Chamber and committees

The specific allocation of these funds is yet to be determined. However, as stated in the Draft Budget 2006-07 “among the purposes for which we intend to use this fund are supporting the proposals in the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Etc Bill for new Community Justice Authorities and the creation of new area plans for offender management. Money will also be made available to ensure that our proposed reforms to the summary justice system (set out in “Smarter Justice, Safer Communities – Summary Justice Reform, Next Steps”) are realised, leading to faster and more efficient handling of less serious cases.”

The total cost of funding Community Justice Authorities will depend on the number of such authorities which is currently subject to discussion with local authorities. The costs of a single Community Justice Authority are also likely to depend on their boundaries. We expect that the number of Community Justice Authorities will represent a reduction from the current 14 Criminal Justice Social Work Groupings/Unitary Authorities. The estimated annual cost of a single Community Justice Authority is around £200,000.

The Scottish Executive provides the Supporting People grant to local authorities to fund any of the 21 prescribed housing support services set out in annex A. The breakdown of funding in 2007-08 against the different categories of service will vary depending on local circumstances and needs in each local authority area at the time. No estimate is held centrally. However, local authorities are obliged to report on how funding has been used. In due course local authorities will therefore provide a breakdown of how funding is spent in 2007-08, against the different client groups supported and the nature of the support provided.

VisitScotland is the Level 3spending category that contains the funding allocated to EventScotland. The resourcesavailable to EventScotland are specifically ring-fenced within the VisitScotlandbudget.

The Scottish Executive will publish an Executive summary of the findings of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan Study in the spring of 2006.

The Fire Service Emergency Cover (FSEC) toolkit was given to all the Scottish fire and rescue services in September 2003. HM Fire Service Inspectorate issued a Scottish Fire Service Circular 4/2003 on 3 April 2003 which gave information and advice on the toolkit and the development of integrated risk management plans (IRMPs). Two further Circulars (7/2003 and 11/2003) were issued on 8 September 2003 and 31 December 2003 providing further advice.

The A7 north of Galashiels was detrunked in 1996. There are no plans to bring it back into the trunk road network.

There are no current plans to implement the Wrae scheme.

There are no current plans to implement the Mosspaul scheme.

There are no current plans to implement the Branxholm scheme.

A realignment of the A7 at Auchenrivock is in preparation and we hope to publish draft statutory orders later this year. A further scheme at Glenmayne is currently being reviewed.