Chamber and committees

At the end of last week I submitted advice to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on the extension of the East Coast Mainline franchise, and I have requested the SRA to take account of the advice in discussions with GNER. The focus during the extension period will be to deliver early benefits for passengers in Scotland, such as better performance, rolling stock and passenger facilities.I am placing copies in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 15773).

The working group set up to identify a humane and workable replacement to poinding and warrant sale reported to the Deputy First Minister on 6 July. The Deputy First Minister put the group's recommendations out for consultation shortly afterwards. Every MSP was sent a copy of the group's report and the accompanying consultation questions. The consultation period ended on 17 October. The Executive is currently analysing the responses received; and will make a statement on the way forward in due course.

The Scottish Executive, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority (SPTA) have approved a Memorandum of Understanding which provides a practical framework for the Executive, the SRA and SPTA to work together during the re-letting procedure. I am placing a copy in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 14453). Additional copies are available in the Document Supply Centre.

Through the Football Partnership we helped to draw up detailed proposals for the development of academies, and through sportscotland we have put in place a funding package using lottery and RPBD (Reduction in Pools Betting Duty) monies. The academy programme is open to applications from Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League clubs and the first awards have been made to Kilmarnock and Glasgow Rangers Football Clubs.

Having considered the options and consulted with the appropriate local authorities, it is my intention that the new Joint Board should comprise 10 members. City of Edinburgh and Fife Councils should have four members each with Perth & Kinross and West Lothian Councils each having one. This will provide for a streamlined board best reflecting the major users of the bridge. We hope the new board will be operational by April 2002, subject to parliamentary consideration of the Order setting up the new board.

Sam Galbraith attended the Environment Council meeting on 8 March as part of the UK delegation along with the DETR Environment Minister Michael Meacher. This was the first Environment Council under the Swedish Presidency. It was held in Brussels under the chairmanship of the Swedish Environment Minister, Mr Kjell Larrson.At the council, there was lively a policy debate - open to the public - on the Sixth Environmental Action Programme, which was proposed by the Commission in January. When agreed by the council and European Parliament this will set out the EU's environmental priorities for the next ten years with four priority areas for action - climate change, nature and biodiversity, environment and health and sustainable management of natural resources and waste. The negotiations on this issue will proceed throughout the remainder of the Swedish Presidency with the aim of achieving a Common Position at the June Council.There was an exchange of views on the Commission's Communication on Bathing Water policy. On this the council adopted Conclusions which are favourable to the UK, particularly in their insistence on the need for the Commission to undertake a thorough assessment of the costs and benefits before proposing a revised Directive.There was also a policy debate on the Commission's recently adopted White Paper on an EU chemicals strategy. The aims of the strategy are to maintain a high level of protection of human health and the environment, to raise the confidence of the public in chemicals management and to ensure compliance with the regulations of the internal market. On this the UK supported the Commission's White Paper but stressed the need to identify and phase out chemicals that pose an unacceptable risk. The UK also advocated improved public access to information and the need to minimise animal testing. A Common Position was also reached on a proposal for a Directive on emissions from motorcycles. This will provide better air quality while at the same time protecting the particular interests of small UK motorbike manufacturers.In addition to this, council Conclusions on Climate Change, and on Preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) were agreed. On Climate Change, the council reaffirmed the EU's commitment to reaching agreement on the Kyoto Protocol at the resumed COP6. On the World Summit, the UK strongly supported the Commission's plans for preparing for the Summit, which are in tune with our own plans for stakeholder involvement that Mr Galbraith announced in the Scottish Parliament on 28 February.Finally, we reviewed progress on a range of issues. The Commission and Presidency updated council on progress on an EU Sustainable Development Strategy, and the Commission presented their Green Paper on Integrated Product Policy, which seeks to address the environmental impact of products at all stages of their life-cycle. The Presidency also reported on progress on several environmental Directives on which they aim to make substantial progress and which will fall to the Scottish Executive to implement. These include a revised Directive on Access to Environmental Information, the proposed Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, and a Decision establishing a list of priority substances discharged into the aquatic environment. We shall of course be fully involved in developing the UK line on these and other environmental issues during the weeks and months ahead.

The provision of cycle training for children is a matter for schools and for police and local authority road safety units.The Scottish Executive has recently commissioned a survey of cycle training provision in Scottish schools and the number of children trained. This will provide baseline information on cycle training in Scottish schools and will highlight areas with low levels of training provision.

The Scottish Cycle Training Scheme, overseen by the Scottish Road Safety Campaign, recommends that on-road training should be provided where possible. Police and local authority Road Safety Units are responsible for carrying out risk assessment on any roads to be used for on-road training and for decisions on whether it is appropriate to conduct on-road training in any particular case. A new resource pack for Road Safety Officers to use when training volunteer trainers, developed by the campaign, will be issued to Road Safety Units in March. It will recommend that parental consent should be obtained before any cycle training for school pupils is undertaken.

As indicated in 'Working Together for Scotland: A Programme for Government', we will revise planning controls for mobile phone masts by mid 2001.

I will be launching a Scottish Travel Awareness Campaign in May, which will aim to increase the number of journeys made by walking, cycling and public transport and to encourage more sensible use of the car. We are currently in discussion with transport operators and local authorities with an aim to developing specific initiatives, including establishing links to sustainable travel events.