Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive's Assigned Budget was increased by £1.5 million as a formula consequential, reflecting the funds set aside in England to support post offices in deprived urban areas. Decisions on the use of the Assigned Budget are devolved. Ministers continue to examine the scope for providing support to post offices in deprived urban areas in Scotland. However, no funding has yet been committed.

The British Railways Order Confirmation Act 1994 and the British Railways (No.3) Order Confirmation Act 1994 conferred powers on the British Railways Board, in respect of the proposed Larkhall-Milngavie rail link. The expiry of powers to make compulsory purchase orders is now a matter for Railtrack. However, I understand that the overall parliamentary powers expire in March 2004.The Scottish Executive is in contact with Railtrack, the Strategic Rail Authority and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive about moving this project forward.

The Scottish Executive is working with COSLA to introduce free local off-peak bus travel from 1 October 2002 by enhancing existing concessionary travel schemes operated by local authorities.

The Minister for Environment and Rural Development is the lead Cabinet Minister on all Post Office related matters of a devolved nature, and I deal with them on a day to day basis. All relevant ministers are consulted as appropriate and, in relation to deprived urban areas, this means close liaison with the Minister for Social Justice.

As at 1 December 2001, there were almost 1,100 appointees serving on NDPBs sponsored by the Scottish Executive. At the same date 56 people were serving on more than one non-departmental public body (NDPB). 75% of these 56 people had not declared any political activity in the five years prior to appointment. The appointments were made in compliance with the OCPA code. The following table shows the aggregate figures:

Total appointees	1,097
Total number of people holding more than one appointment.	56
Percentage of people holding more than one appointment	5%
Total number of politically active people holding more than one appointment.	14
Percentage of politically active people holding more than one appointment	1.3%

The details requested about the 56 individuals is set out in the following table:

