The Executive has no current plans to publish operator specific estimates.

In 2003-04, £96.6 million was allocated for all aspects of concessionary travel (the local bus scheme and concessionary travel on other transport modes through the local government settlement). In addition, £20.1 million was provided through central top up grants. Separate figures for the costs of bus concessions are not available.

The additional £96 million in 2006-07 and £100 million in 2007-08 for concessionary travel will be used to pay for the national free bus scheme for older and disabled people and the national concessionary travel scheme for young people. These sums are in addition to provision already programmed for concessionary travel of £13 million in the transport portfolio budget and £104 million currently in the local government finance settlement. As the national bus scheme will be run by Transport Scotland, discussions will take place with COSLA on the share of the £104 million, which should also be used for the purpose of the national schemes. The national free bus scheme for older and disabled people will replace the current local schemes and expenditure will be capped at a maximum of £159 million in 2006-07 and £163 million in 2007-08. In 2003-04£96.6 million was allocated for all aspects of concessionary travel (the local busscheme and concessionary travel on other transport modes through the local government settlement). In addition, £20.1 million was provided through central top-up grants.

£3 million of funding has been allocated in the Executive's 2004 spending review for a festival of creative design centring on Scotland's six cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Stirling). The First Minister's St Andrew’s Day speech in 2003 set out a vision for Scotland as a creative hub, using the nation’s creativity as a key national resource. The "6 Cities" concept draws on this idea, and is an initiative to celebrate, promote and develop Scotland’s creative industries, focusing on design at an international, national and city-wide level. The proposal is for a biennial festival which would take place in each of our six cities starting in 2007 and would comprise a programme of events and exhibitions which would move around the country over a period of around two months. Some of the exhibition material would be created centrally, and some would draw on the unique creative talents of each city.

The programme for the festival would be based on three related strands:

1. changing the Scottish public’s perception of design;

2. changing Scottish businesses’ perception of design and the benefits that it can bring to them, and

3. improving the international perception of Scotland as a place which has a vibrant, forward looking design sector - and thereby contributing to the work that is currently being undertaken in promoting Scotland as a confident, modern country.

The six local authorities have been consulted on the proposals, and they have offered support in principle for the idea. The UK body responsible for promoting design, the Design Council, has also indicated support for the concept. The next stage is to draw up a detailed business case, and this work has now gone to tender. A discussion paper will shortly be issued on the concept, timing and programme. Concurrently, the appointed consultantswill prepare a business plan, including a financial and organisational structure. An interim steering group will be established. Subject to the business case being made, the £3 million investment can be used to promote Scotland and Scottish design at home and abroad.

East Dunbartonshire received £47,120 through the TOP programme in 2000-01and £348,853 through Active Schools in 2004-05.

In addition to the funding fromsportscotland, East Dunbartonshire has been allocated over £1.5 million through the NewOpportunities for PE and Sport in Schools (NOPES) programme.

This is a matter for the ScottishArts Council. The information requested is not held centrally but we have askedthe Scottish Arts Council to provide the requested information to the Member.

The Executive is currently involvedin a programme of modernisation of the planning system and has a number of projectsunderway, which are at various stages. We will be considering the possibility ofa review of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order1992 within this context.

This is a matter for the ScottishArts Council. The information requested is not held centrally but we have askedthe Scottish Arts Council to provide the requested information to the Member.

The Executive welcomes the RoyalCommission’s report as a useful contribution to debate. COSLA is currently undertakinga review of the quality of fish farm Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). Thereview of EIAs is a priority for action in the Strategic Framework for ScottishAquaculture. COSLA hopes to publish a report for wider consultation in the springof this year, and thereafter issue guidance to developers and regulators on theminimum standards expected from fish farm EIAs.

We are currently consideringthe contents of the Royal Commission’s report and will submit a formal responseto the RCEP later this year. My officials will lodge our response with the Environmentand Rural Development Committee as well as the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

The Executive welcomes the RoyalCommission’s report as a useful contribution to debate. Developing guidance on containmentis one of the 33 Priorities for Action in the Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture.The containment working group has drafted an improved Containment Code of Practicethat will be included in the Industry Code of Practice. This will be subject topublic consultation.

We are currently consideringthe contents of the Royal Commission’s report and will submit a formal responseto the RCEP later this year. My officials will lodge our response with the Environmentand Rural Development Committee as well as the Parliament’s Reference Centre.