Chamber and committees

Firstly, the various licensing provisions are being reviewed by the independent task group who will be consulting on its emerging findings shortly with a view to reporting to ministers later this year with any recommendations for legislative change. Secondly, the adequacy of the non-licensing provisions are the subject of on-going review within the Executive in order to determine what, if any, changes should be introduced.

I understand that the independent task group set up to review the licensing provisions contained in the 1982 act will shortly be consulting on its emerging findings prior to reporting to ministers with their recommendations later this year. Furthermore, the non-licensing provisions are subject to on-going review within the Executive with any proposals for change being taken forward as necessary.

The members of the independent task group reviewing the licensing provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 are:Ms Leslie Evans, Chair and Head of Local Government Constitution and Governance Division within the Scottish Executive;Chief Superintendent Ken Bellingham, Fife Constabulary, representing the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland) (ACPOS);Mr Stephano Boni, Federation of Small Businesses;Miss Ann Callaghan, Head of Branch 3 of the Local Government Constitution and Governance Division within the Scottish Executive;Mr Alex Gibson, Local Government Constitution and Governance Division within the Scottish Executive;Mr David Hume, Chief Executive, Scottish Borders Council, representing the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE);Mr Mitch Kerr, North Lanarkshire Council, representing the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA);Mr Jim Matthew, Angus Council, representing COSLA;Mr Robert Millar, City of Edinburgh Council, representing the Society of Local Authority Lawyers and Administrators in Scotland (SOLAR);Mr Alisdair Meldrum, Branch Head, Business Environment and Consumer Affairs Division within the Scottish Executive;Mr Alan Oliver, Head of Branch 3 of Criminal Justice Division with the Scottish Executive, andMr John Sharatt, Scottish Borders Council, representing the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS).

None. In terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 a planning authority shall be the local authority and the district of the planning authority shall be the area of the local authority. Any changes in that arrangement would require primary legislation.

The Glasgow Housing Association intends to take over the leases of those commercial properties which are transferring as part of the housing stock transfer.

The proposed boundary change at Braehead will have no direct effect on job opportunities in the area.

The independent task group, set up by ministers to review the licensing provisions contained in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, will consult on their emerging findings shortly. It is anticipated that the task group will report to ministers with its recommendations following that consultation, later this year.

None. A separate review of Scottish liquor licensing law is being conducted at present by an independent committee representing relevant interests, under the chairmanship of Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson. It is expected the committee will report early in the New Year.

The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, does not include provisions relating to land use planning.However, the Executive is currently conducting a review of the legislative and administrative arrangements for strategic planning. This review is likely to have implications for the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and related secondary legislation. The Executive is also engaged in a consultation exercise on measures to improve public involvement in the planning system. The closing date for comments has been extended to 21 April, and the consultation paper, Getting Involved in Planning, can be viewed on the Executive's website at:www.scotland.gov.uk/planning.

Monitoring of the effectiveness of dredging and cleaning operations in the River Clyde is a matter for Clydeport, as harbour authority, under the relevant statutory provisions.