Chamber and committees

The Draft Route Action Plan Firm Strategy Report (RAP) for the A77: Ayr to Stranraer was submitted to the then National Roads Directorate in 1997, but it has not been formally ratified and has, therefore, not been published. Several schemes arising from the RAP have, however, been implemented.

As part of the development plan process, local authorities refer draft development plans, both structure and local, to the Scottish Executive for comments. Where there are concerns or potential conflicts between the plan proposals and the trunk road network the Executive will seek to resolve these with the local authorities concerned.

The first phase report of a Port Approach Study on the A75 and A77 routes, commissioned by the Executive and conducted by consultants Mouchel, was finalised in November 2001 and was shared with members of the North Channel Partnership and South Ayrshire Council. Following discussions, a second phase study was commissioned, to examine a number of schemes in greater detail. A draft report of this work was received late last year and is being considered by the Executive.

I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-32238 on 4 December 2002 and S1W-33419 on 3 February 2003, which set out detail of funding awarded for this financial year from the Strategic Waste Fund (SWF), totalling £11,099,300. Moray, Aberdeen City, Scottish Borders, Midlothian, North, South and East Ayrshire, Fife and Dumfries and Galloway Councils have submitted bids which are under consideration, but which will not result in funding this year. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

As of January 2003 the Office for National Statistics have advised that the 'International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment' figures are to be labelled 'unemployment' figures to emphasise that this is the official UK measure of unemployment. (a) Scotland seasonally adjusted unemployment counts and rates for people aged 16 and over for March to May 1997 to March to May 2002 (000)

Year	Season	Count	Rate
1997	March to May	217	8.7
1997	June to August	212	8.5
1997	September to November	186	7.5
1997	December to February	187	7.5
1998	March to May	187	7.5
1998	June to August	186	7.5
1998	September to Nove	193	7.7
1998	Dece to February	183	7.4
1999	March to May	186	7.5
1999	June to August	176	7.1
1999	September to November	177	7.2
1999	December to February	189	7.5
2000	March to May	191	7.6
2000	June to August	165	6.5
2000	September to November	164	6.4
2000	December to Febr	154	6.1
2001	March to May	148	5.8
2001	June to August	172	6.7
2001	September to November	170	6.7
2001	December to February	168	6.6
2002	March to May	176	6.9

(b) Table showing annual unemployment data for all people age 16 and over in Scotland and Ayrshire for 1997 to 2001 (000)

Year		Scotland	Ayrshire
1997	Count	192	21
	Rate	7.7%	11.5%
1998	Count	188	23
	Rate	7.5%	13.3%
1999	Count	183	17
	Rate	7.3%	10.3%
2000	Count	163	13
	Rate	6.4%	7.6%
2001	Count	170	16
	Rate	6.7%	9.3%

Ayrshire constitutes South, North and East Ayrshire Local Authority areas. The number of unemployed for Ayrshire is only available quarterly from September to November 1998 and has been below the reliability threshold for single quarters of the Labour Force Survey. The Ayrshire data is therefore given from the annual local area Labour Force Survey for which 2001 data is the latest data currently available.Current Scotland Level Unemployment EstimatesFrom November 2002 until mid-2003, unemployment for below UK level from the Labour Force Survey will be based upon pre-Census mid-year population estimates and will only be used to produce seasonally unadjusted data. It will not be possible to compare seasonally unadjusted Scottish data for the latest three-month period e.g. September to November with the preceding three month period, June to August, due to seasonal factors influencing the unadjusted data. It is only possible to compare the Scottish figures with the same time period for previous years. The latest available seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate for September to November 2002 for Scotland is 156,000 (6.1%). Comparable data for September to November for previous years is given in the following table. Scotland seasonally adjusted unemployment counts and rates for people aged 16 and over for September to November 1997 to September to November 2001 (000).

Year	Season	Count	Rate
1997	September to November	187	7.5
1998	September to November	194	7.7
1999	September to November	177	7.0
2000	September to November	159	6.2
2001	September to November	167	6.5

All of these counts and rates are taken from the Labour Force Survey and will be subject to revision in autumn 2003 when revised mid-year population estimates from analysis of the 2001 census will enable the Labour Force Survey to be regrossed.

No arrangements have been made to reduce the number of sea fishery officers in Scotland. The need remains to regulate fisheries effectively, in the interests of sustainability and meeting our legal obligations. Enforcement resources remain, however, under constant review.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24884 on 30 July 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

The Executive's support for promoting the legacy of Robert Burns has involved various initiatives and is not limited to a single year. Ministers announced early in 2002 the commitment of £300,000 to develop a raft of projects to celebrate the life and works of Burns. These projects will benefit socially disadvantaged areas and under-represented groups and are being implemented this year and next through the Scottish Arts Council. In April 2002, a Tam O' Shanter CD funded by the National Grid for Learning was issued free to all primary and secondary schools in Scotland. The Executive also provided £100,000 for the inaugural "Burns and a' that" festival in 2002. The festival received much critical acclaim and, last month, Mike Watson announced that the Executive will provide a further £100,000 for this year's event. Valuable support from our agencies, VisitScotland and the Scottish Arts Council, has also been provided and this continues.

The contingency arrangements for emergency fire cover that operated satisfactorily during the two previous strikes will be used in the event of further industrial action.However, I am sure that everyone in Scotland would join me in urging for a negotiated settlement and no further strikes.

The Scottish Executive is at the early stages of considering the potential for sponsorship schemes on the trunk road network as a way of generating additional revenue for enhanced landscaping and maintenance. However, safety is our primary concern and we will look carefully at the safety implications of any proposal and work closely with the police and others before decisions are taken.