The next round ofmajor investment in the trunk road network will emerge from the Strategic TransportProjects Review, which will examine the longer term needs of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network to develop theinvestment plan for 2012 to 2022.

Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, andcan be contacted if required.

We areconsidering limited amendments with a view to improving certain aspects of theexisting commitment criteria.

(a) Reliableinformation on the number of NHS patients treated in private hospitals is notavailable centrally. However, the Information and Statistics Division of NHSNational Services Scotland is working with the Scottish Government, NHS boards,and the independent healthcare sector to resolve this issue, and datacollection is improving.

(b) This informationis not available centrally.

We will look to considerthe best way to continue to achieve optimum benefit from the right to buy scheme.We would not wish to remove the rights of existing tenants. Instead we will exploreways of achieving greater local flexibility in the operation of the scheme.

Development plansare drawn up in consultation with infrastructure providers. The Planning etc (Scotland) Act places a new duty on planning authorities toexercise their development planning functions with the objective of contributingto sustainable development. The act provides a new framework which will help todeliver up-to-date, relevant development plans. The new provisions includeaction programmes for the implementation of the policies and proposals withineach plan, to be delivered where appropriate in conjunction with developers,and enhanced performance management of the development planning system. Theprovisions of the act are expected to come into force in autumn 2008, followingthe preparation of related secondary legislation.

At a nationallevel the National Planning Framework (NPF) sets out a strategy for Scotland's long-term spatial development and identifies keystrategic infrastructure needs so that we can plan for the right investment inthe right places. The NPF is currently under review and a new version will bepublished in 2008.

We have establishednew workforce planning arrangements in Scotland to help match the supply of staffto the workforce demand from NHS boards. Board plans published in April 2007 providestaffing projections for all staff groups to deliver their planned patient services.Early analysis of the board plans gives no indication of demand for sonographersexceeding supply. However, NHS Education for Scotland continues to support improvementsand increased learning opportunities for sonographers.

Car park chargingon hospital sites is a matter for local NHS boards in light of local circumstancesand the cost of providing parking facilities must relate to the cost and availabilityof parking provision in the surrounding areas.

In recent months,NHS Lothian has reduced the maximum charge made at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburghfrom £10 to £7 and, likewise, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has, following its review, reduced the maximum charge to be introduced atcertain Glasgow hospitals next month from £12 to £7.

The current chargesfor car parking (including those to be introduced by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in July) are as follows:

NHS Board	Hospital	Charges
NHS Grampian	Aberdeen Royal, including Children’s and Maternity Hospitals and Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin	1st half hour free £1 minimum £5 maximum
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde	Glasgow Royal Infirmary	£1.10
	From 29th July - Western Infirmary, Gartnavel General Hospital, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and the Queen Mother’s Hospital at Yorkhill and the Victoria Infirmary and the board headquarters.	£1 minimum £7 maximum
NHS Highland	Raigmore Hospital	£1
NHS Lothian	Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Western General & Royal Victoria Hospitals	£1 minimum £7 maximum
	St John’s, Livingston	£1 minimum £2 maximum
NHS Tayside	Ninewells Hospital	£1.50 minimum £10 maximum
	Perth Royal Infirmary	£1.20

 

The Scottish ExecutiveRural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate supports and encouragescollaborative research for innovative and industrially-relevant research with industrypartners. Funding for such research is provided through the contract research fundand is carried out mainly through the UK LINK programmes.

Representatives fromall areas of industry are included as part of the consultation and engagement processesundertaken by the Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate when developingresearch programmes and strategy.

The new Scotland RuralDevelopment Programme 2007-13 will, indeed, include a specific measure that willafford farm businesses, including collaborations, an opportunity to submit proposalsfor diversifying into alternative forms of agricultural production such as non-foodcrops.

Individual proposalswill be judged on merit and assessed, along with other proposals for funding, againststandard selection criteria.

We are acutely awareof the importance of meeting Scotland’s wide range of housing needs. We are lookingcarefully at potential action to help first time buyers. One of our key aims isimproving measures to help more individuals and families who are currently excludedfrom the housing market. We are considering a range of measures to do this, includinggrants and a Scottish Housing Support Fund for shared equity provision.