Chamber and committees

The details of the fund announced in the Pre Budget Report related to proposals to take effect in England. Most of the subject areas concerned are, in a Scottish context, devolved and Scottish ministers will carefully consider the need for equivalent measures to be introduced here and the resources needed to implement measures decided upon, taking account of views expressed by the Scottish road haulage industry.

No adjustments were made in 2000-01. I expect adjustments to be made in 2001-02 in respect of both 2000-01 and 2001-02. These will not include the effects of differential movements in private sector housing benefit, as changes in level of private sector rents are not a matter over which the Executive exercises direct control.

The Crown is exempt from the requirements of planning legislation. The Executive intends to remove that exemption at the first suitable legislative opportunity.

There are currently 14 Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) applications being considered which are at varying stages of processing. The rigorous consideration process to ensure value for money usually entails further enquiries with applicants, either by telephone or in writing. At present there is one outstanding letter issued to an applicant seeking further information.The existing guidance has proved a useful tool in enabling 10 FFG awards to be made in the last two years. However, the guidance is being reviewed to take account of recent, and proposed, changes in the scheme.

The Scottish Executive contracts with the new trunk road Operating Companies (OCs) contain procedures to address incidents which result in trunk road and motorway closures.The contracts require the OCs to record all incidents where a trunk road is closed and they are required to initiate certain actions within predefined timescales following the notification of an incident that requires the closure or partial closure of a road. The contracts require the OCs to prepare an Emergency Response Plan which is issued to the emergency services. This plan contains information which enables the police, who would initiate a road closure, to call on the OCs to provide additional resources, if necessary, to assist the emergency services and maintain safety.Following an emergency incident, the OCs are required to liaise with local road authorities to arrange a diversion route utilising local roads. The Scottish Executive will pay the cost of diversion signing. However, responsibility for the maintenance of local roads used as diversion routes remains with the local authority.

The provision, by the companies who have been awarded the contracts, of pension arrangements for staff, including those who transfer from local authority employment under TUPE, is a matter for the companies to determine.

The number and level of irradiated particles found and removed from the beach at Sandside Bay near Dounreay are listed in the interim Dounreay Particles Advisory Group report. This is available on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) website at the following address:(http://www.sepa.org.uk/regs_licence/radioactivity/dpag/dpaghome.htm).The other questions raised are matters for SEPA and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The information requested is not held centrally.

As my answer to questions S1W-14972 and S1W-14973 noted the subject of those questions were matters for the Scottish Qualification Authority. Accordingly, I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Monteith, who asked the questions. That correspondence is a matter between the Chair and Mr Monteith. However, I will advise the Chair of Mr Tosh's interest in these matters.

The Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 did not make any provision regarding the School Sites Act 1841. The draft Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill, as prepared by the Scottish Law Commission, does contain proposals for reversions created under the 1841 Act. Although the law is unclear, the accepted position appears to be that the reversion holder is entitled to the entire property when the site is no longer used for educational purposes. The Commission propose that where there is a valid claim, the claimant would not be entitled to the value of any improvements that have been carried out on the property. Where the land is still in possession of the local authority, and has ceased to be used as a school, the holder of the reversion could elect to receive either compensation for the value of the site or a conveyance of the land, after paying the authority a sum to reflect improvement value. Where a third party has purchased the property, the education authority, not the third party, would pay the compensation. This would protect third party purchasers.These proposals are subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise for the draft Bill, which was announced in the answer to question S1W-15380 on 1 May 2001.

As my answers to questions S1W-15005, S1W-15006, S1W-15009, S1W-15010, S1W-15011, S1W-15012, S1W-15013, S1W-15014, S1W-15015 and S1W-15016 noted the subject of those questions were matters for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Accordingly, I have asked the Chair to write to Mr Russell, who asked the questions. That correspondence is a matter between the Chair and Mr Russell. However, I will advise the Chair of Mr Tosh's interest in these matters.