Chamber and committees

The NHS in Scotland will take into account population change as part of its strategic planning at NHS board level. This planning will be undertaken in the light of the assessed current and future needs of the local population.

The cost of the nationwide advertising campaign, launched on 10 September 2002, to publicise enhanced concessionary fare arrangements for elderly and disabled people is £287,857.38 (including VAT).

The Scottish Executive has provided £6.5 million to fund the development of the North Edinburgh tram to parliamentary order stage and to look at options for the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway, and a further £5 million to do the same for the West Edinburgh Tram. We are currently considering a proposal from City of Edinburgh Council for funding for development of a South East Edinburgh Tram.The funding that is in place will allow progress to be made as quickly as possible on the North and West lines. Until this development work, including a Scottish Transport Advisory Group 2 (STAG2) appraisal in each case, is complete, it would be premature to enter into commitments about funding the building of these lines. On City of Edinburgh Council's current plans, trams would be in operation on the north and west lines in 2009.

I can confirm that planned provision for Clyde and Hebrides ferry services is £37 million in 2003-04 and £38 million in each of the years 2004-05 and 2005-06.The provision will allow existing services currently provided by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, together with the new Sound of Barra service and enhancements to services out of Oban, to be delivered at affordable fare levels. It will also meet the set up and running costs of the new vessel owning company to be established as part of the tendering of Clyde and Hebrides routes. These figures will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the tendering process.I intend to make a separate announcement in due course on a new vessel programme for these services.

In the period 2003-04 to 2005-06 the level of deficit and capital funding provided to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) will increase from £20.9 million to £22.1 million a year (excluding capital charges of £9 million per year). The level of funding will allow HIAL to operate 10 airports in the Highlands and Islands and keep airport charges at a level that will encourage the development of air services. The additional funding will also support the development of Inverness Airport and the associated business park. These developments should lead to increased freight, charter and passenger services.

This is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). Information on the strategic change grant can be found on the SHEFC website at: www.shefc.ac.uk/content/shefc/strategy/scg.html#higher.In February 2002, SHEFC produced a circular (HE/10/02) providing details of the allocation of the strategic change grant for 2001-02 and guidance for future proposals. This information is also available on the SHEFC website at: www.shefc.ac.uk/content/library/circs/02/he1002/he1002.htm.

Forestry is a significant asset to the economy, particularly in rural areas. Forestry and primary wood processing in Scotland currently provide over 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs, and contributes around £800 million per year to the economy. Timber production from our forests is set to double over the next 10 to 15 years and, in partnership with the Scottish Forest Industries Cluster, we are seeking to promote competitiveness and innovation to take advantage of this opportunity to increase forestry's contribution to our economy.

The report Higher Education in the South of Scotland, launched in Dumfries by Wendy Alexander on 24 October 2001, was the final report of the South of Scotland University Steering Group. As recommended in the report, the Scottish Funding Councils were asked to establish a group of the main interests involved in providing higher education in the south, to take forward higher education and continuing professional development and to monitor progress; and to report to ministers in two years time, and submit an interim report in one year. I expect to receive the interim report early next year.

The replacement of the traffic light installation on the A7 at Skippers Bridge, south of Langholm will be included in a carriageway maintenance scheme programmed for 2003-04.

Information about estimated road accident costs are published annually in Road Accidents Scotland. Table 12 of Road Accidents Scotland 2000, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17733), contains a breakdown of costs per accident by element of cost and severity for the UK at 2000 prices.