Chamber and committees

The report of the Ad Hoc Group Of Ministers contains eight recommendations. They will be implemented by a number of bodies, including Scottish Water, NHS boards, the Drinking Water Quality Regulator and the Scottish Executive.Similarly, the various other reports can be expected to identify the bodies responsible for implementing specific recommendations. The Ad Hoc Group of Ministers concluded that where recommendations are made by an Incident or Outbreak Control Team, copies of the team's report should be sent routinely to the Scottish Executive. Mechanisms should also be introduced to ensure that such recommendations are given due consideration by the agencies to which they are directed. The Scottish Executive should be informed of action taken (or not) in response to the recommendations.

Regulation 17 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations does not come into force until 25 December 2003. There is no equivalent provision in the Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990.

National targets for literacy and numeracy are included in the Social Justice Milestones and in Working Together for Scotland. These are: to increase the proportion of children attaining appropriate levels in reading, writing and maths by the end of primary two and primary seven, and to ensure that all our young people leaving local authority care will have achieved at least English and Maths Standard Grades. There is a national target set out in the Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland report of helping 80,000 adults throughout Scotland over the three-year period to March 2004.In line with the National Priorities for Education, local authorities and their schools are required to establish local targets for literacy and numeracy for school pupils. The targets for the period up to 2005 are currently being considered. The targets should be stretching, but realistic. We are also in the process of finalising outcome agreements which set agreed targets for each local authority area aimed at raising levels of adult literacy and numeracy.

Railway fares are either regulated by the Strategic Rail Authority or set on a commercial basis by the train operating companies. The Scottish Executive has no direct locus or powers to intervene in either.

Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) assessments are calculated under a formula agreed with all local authorities through COSLA, and most recently reviewed in 2000. The GAE assessment for roads maintenance is calculated on the basis of weighted lane length, and already takes account of whether the road is a principal route and is adjusted for volume of traffic in each local authority area. Within this system, provision for the Clyde Tunnel is calculated on the basis of its length and dual carriageway status. The Executive has no plans to amend the agreed formula to take account of the role of specific roads, such as the Clyde Tunnel.Overall, funding for local authorities is provided as unhypothecated revenue grant. It is entirely a matter for Glasgow City Council to determine the priority to be given to maintenance and safety improvements on the Clyde Tunnel route.

It is important to emphasise that the primary responsibility for the prevention of flooding lies with the land and property owners concerned. In addition long standing planning advice, as incorporated in National Planning Policy Guideline 7, advises against new developments in flood risk areas.Glasgow City Council has recently updated its flood risk assessment for areas alongside the River Clyde, which indicates an increase in the risk of flooding. The council is now considering how best to address this flood risk and, in doing so, has consulted with the Executive.It is for councils to bring forward proposals to reduce flood risk before funding can be considered. Grants are available to councils, under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 for confirmed flood prevention schemes, at a rate of 50% subject to satisfying design, environmental, sustainable development and cost benefit criteria. However, Glasgow City Council's consideration of the flood risk issue is at an early stage and no specific flood prevention proposals have yet been brought forward. We will maintain close contact with the council as it develops its thinking and consider requests for funding as and when these are made.

The current draft directions and guidance for the next Scottish passenger rail franchise direct the Strategic Rail Authority to develop a franchise which, subject to the requirement to provide value for money, will improve intercity links throughout Scotland through reduced journey times.

In November 2001, my predecessor established the River Clyde Working Group (RCWG) to progress an ambitious strategy to maximise economic development along the River Clyde (from Glasgow Green to the Erskine Bridge) and to bring together, and add value to, the many development and regeneration initiatives currently under way.Ms Margaret Curran, Minister for Social Justice, and I hosted a Working Summit on 24 June which provided a useful forum for discussion of the key issues involved. It was recognised that this is a major opportunity for the Greater Glasgow area, with the potential for significant economic and social gain. It was agreed that the River Clyde Working Group would continue to work together to identify a vision for the river and a development framework to make this vision a reality.

The information requested is set out in the table:

	CS Grant(£ million)	Private Finance(£ million)	Total(£ million)
Actual expenditure 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2002	14.617	6.260	20.877
Planned expenditure 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003	4.488	1.920	6.408
Total	19.105	8.180	27.285

The structure and extent of the strategic road network was last reviewed in 1994-96, as part of the reorganisation of local government. There are no plans to extend the trunk road network.