Members on more than one public body	Names of bodies involved	Remuner-ation levels(£)	Details of Party where political activity declared	Appt from	Appt to
Ahmad, Mushtaq	Central Advisory Committee on Justices of the PeaceSouth Lanarkshire Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	None	Labour	11/9606/01	10/0311/04
Alexander, Margaret	Scottish Hospital Endowments Research TrustNational Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting for Scotland	010,000	None	04/9604/99	03/0409/02
Blair, Ann (Kay)	Scottish Legal Aid BoardScottish Ambulance Service Board	7,6007,000	None	04/9104/99	03/0203/03
Borthwick, Ian	Dundee City Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeTayside University Hospital NHS Trust	07,000	Independent Labour	09/9604/99	09/0203/03
Burley, Lindsay	Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental EducationScottish Advisory Committee on the Medical Workforce	00	None	02/9704/96	09/0203/02
Burnett, Gavin	Scottish Hospital TrustScottish Conveyancing and Executry Services Board	0298 (per day)	None	01/9905/91	01/0505/04
Cairns, Robert	Historic Buildings Council for ScotlandEast of Scotland Water Authority	028,643	Labour	12/9501/98	04/0303/02
Christie, Campbell	Scottish EnterpriseForth Valley NHS Board	9,0287,000	Labour	04/9809/01	04/0401/05
Cowen, Myer	Central Advisory Committee on Justices of the PeaceCity of Edinburgh Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	00	None	11/9603/97	10/0302/06
Cox, Gilbert	South Lanarkshire Justices of the Peace Advisory CommitteeNorth Lanarkshire Justices of the Peace Advisory Committee	00	None	10/0010/00	08/1008/10
Dempster, Alastair	Scottish Hospital Endowments Research TrustSportscotland	025,466	None	10/9807/99	09/0206/03
Dennis, Marina	Crofters CommissionMacaulay Land Use Research Institute	13,9680	None	10/9604/94	09/0203/03
Dunbar, Angela	Ayrshire and Arran Acute Hospital NHS TrustNorth Ayrshire Justices of the Peace Advisory Committee	7,0000	Labour	02/9908/96	01/0307/02
Edmond, Stuart	Highlands and Islands Airports LtdHighland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	5,9647,000	None	04/0002/99	03/0303/03
Faulds, James	Scottish ScreenScottish Arts Council	00	None	07/0004/98	06/0403/04
Findlay, Johan	Parole Board for ScotlandDumfries and Galloway Justices of the Peace Advisory Committee	161 (per day)0	None	01/0009/96	12/0509/02
Forbes, Graham	Historic Buildings Council for ScotlandClinical Standards Board for ScotlandScottish Criminal Cases Review Commission	07,000372 (per day)	None	01/0004/9904/99	12/0203/0312/01
Goldstraw, Wendy	Accounts Commission for ScotlandScottish Crop Research Institute	3,9280	None	10/9404/00	09/0203/04
Gray, John	Scottish Higher Education Funding CouncilScottish Further Education Funding Council	5,0315,031	None	07/9902/99	06/0303/03
Greenhill, Patricia	Stirling Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeScottish Homes	07,674	Conservative	05/9706/96	05/0303/02
Hanlon, John	Health Technology Board for ScotlandScottish Commission for the Regulation of Care	7,0007,000	None	04/0009/01	03/0208/04
Hardie, Donald	East Dunbartonshire Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeWest Dunbartonshire Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	00	None	04/9604/96	01/1101/11
Henderson, Richard	East Ayrshire Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeNorth Ayrshire Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeSouth Ayrshire Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	000	None	04/9604/9604/96	07/0607/0606/06
Howatson, William	Health Education Board for ScotlandScottish Environment Protection AgencyMacaulay Land Use Research Institute	5,0005,4740	Liberal Democrats	12/9610/9904/98	03/0412/0203/02
Johnston, Grenville	National Museums of ScotlandHighlands and Islands Airports	05,964	None	04/9803/01	03/0202/04
Keighley, Brian	Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental EducationClinical Standards Board for Scotland	07,000	None	04/9304/99	09/0203/02
Kuenssberg, Nicholas	Scottish Legal Aid BoardScottish Environment Protection Agency	7,6005,474	None	04/9601/99	03/0412/03
Kuenssberg, Sally	Scottish Children's Reporter AdministrationYorkhill NHS Trust	16,73622,000	None	04/9508/01	03/02 07/05
Mackay, Angus	Health Technology Board for ScotlandScottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards	00	None	04/0002/98	03/0410/04
Maehle, Valerie	Scottish Higher Education Funding CouncilGrampian University Hospitals NHS Trust	5,0317,000	None	08/9702/99	07/0301/03
Matheson, Alexander	Western Isles Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeHighlands & Islands Airports Ltd	018,679	None	03/0003/01	11/1602/04
May, Christine	Scottish EnterpriseScottish Homes	9,0285,798	Labour	12/9907/99	11/0203/02
McColl, James	Scottish Industrial Development Advisory BoardScottish Higher Education Funding Council	05,031	None	01/9906/98	12/0105/02
McDonald,Jacqueline	Lothian NHS BoardScottish Medical Practices Committee	7,000174 (per day)	None	09/0103/95	09/0303/03
McFadden, Jean	Ancient Monuments Board for ScotlandGlasgow City Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	00	Labour	01/0009/96	12/0309/02
McGoldrick, James	Tayside University Hospital NHS TrustScottish Higher Education Funding Council	22,0005,031	None	12/0006/01	11/0206/04
McKerrow, William	Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental EducationScottish Advisory Committee on the Medical Workforce	00	None	06/9806/99	06/0205/02
McMillan, Ian	Scottish Ambulance Service BoardScottish Qualifications Authority	7,0000	None	04/0001/97	03/0412/01
McNally, Teresa	Clackmannanshire Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeForth Valley Primary Care NHS Trust	07,000	Labour	05/0004/99	07/0601/03
Morris, Christopher	Ancient Monuments Board for ScotlandRoyal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments	00	None	10/9012/99	12/0110/04
Morrison,Garth	Lothian Primary Care NHS TrustEast Lothian Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	22,0000	None	11/9806/01	10/0204/18
Mullin, John	The Accounts Commission for ScotlandArgyll and Clyde NHS Board	3,92828,000	Labour	10/9707/01	09/0307/04
Parker, Cameron	East Renfrewshire Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeInverclyde Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeRenfrewshire Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	000	None	05/9805/9805/98	04/0704/0704/07
Raven, Andrew	Deer Commission for ScotlandMacaulay Land Use Research Institute	22,5655,000	None	01/9904/97	12/0103/04
Roberton, Esther	Scottish Further Education Funding Council Fife NHS Board	31,46426,000	Labour	11/0104/00	10/0504/04
Ross, John	Dumfries & Galloway NHS BoardHill Farming Advisory Committee for Scotland	26,0000	None	07/0111/96	07/0411/03
Royan , James	Grampian NHS BoardNorth of Scotland Water Authority	28,0007,170	None	08/0108/99	08/0307/03
Scott, Eoin	Ancient Monuments Board for ScotlandOrkney Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	00	Liberal Democrats	01/0009/97	12/0309/03
Smith, Ian	National Museums of ScotlandWest of Scotland Water Authority	07,126	None	04/9908/99	03/0307/03
Stirling, James	Central Advisory Committee of Justice of the PeaceFalkirk Justice of the Peace Advisory CommitteeStirling Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	000	None	06/9504/9604/96	10/0309/0509/05
Timms, Peter	Scottish Industrial Development Advisory BoardCaledonian MacBrayne Ltd	06,240	None	01/9007/00	12/0106/03
Tripp, Alan	Scottish Higher Education Funding Council Scottish Further Education Funding Council	5,0315,031	None	08/0002/99	07/0403/03
Walker, Susan	North of Scotland Water AuthorityScottish Natural HeritageFisheries Electricity Committee	7,1707,0270	None	08/9904/0001/01	07/0303/0303/04
Ward, John	Scottish Qualifications AuthorityScottish Homes	029,436	None	11/0004/96	12/0103/02
Wright, Andrew	Royal Fine Art Commission for ScotlandAncient Monuments Board for Scotland	00	None	04/9701/96	03/0512/03
Wright, Helen	Central Advisory Committee of Justice of the PeaceDundee City Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee	00	Labour	11/9603/97	10/0302/06
Total: 56

