Chamber and committees

A study by the (former) Scottish Office concluded that there is no need for a new road from the A74(M) to Dumfries. The Scottish Executive is content that the existing strategic road links are satisfactory.

The Scottish Executive is interested in investigating the possibility of widening the scope for the use of alternative dispute resolution in the civil justice system, where it is feasible and appropriate. Research is currently being undertaken on the effectiveness of the mediation services provided as part of the In-Court Adviser service at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and this will inform future policy development in this area.

In approving the Dumfries and Galloway Structure Plan on 10 December, the Scottish Ministers took full account of all relevant national planning policy guidelines.

In relation to minerals the Scottish Ministers were content that a detailed minerals policy and criteria for assessing planning applications will be set out in Dumfries and Galloway Council's forthcoming Minerals Subject Plan. However, a modification to the Structure Plan was made in respect of the policies on opencast coal.In relation to waste management the Scottish Ministers were satisfied that the Structure Plan provides a reasonable interim strategy until such time as a longer term waste management strategy is prepared.

Unfortunately, there is no trace of the letter referred to and it appears that it was never received. If the member wishes to provide me with another copy I will ensure that it is answered as quickly as possible.

The responsibility for ensuring that the plans referred to are completed as expeditiously as possible rests with Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Yes. As updates to the Register of Members' Interests held in loose-leaf form in the Chamber Office are inserted in the Register, they are sent by e-mail to the staff of the Scottish Parliament web site. The relevant pages of the Register on the web site are edited and re-posted to the site within the hour.

Article 3(6) of the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Members' Interests) Order 1999 provides that the Register is to be printed and published by the Clerk in such manner as the Parliament may determine. On 2 July 1999 the Parliament decided that the Register of Interests of Members of the Scottish Parliament should be printed in a loose-leaf folder to be kept at the office of the Clerk of the Parliament and published on the Parliament's web site. In accordance with Article 3(6), therefore, the Register was published on the Parliament's web site under the authority of the Parliament's resolution of 2 July 1999.

Guidance on meeting with MSPs was issued to Scottish Executive staff in September. The guidance is called Guidance on Contacts with Members of the Scottish Parliament and has been placed on the Scottish Executive Intranet.

This is an operational matter for Virgin Trains and Railtrack. I understand that Virgin Trains, however, has made a formal request to Railtrack to accommodate a service from Lockerbie that would arrive in Edinburgh before 09:30.

Studies into home working, including pilot exercises, have been undertaken by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with the aim of demonstrating these benefits. The Scottish Executive supports staff in working from home where the nature of the work or personal circumstances make this possible.