Chamber and committees

There are only two funded public service pension schemes. These are the Local Government Pension Scheme and the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme. In the case of the Local Government Pension Scheme, although the Scottish Public Pensions Agency is responsible for regulating the scheme, it is administered by local authorities themselves. There are 11 local authority funds in Scotland, each administered by a fund administering authority with responsibility for the management and investment of its own fund. Regulations require that each fund authority publishes a written Statement of Investment Principles which must include their policy on the extent (if at all) to which ethical considerationsare taken into account in the selection, retention and realisation of investments.

In the case of the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme responsibility for the management and investment of the fund rests with the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

The other public service schemes operate on a pay-as-you-go basis, i.e. there are no “real” pension funds capable of investment.

This information is not held centrally.

This Scottish Executive does not hold information centrally about these bodies’ compensation payments which is broken down in this manner. It does not have any plans to collect statistics on this matter.

Planning authorities provide policies and identify potential locations or areas for the waste facilities likely to be required to implement the area waste plans. They do this through their development plans.

We wrote to all planning authorities in April 2003 instructing them to review whether their development plans accord with the area waste plan. This is being handled through the on-going review of development plans throughout Scotland.

Where development plans have not been amended to reflect the needs identified, the area waste plans and the National Waste Strategy are material considerations carrying significant weight, which planning authorities should take into account when determining planning applications.

There are two agreementsconcerning any surplus income (net of running and funding costs) generated fromthe car parking spaces at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh. The agreement concerningthe original car parking spaces stated that NHS Lothian would receive 50% of anysurplus income and 50% would be retained by Consort. When the City of Edinburgh Council approved an increase in the number of spaces, it was agreed that NHSLothian would receive 25% of any surplus income for the additional car parkingspaces, the City of Edinburgh Council 50% (for the continuing implementation of its GreenPolicy) and the remaining 25% of any surplus income to be retained by Consort.

Consort are required toforward audited income and expenditure accounts to NHS Lothian three monthsafter the year-end. For the first year of operation 2003-04, accounts are notyet available.

At the first meeting of theFinancial Services Strategy Group (FSSG) in November, it was agreed that thegroup would develop a vision and strategy for the future success of the sectorin Scotland. Three sub-groups were established to considerparticular aspects of the strategy development. A steering group has metmonthly since November and has been co-ordinating and overseeing the work of the subgroups. In parallel, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities andthreats) and PEST (political, economic, social and technological)analysis was commissioned to examine the environment in which the industryoperates and to gather views from across the sector.

The sub-groups presentedtheir thinking to the strategy group yesterday. One group is compiling apicture of how we’d like the sector to look in five years time. Another hasbeen considering the potential impact of off-shoring work currently undertakenin Scotland to lower cost regions such as India. Thethird has been heavily involved in refining the PEST analysis. The FSSG willconsider the subgroup reports and other issues over the coming months as itcontinues to develop its vision and strategy for the sector. It remains ontrack to develop the strategy by the end of 2004.

Before an operating licence isgranted, any new airline is subject to detailed scrutiny by the Civil Aviation Authority.In addition, the Route Development Fund’s stringent evaluation process ensures that,where there is any doubt about an airline’s ability to maintain operations, thecase for investment does not go beyond pre-qualification consideration.

Investment from the Route DevelopmentFund is paid out retrospectively to the airport operator on the basis of actualpassenger carryings. No payments have been made in respect of future cancelled services.

Investment from the Route DevelopmentFund is paid to airport operators to enhance discounts given for the start-up ofnew air services. No money has been paid to duo.

Royal Mail, post offices andpostal services are reserved to the UK Government. The Postal Services Commission(Postcomm) as independent regulator, has responsibility for ensuring that postaloperators including Royal Mail meet the needs of their customers throughout theUK.Postwatch, the consumer watchdog, is responsible for ensuring that customers getthe best possible service at realistic prices and investigates concerns at a locallevel on issues such as problems on a delivery round.