Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive has no plans to detrunk any part of the A68.

This scheme is currently the responsibility of Glasgow and South Lanark Councils. The future status of this road is being considered in the Strategic Roads Review and The Executive can give no undertaking on future arrangements for blight costs until a decision has been taken as to whether this scheme should be taken forward. I shall report to the Scottish Parliament on the Strategic Roads Review soon.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government across a range of matters, including those relating to the climate change levy and the agreements being negotiated on reductions in energy consumption by the Trade Associations representing the energy intensive sectors.

Health boards would be responsible for the capital costs incurred by water authorities in providing the treatment technology necessary to ensure that fluorides are added to water supplies accurately and safely and for revenue costs. Health boards promoting applications to fluoridate would also face the costs of consulting the public and any other administrative costs. Standing guidance indicates that central government will consider providing assistance to health boards of up to 60 per cent of the capital costs incurred in a fluoridation scheme.

The review of Sheriff Court provision in Lothian and Borders is being undertaken by Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson who is consulting interested parties on a number of proposals. Any recommendations from the review which affect Court boundaries will be submitted to Scottish Ministers who will take account of all relevant considerations before deciding on a course of action. Any changes in provision of Courts would have to be set out in a Statutory Instrument requiring the approval of the Parliament.

The review of Sheriff Court provision in Lothian and Borders is being undertaken by Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson who is consulting interested parties on a number of proposals. Any recommendations from the review which affect Court boundaries will be submitted to Scottish Ministers who will take account of all relevant considerations before deciding on a course of action. Any changes in provision of Courts would have to be set out in a Statutory Instrument requiring the approval of the Parliament.

Initial estimates by the Scottish water authorities suggest that fluoridating the water supplies where it is possible to do so, serving the majority of the population, would imply capital expenditure in the order of £29 million and annual running costs of £4 million. It is not practical technically to fluoridate some 15 per cent of public water supplies in Scotland. Some 2-3 per cent of the population are served by private water supplies. These costs might vary considerably if fluoridation schemes were introduced at local level at different times. The costs of consulting the public, for example, by local opinion polls, prior to the introduction of any fluoridation scheme will be determined once the arrangements for public consultation have been agreed.

At 1 April 1999 the capital value of the trunk road and motorway network in Scotland was estimated as being £7.9bn.

Revenue from all motoring penalties in Scotland was £10.897 million in 1996-97, £11.660 million in 1997-98 and £12.306 million in 1998-99. These amounts accrued to the Exchequer.Consideration is being given to the possibility of using fine income to fund additional speed cameras. In addition, local authorities in Scotland can seek approval from the Scottish Ministers to introduce decriminalised parking schemes. These enable a local authority to administer its own parking penalty scheme and to retain the revenue from the penalties to finance its parking enforcement procedures. The legislation underpinning these powers requires that the revenue from on-street parking penalties must be used for traffic or transport related projects and cannot be used for any other purpose

A major contract to address Kingston Bridge's structural problems is in progress. The works include strengthening of the centre and side spans of the deck, demolition and reconstruction of the main supports, and restoring the articulation of the bridge. This contract is expected to be completed in autumn 2000.

Further works to improve the approach viaducts and ramps are planned. These works will take a number of years to complete depending on the availability of funds.Until the programme for the remaining works has been finalised we cannot say when the current traffic restrictions will be removed and the bridge restored to full operation.