Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-14496, answered on 16 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at:http://www.scottish.parliament/webapp/wa.search.

There have been no further discussions.I currently await the latest draft version from the Environment Agency for consideration.The introduction of rod licences is a separate although related matter, and is notsubject to consideration or approval by Scottish ministers.

Anyone reported by the policeor bailiffs as being suspected of committing a breach of the rod licence arrangementswill be considered by the procurator fiscal for referral to the courts, as wouldbe the case for any other failure to fulfil the particular requirements in forcefor any river in Scotland.

The latest draft incorporates advice provided at a meeting to discuss the plan held by the Scottish Executive and Fisheries Research Services with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and the Environment Agency.

The Queen appointsLord-Lieutenants in Scotland, as in England and Wales. When a Lord-Lieutenant retires, the Prime Ministerconsults the First Minister before giving advice to Her Majesty on theappointment of a replacement.

Under the terms of the Transport (Scotland) Bill, it is proposed that the Scottish Road Works Commissioner shall become the keeper of the Scottish Road Works Register. The Scottish Executive is in discussion with Susiephone Ltd about the contractual arrangements associated with the register.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-12526, on 20 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The assessment made by the Executive in 2000 that it would be best not to bring in new statutory regional transport bodies but to persist with a voluntary approach was the right one at the time and was based on a careful consideration of the views of local authorities and other interested parties. Even then, the prospect of returning with legislative proposals to create statutory bodies was highlighted in the policy memorandum, with particular focus, at that time, on the Highlands and Islands.

Four years on, it has become increasingly clear that the voluntary partnerships can achieve more if they develop. The consultation undertaken in 2003 demonstrated clear support for the introduction of statutory bodies that would build on the progress made by the voluntary partnerships, and in west-central Scotland by Strathclyde Passenger Transport. The proposals for statutory regional transport partnerships currently being considered by Parliament as part of the Transport (Scotland) Bill have been broadly welcomed by most commentators.

I am not aware of either any legal restrictions which prevent local authorities from establishing local authority-owned bus companies or any provisions which specifically empower a local transport authority to establish such a company. However, there are general powers on which transport authorities could seek to rely. Local authorities which are local transport authorities (ie local authorities outwith the area served by Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE)) could rely on the power to enter into a contract at section 1 of the Local Government Contracts Act 1997. Similarly, the general power to enter into and carry out agreements at section 10(1)(xv) of the Transport Act 1968 would seem to allow for this situation in relation to SPT. In line with usual practice, it would be for any local transport authority, which wished to use these powers to set up a bus operating company, to take its own legal advice as necessary. Any transport authority which set up an operating company would of course also have to abide by the legislation in relation to subsidising socially necessary services.

The Scottish Executive has in recent years provided support for the administrative costs of the existing voluntary regional transport partnerships. In 2004-05, approximately £1 million was provided to the partnerships for this purpose. The Executive intends to continue to provide similar levels of support to the statutory partnerships, once established.

The Financial Memorandum contained within the Explanatory Notes to the Transport (Scotland) Bill (SP Bill 28) introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 27 October 2004 gives details of the sums to be made available for staffing and administration costs, members’ expenses and accommodation during the first year of operation. Following the outcome of the latest Spending Review, annual capital funding of £35 million for regional transport partnerships will be available starting in 2006-07. How these funds will be disbursed between the partnerships has yet to be determined. This funding is additional to all ongoing funding commitments to regional transport partnerships and to Strathclyde Passenger Transport.

It is not possible for the Executive to estimate how much funding constituent local authorities will provide to the partnerships in future years, it is proposed that this will be a decision for each regional transport partnership to take.