Chamber and committees

This is a matter for South Lanarkshire Council in the first instance. As the application may be notified to the Scottish Ministers I am unable to comment on whether the proposal is in accordance with National Planning Policy Guidelines.

The Scottish Executive has made no recent changes in the way its responsibilities for trunk roads in Dumfries and Galloway are administered. At present the management of the operation and maintenance of these roads are undertaken by the South West Partnership, a managing agent consortia of local authorities including Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. The existing contract under which this work is undertaken will end on 31 March 2001, along with all other maintenance contracts across the Scottish motorway and trunk road network.The arrangements for the future stand to be re-tendered within the scope of European procurement rules. I have announced in my answer to Karen Gillon on 24 December 1999 (S1W-3538) that the new arrangement will involve the appointment of 4 operating companies covering the full Scottish motorway and trunk road network. These operating companies will provide a more comprehensive range of services than the managing agents, including the responsibility for undertaking works. I was informed in this decision by responses to The Road Ahead consultation document which was published by The Scottish Office on 14 April 1999.

We are determined that nobody should be left behind as we move into the information age. Last November, when we set out our social justice targets, they included a milestone of accelerating the number of households in disadvantaged areas with access to the Internet. The Scottish Household Survey produces quarterly statistics indicating the number of Scottish households with Internet access from home. In disadvantaged areas Social Inclusion Partnerships are required to monitor the percentage of households with Internet access from home and also the percentage of households with at least one adult who has Internet access elsewhere.

Yes. I set out the current position and our plans in response to S1W-2859 on 1 December 1999.

It is important that Border Television should provide a high quality service to viewers in Scotland in line with their licence obligations. The Executive keeps in touch with the Government on a range of matters, including broadcasting.

The Scottish Executive does not carry out as a matter of routine national monitoring of reduced speed limits and traffic calming measures implemented by local authorities.

The Scottish Executive is evaluating the effectiveness of the 20mph pilot projects implemented in a number of local authority areas throughout Scotland in 1998. A list of the authorities that have implemented 20mph pilot projects was given in my reply to question S1W-4975. The pilot projects are testing the effectiveness of 20mph schemes which do not include the use of relatively expensive engineering measures to force down the speed of traffic. The results will be available in September and the report will be published as soon as possible thereafter. It will be distributed to all local authorities in Scotland and other interested parties and copies will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Local Authorities provide criminal justice social work services which are set firmly in the context of enhancing community safety and minimising the risk from offenders, including sex offenders. They work to National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System in delivering these services.

Additional guidance has been issued to local authority social work departments on the operation of the provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which allow courts to impose extended sentences which provide additional post-release supervision for violent or sex offenders where necessary.

The report by the Chief Inspector of Social Work A Commitment to Protect contained proposals for more effective practice in the monitoring and the supervision of sex offenders. The recommendations of the report are being taken forward by the Expert Panel on Sex Offending under the Chairmanship of Lady Cosgrove, and have informed the development of social work practice in dealing with sex offenders.

The Scottish Executive Social Work Services Inspectorate recently undertook an inspection of the management of sex offender cases by local authorities, which will be published soon. This will contain recommendations about the management of sex offenders.

Copies of the documents referred to will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Every member of an Area Tourist Board is given a free entry on the Internet through the Ossian system. Small businesses therefore receive high exposure and market reach in a very cost-effective way. Area Tourist Boards keep in regular contact with their members and conduct satisfaction surveys to ensure a high level of service delivery is achieved.

The Scottish Executive is very aware of the importance of clear road signage to tourist attractions and has regular contact with the Scottish Tourist Board on this matter. A New Strategy for Scottish Tourism highlights the importance of the quality of our attractions and facilities. Tourist signage plays a valuable role in enhancing this quality by easing accessibility.

The Scottish Prison Service has no plans at present to make any operational changes at Dumfries Young Offenders Institution which would lead to a significant reduction in the number of inmates.