Chamber and committees

Fifty per cent of households will have income below the median (1,120,000 households) and 1,880,000 individuals lived in these households. Sixty-three per cent of households had income below the mean (1,420,000 households); 2,580,000 individuals lived in these households.

These figures have not been adjusted to account for the size or composition of households. As such, it cannot be assumed that a household or individual with household income below the average has necessarily got a lower standard of living than a household or individual with household income above the average.

Figures for 2003-04 will be available in March 2005.

As at 31 March 2004, the debt outstanding across Scotland against water and sewerage charges from 1996-97 to 2003-04 was £191.966 million. Over the same period, the debt outstanding across Scotland against council tax was £602.382 million. Water and sewerage charge debt therefore represents 24.2% of the total debt outstanding for the period.

Under the terms of the contract, the franchisee's failure to meet financial commitments in three respects can lead ultimately to termination of the franchise:

1. by a failure to keep the ratio of revenue to costs at or above the contracted level;

2. by becoming insolvent, or by non-payment to SRA or Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive of any sum owed to them, and

3. by breaching, to a material extent, any of the other provisions of the franchise which relate to financial elements of the agreement, for example, collection of fares at stations and on trains.

In the event of any of the above occurring, the SRA, acting under direction from the Scottish ministers, can either issue a termination notice and terminate the franchise, or require the franchisee to remedy the breach.