Chamber and committees

Resources for flood prevention were considered as part of the recently completed Spending Review. This led to a significant increase in resources being made available for flood prevention measures over the next three years.

There is no definition of a public holiday in Scotland, although the phrase is sometimes used as a generic term to refer to both bank and local holidays. The dates of both bank and local holidays across Scotland can be obtained from the publication Scottish Public Holidays 2000 a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no 9399).

Councillor Campbell has written to me to request a meeting, and I am happy to agree to this. Our officials are arranging a mutually convenient date.

Legislation on disability discrimination is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Railtrack and the train operating companies on improving access to rail services in Scotland. I understand that Railtrack is working closely with Dumfries and Galloway Council on securing disabled access at Lockerbie station.

The Scottish Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including telecoms.

These dates are set out in the publication Scottish Public Holidays 2000, a copy of which has been placed in SPICe for reference purposes (Bib. no 9399).

These dates are set out in the publication Scottish Public Holidays 2000, a copy of which has been placed in SPICe for reference purposes (Bib. no 9399).

There is no definition of a public holiday in Scotland, although the phrase is sometimes used as a generic term to refer to both bank and local holidays. Bank holidays have their basis in the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 and their dates are consistent across Scotland. Local holidays are not prescribed in statute, but vary from area to area across Scotland; they are usually agreed between local government, local business interests, and other interested local parties. The dates of both bank and local holidays across Scotland can be obtained from the publication Scottish Public Holidays 2000, a copy of which has been placed in SPICe for reference purposes (Bib. no 9399).

Bank holidays in the United Kingdom are established under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 (C.80). The 1971 Act provides that banks are not liable for failing to process certain transactions on such a day. Schedule 1 to the 1971 Act prescribes the dates recognised as bank holidays in the United Kingdom, though that list may be supplemented by an annual Royal Proclamation of additional bank holidays. Bank holidays are not prescriptive and employers are not obliged to give employees leave on any such day, subject to the terms of any contract of employment. A full list of Scottish bank holidays for this year is set out in the publication Scottish Public Holidays 2000, a copy of which has been placed in SPICe for reference purposes (Bib. No 9399).

There is no statutory definition of a local holiday. Dates of local holidays vary from area to area across Scotland and are usually agreed between local government, local business interests and other interested local parties. Such holidays often have their roots in historical events of significance to the locality or represent the traditional holiday period in that area. Local holidays are not prescriptive and employers are not obliged to give employees leave on any such day, subject to the terms of any contract of employment. The dates of local holidays across Scotland can be obtained from the publication Scottish Public Holidays 2000, a copy of which has been placed in SPICe for reference purposes (Bib. No 9399).