Chamber and committees

Evaluation of the effectiveness of individual concessionary fares schemes is a matter for the local authorities themselves, but the Executive has commissioned a nationwide research project to monitor the impact of the introduction of free local off-peak bus travel, delivered through enhancements to existing concessionary fares schemes.

Representations from the busindustry regarding the introduction of a national minimum standard of freelocal off-peak concessionary bus travel, delivered through enhancements to theexisting 16 concessionary fares schemes, have been received via theConfederation of Passenger Transport, a member of the Concessionary FaresWorking Group. The group comprises representatives from the Executive, COSLA,the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers (ATCO) and the busindustry, and its remit is to advise the Executive, local authorities andoperators on the detailed implementation issues as regards the introduction of:

(a) free local bus travelfor elderly and disabled people within existing scheme areas but outwith themorning peak, and

(b) age equalisation ofeligibility for concessionary travel.

Representations from COSLA regarding the introduction of a national minimum standard of free off-peak concessionary bus travel, delivered through enhancements to the 16 existing concessionary fares schemes, have been received via the Concessionary Fares Working Group which comprises representatives from the Executive, COSLA, the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers (ATCO) and the bus industry. The group's remit is to advise the Executive, local authorities and operators on the detailed implementation issues as regards the introduction of:(a) free local bus travel for elderly and disabled people within existing scheme areas but outwith the morning peak, and(b) age equalisation of eligibility for concessionary travel.

Measures in Scots law designed to deter prostitution and to prevent the exploitation of women and children through prostitution are not restricted by area. There has not been an ECHR challenge to Scots law in this area, and we are not aware of any relevant ECHR case law.

There have been a number of contacts involving the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, the Scottish Court Service and individual sheriffs, amongst others, regarding the issue of court security and prisoner handling.

We consider that the existing law is effective in dealing with prostitution and related offences and have no current plans to review the legislation in this area. The level of funding made to the Scottish Police Service has increased substantially over recent years and it is for Chief Constables to enforce these laws and to make decisions on operational requirements within the resources available to them.

Expenditure on temporary procurator fiscal deputes in each of the Lothian and Borders Procurator Fiscal offices for the most recent years available was as follows:

	1999-2000 (£)	2000-01 (£)	2001-02 (£)
Edinburgh	42,433	105,993	52,069
Haddington	-	-	-
Jedburgh	-	-	2,100
Linlithgow	47,012	12,806	22,312
Livingston	-	-	-
Selkirk	-	2,231	6,880
Duns	-	150	-

It is not possible to provide a breakdown as to the extent to which the temporary deputes were used in sheriff or district courts.

It is anticipated that the results of the Area Tourist Board review will be available early in 2003.

Ministers announced the decision to introduce free local off-peak bus travel for elderly and disabled people in September 2000 following consideration of responses to the Executive's consultation paper Integrated Transport for Scotland. This consultation exercise resulted in the passage of the Transport (Scotland) Bill 2001.

No. Local transport authorities have powers to subsidise socially necessary services based on local needs and circumstances. The use of these powers is a matter for individual local authorities.