Chamber and committees

Forestry has a significant role to play in delivering the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, building on the substantial achievements it has made in recent years. Indeed there are a wide range of forestry related measures in the strategy, as is demonstrated by the strategy implementation plans which were published last month on the Executive’s biodiversity website (www.biodiversityscotland.org.uk).

In leading the review of our Scottish Forestry Strategy, Forestry Commission Scotland will ensure that all relevant aspects of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy are taken into account.

We have from time to time considered the possibilities of a ferry fares scheme for the Highlands and Islands based on RET, most recently in 2001. This followed the completion of an independent study of CalMac's fares policy which concluded that RET would require a very significant increase in subsidy. We have taken the view that the present fares structure represents a reasonable balance between the interests of island communities and those of taxpayers. However, we have indicated that further research on fares will be carried out in the next few years.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-7850 on 10 June 2004. 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/wa.search.

No. There have been no purchases of land through use of the crofting community right to buy. All completed acquisitions of croft land by community interests have been by agreement after the land was offered for sale. Where crofting communities acquired land by negotiation they acquired what was for sale. Insofar as information about what was purchased in these private transactions is available it will be on the public record in either the Register of Sasines or the Land Register. Access to that information will be available on payment of the relevant search fees. Alternatively, the information may be available directly from the community body in question.

The Scottish Executive does not hold a list of TETRA O2 base stations.

First ScotRail has had customer contact facilities in place since the commencement of the franchise last October. The franchise agreement does, however, require the opening of a new customer contact centre during the first year of the franchise to provide retailing and information provision services, including for the disabled.

The franchise agreement requires that First ScotRail’s customer care centre, when it is opened, is located in Scotland. Additionally First ScotRail has made a commitment to the centre remaining in Scotland throughout the term of the franchise.

As at 8 March 2005, 56 teachers had attained the Standard for Chartered Teacher. Of these 26 (46%) were from the secondary sector and 30 (54%) were from the primary sector. We do not hold information on the working patterns of these teachers.

This information is not held centrally.

As at 8 March 2005, 56 teachers had attained the Standard for Chartered Teacher. A further meeting of the National Assessment Panel for Chartered Teacher was scheduled for 17 March. Once I have received information from the panel I will write to you with a further update on numbers.