Chamber and committees

There is no operator of last resort for air services provided under public service obligations (PSOs). In the case of any interruption of a PSO air service, a different community air carrier may be selected to operate the service for a period of up to seven months under Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the community.

There is no operator of last resort in respect of these ferry services.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35496 on 20 August 2010. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

We are committed to ensuring that remote and fragile communities have direct links to the wider Scottish economy. We launched the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot to consider the most effective and sustainable way to improve the affordability of ferry services to our islands. Since the launch of the pilot there has been a significant increase in the number of people and businesses using the Western Isles ferry services and visiting the area. We are currently reviewing the initial success of the RET pilot and will make an announcement in due course.

We have no plans at present to make representations to the UK Government to suggest that it considers setting a limit to the engine size of cars that young drivers can legally drive.

In late summer 2010, we intend to conduct a national public debate with young drivers, their parents and guardians and representative groups in order to explore the issues and potential solutions on road safety for young and newly qualified drivers and shall await its outcome.

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Young drivers are identified as a priority group in Scotland''s Road Safety Framework, published by the Government in June 2009.

The Government has already been involved in discussions with the Police and the Crown Office on the introduction of a pilot scheme in the Grampian Police Force area which would allow young drivers the opportunity to take additional training to address their unsafe driving behaviour as an alternative to prosecution.

The Government, Police and the Crown Office have also been working together for some years to deliver the Driver Improvement Scheme in Scotland. Under this initiative, drivers who have been charged with careless driving may be offered the opportunity to attend additional training as an alternative to prosecution. The scheme covers drivers of all ages and is available throughout Scotland including the islands.

There were 219 outstanding applications for Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants on 17 March 2010. Of these, 131 related to electricity generating technologies or new build properties.