Chamber and committees

Other Government statistics are based on very different types of data sources, some administrative, some census and some sample based. In each case, the most appropriate methodology is used for timeseries reporting purposes. Where these are National Statistics, as with the GDP, these methodologies are consulted on regularly, and any opportunities for improvement in terms of data sources, or methodological advances, are explored and exploited.

These figures relate only to accidents that are reported to the police.

The following table gives the corresponding numbers of pedal cyclists killed or injured in each of the last five years in accidents which occurred on a trunk road and were reported to the police.

Pedal Cycle Casualties on Trunk Roads, 1999 to 2003.

The Scotecon and Demos reports will help to inform our thinking in this area.

As outlined in FEDS, the Executive has put new emphases for promoting the competitiveness of the Scottish economy on the better management of public finances, on raising the environmental sustainability of economic development, on reversing the decline in the population and on the reform of the planning system.

Specific steps to improve Scottish competitiveness include, among other things, the Efficient Government initiative, the consultation on the Green Jobs strategy, the Fresh Talent initiative and the consultations on the reform of the planning system and third-party right of appeal.

Many representations were madein relation to the proposals for the Gourockto Dunoon route, the majority of which supported the continuation of the vehicleservice. Following further discussion with the European Commission a way was identified,consistent with EU rules, to meet the local community’s wish to keep open the possibilityof a vehicle service. This was on the basis that:

theGourock to Dunoon passenger subsidy would be tendered separately from the rest of the network;

bidderswould be allowed to bid on the basis of either passenger or a combined passengerand vehicle service;

operatorswould be allowed the freedom to bring their own vessel solutions, with no bindingto VesCo vessels;

the restrictionson any vehicle service would be maintained (in terms of frequency and length ofoperating day applied to the Gourock to Dunoon service currently operated by CalMac),and

the outcomewould be determined on the basis of the lowest cost bid (in line with the rulesfor Public Service Obligations) regardless of whether this is for a passenger-onlyor a combined service.

These proposals were set outin the consultation paper, Proposals for Tendering Gourock to Dunoon Ferry Services,published in March 2003 placed in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib.number 27056). Discussions are on-going in relation to the Gourock-Dunoon routeand Ministers will announce their conclusions in due course.

The Scottish Executive has provided the following Gaelic translation.

Bha a' chiad mholaidheanairson tairgsean a chur a-steach, foillsichte airson co-chomhairle ann an 2002,a' dèanamh ullachadh airson slighe Guireag-Dùn Omhain a bhith air a chur a-machgu tairgse mar phàirt den phasgan de shlighean san lìonra ach air stèidh a bhithair a chuingealachadh ri seirbheis luchd-siubhail a-mhàin.

Bha mòran thagraidheanann a thaobh nam molaidhean airson slighe Guireag-Dùn Omhain, a' mhòr-chuid dhiubhairson cumail a' dol leis an t-seirbheis charbad. An dèidh tuilleadh beachdachaidhle Coimisean na h-Eòrpa bha dòigh air a shònrachadh, co-chòrdail ri riaghailteanan EU, gus coinneachadh ri iarrtas na coimhearsnachd ionadail an comas airson seirbheischarbad a chumail fosgailte. Bha seo air stèidh gum biodh:

tabhartas luchd-siubhailGuireag-Dùn Omhain air a chur gu tairgse air leth bhon chòrr den lìonra;

cead aig buidhneaniarrtas a chur a-steach air stèidh seirbheis luchd-siubhail no luchd-siubhail aguscarbadan còmhla;

saorsa aig luchd-ruithna seirbheis am fuasglaidhean fhèin airson soithichean a thoirt a-steach, gun abhith ceangailte ri soithichean VesCo;

na cuibhreachaidheanair seirbheis charbad sam bith air an cumail suas (a thaobh tricead agus fad làobrach na seirbheis Guireag-Dùn Omhain a tha an-dràsta air a ruith le CalMac); agus

an toradh air a cho-dhùnadhair stèidh na tairgse as lugha cosgais (a rèir nan riaghailtean airson Dleastanasanna Seirbheis Phoblaich) eadar gu bheil seo a-mhàin airson luchd-siubhail a-mhàinno airson seirbheis luchd-siubhail agus carbad còmhla.

Bha na molaidheansin air an comharrachadh sa phàipear co-chomhairleachaidh, Proposals for TenderingGourock to Dunoon Ferry Services, foillsichte sa Mhàrt 2003. Tha deasbadan a' dolair adhart an co-cheangal ri slighe Guireag-Dùn Omhain agus fhoillsichidh Ministearanan co-dhùnaidhean an ceann seala.

Notes:

# Indicates where figures are not available.

These figures are from the Labour Force Survey. Figures not available are statistically unreliable due to small samples. Totals do not sum due to rounding.

The data shown for small areas is statistically reliable, however it is based on small sample sizes and is therefore subject to a high degree of variability and should be treated with caution.

Information is only available for 2000, 2001 and 2002 and relates to the period 1 March to end February.