The role of direct air services in meeting Scotland's air transport needs, will be a key issue in the forthcoming air transport consultation exercise. The Scottish Executive has no specific budget provision for the promotion of new direct air links. The Executive will continue to work in partnership with the Enterprise Networks, VisitScotland and the airport operators, on how best any available funding can be deployed for the greatest benefit of the Scottish economy and tourism.

The Framework for Action is not a new strategy. It contains new actions, mainly for the industry, that will meet our aims for this important sector of the economy. The public agencies who provide support to the industry, will be able to do so within existing and planned funding levels.

The Project Agreement covers the provision of catering facilities for staff, patients and visitors within the main restaurant in the hospital (and the food court which will be provided in Phase II of the development). All aspects of the catering service are covered by an Assured Safe Catering programme and the food service will provide Recommended Nutritional Intake for all nutrients and Estimated Average Requirements for food energy for the patient groups it is planned to serve. All menus provide an identified healthy choice, which complies with national and local food policies. The catering service also reflects the dietetic needs and preferences of cultural and minority groups.The charges made within the main restaurant are in line with the current charges at the old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Any increases in restaurant charges will be made in consultation with the trust to ensure consistency of prices across the wider trust. The lease issued by Consort Healthcare (Edinburgh Royal Infirmary) Ltd to the operator of the food court ensures that the operator will not charge any more than High Street prices.

The Scottish Executive, in partnership with the Strategic Rail Authority, is currently considering several options for the redevelopment of Waverley Station. Funding issues will be addressed as part of that process.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23352.