Chamber and committees

The question of whether or not it would be legitimate for local authorities to hold meetings at which some members would be present in person and others would participate by video conference if of course ultimately for the courts. However, in the Executive's view the relevant statutory provisions, in Schedule 7 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, are drafted in terms which indicate that a meeting will be held in one place. That would appear to preclude the holding of a meeting in two places, albeit linked by video conference.The Renewing Local Democracy Group recommended a review of legislation in this area. The recommendations of the Renewing Local Democracy Group are currently being considered by a Ministerial Working Group. Ministers are always looking for ways to improve current practices and will consider acting as and when suitable opportunities arise.

The Scottish Executive is currently considering - with its partners in Scotland House - how it might build on the success of the Scotland Week which was held in Brussels in October 1999, and I hope to announce our intentions before the Easter recess.

Where the cycleway forms part of the public road network, only those signs specified by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 or authorised by the Scottish Ministers may be used. Guidance on road signing, including signs for cycleways, is given in the Traffic Signs Manual, which is published by the Stationery Office. There is no legislation or associated guidance for signs on cycleways which do not form part of the public road network, such as forest cycle trails.

Guidance on road signing, including signs for cycleways, is given in the Traffic Signs Manual, which is published by the Stationery Office. Its purpose is to provide traffic authorities with the codes to be followed in the use, siting and illumination of road signs. Decisions on placing signs and the numbers of signs required in any given situation are for the relevant traffic authority.

Yes. A Planning Advice Note will be prepared to complement the guidance in NPPG 11. The PAN will take account of recently published research and highlight how local authorities can improve the quality and provision of all forms of open space.

We are providing local authorities with £1.2 billion in additional support over the next 3 years, including a 40% increase in their allocations for capital investment. It is for each authority to ensure that its facilities meet appropriate safety standards.

A comprehensive cull of sheep within Infected Areas will get under way very soon. Similar radical action is being taken with the limited number of dangerous contacts in other parts of the country. Controls on the movement of cattle, sheep and pigs remain in place. These are being relaxed depending upon the level of assessed risk in different parts of the country.

Under the terms of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, the West of Scotland Water Authority must obtain a consent from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for each individual discharge it makes to the River Clyde. The agency issues consents subject to conditions to protect the environment which are set individually for each discharge, on the basis of local circumstances. The agency and the water authority are co-operating to ensure that the great improvements to the water quality of the River Clyde, which have been observed year-on-year since the 1970s, continue.The issue of consents and the setting of relevant conditions, together with the scientific work undertaken to establish those conditions, is a matter for the agency.

The Scottish Ambulance Service working through its Partnership Forum has already implemented many of the requirements of the Directive. Discussions are continuing in relation to the implications for the service's on-call working arrangements, in particular in remote and rural areas. The Ambulance Service is fully aware of the need to maintain services in rural areas, while complying with the terms of the Directive.

None. It is for the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure the provision of satisfactory ambulance services throughout Scotland.