Consolidated Fund. It is for Scottish ministers to determine how these funds are allocated.

Issues of pay and other terms and conditions for social work staff are matters for employers and are not centrally determined.Supervision, support and caseload size are operational matters, determined locally.The Action Plan launched on 18 April outlined the future direction of training for the wider social care workforce, for social workers and for management.The Executive has made available additional funds over the last two years in relation to children's services, community care, criminal justice and drug misuse.In March 2002 additional funding of £3.5 million was distributed to local authorities to support frontline staff in social work.

The definitions of "prescribes" under the Road Traffic Acts 1972 and 1988 and the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 relate to secondary legislation made under those acts. They are not relevant to the Skye Bridge Special Road Scheme which was made under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

The word "prescribe" does not have a single statutory definition. Sections 7 and 8 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 are silent on a specific meaning of the term. It is therefore taken to have its meaning in common usage, which is "to specify, state or set out".