Chamber and committees

A consultative draft of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement has been published today, 11 March 2002. I am placing copies in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19805). We are seeking comments on the consultative draft by 31 May 2002, prior to issuing a final version of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement later this year.

Protecting our communities from drug-related anti-social and criminal behaviour is one of the four pillars of our drugs strategy, along with helping young people, treating those affected by drug misuse, and stifling the availability of drugs. Through Scotland Against Drugs' Challenge Fund and Community Fund, the Executive is supporting a wide range of diverse and innovative projects designed to address local drugs problems. Along with the Daily Record, we have recently launched the Scottish Communities Against Drugs initiative.Progress in delivering our strategy is set out in our Annual Report, which was published in November. Copies were sent to all MSPs, and the report is also available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

The effectiveness of Route Accident Reduction Plans is monitored by comparing the accident figures for the three years preceding the implementation of the plan with those for the three years following completion of the works.

The allocation for the trunk roads network, including investment in new construction, improvements and routine maintenance, is £774 million between 1999 and 2003. This does not include capital charges and other adjustments made as a result of the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting from April 2001. A more detailed breakdown is shown in the Executive's Annual Expenditure Reports, copies of which are held by the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Sure Start Scotland seeks to give a positive start to the lives of very young children by providing broad-based support to children and families from deprived areas. The first phase of the evaluation of Sure Start Scotland focused on mapping the provision of services. We will disseminate the findings shortly.

The Executive announced a scheme to exempt certain premises from water and sewerage charges on 15 January 2002. In the period leading up to that announcement, the Executive discussed charitable reliefs with the water authorities on a number of separate occasions.

The Homelessness Task Force is currently finalising its report and recommendations, which I expect to be published before the end of February.

We hope to lay a draft Designation Order for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and the associated Elections Order, before the Scottish Parliament, in the very near future. As required by section 6(6) of the National Parks (Scotland) Act the Designation Order will be accompanied by a statement summarising the Executive's consultation, responses received and changes to the order, if any.

No such assessment has been made, but I have asked the Fuel Poverty Working Group to examine the matter as part of the consideration of the Fuel Poverty Statement that Scottish ministers are required to make under section 88 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Ofgem on a wide range of issues, including the regulation of electricity supply prices.