Chamber and committees

Revised guidance issued by the Scottish Government on Setting Local Speed Limits in August 2006 outlined the framework for road authorities to determine speeds on all A and B class roads so that they are consistent, understood by drivers and appropriate for the environment and circumstances of their use. Transport Scotland instructed each of its operating companies to carry out a programme of reviews on all trunk routes in accordance with this guidance. The guidance can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/08/14134225/0.

This work is still ongoing and although at present I cannot comment on specific locations, I will write to you again once the evidence has been considered.

I am aware of the OA Nation 2012 report published recently by Arthritis Care which suggests that there may be as many as 8.5 million people in the UK living with osteoarthritis.

We know that around 40% of the Scottish population have at least one long term condition and, although osteoarthritis is not caused by ageing, the likelihood of developing a long term condition increases with age.

Over the next 10 years the proportion of over 75s in Scotland – who are the highest users of NHS services - will increase by over 25%.

By 2033, the number of people over 60 will increase by 50%.

We should celebrate that people are living longer, but we also recognise that, as a consequence, many more people are living with long-term conditions, including osteoarthritis.

Over the next 20 years demography alone could increase expenditure on health and social care by over 70%.

Creative Scotland, our national body for the arts, culture and the creative industries, has invested over £800,000 in East Lothian in 2011-12. This includes investment of £50,000 to upgrade and refurbish the main hall at the Brunton Theatre and £68,938 to the Lamp of Lothian Trust for the Lammermuir Festival 2012, part of the Year of Creative Scotland One Step Further programme. Creative Scotland has also invested over £950,000 in Dumfries and Galloway in 2011-12. This includes their commitment of £140,000 to its Place partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council Creative Place Award to Wigtown and Creetown, and £12,000 for the opening event of the Big Burns Supper Festival, a new event which took place in January 2012.

Support for our agricultural industry is vital to ensure a vibrant food and drink economy in Scotland. We provide support in a variety of ways but primarily through the role of our local Rural Payments and Inspections Division offices. Dumfries and Galloway is served by two offices, located in Dumfries and Ayr, from where farmers and producers can access a range of advice and support, including:

Access to grant schemes – financial support for farmers and local producers is available through several funding schemes, including Single Farm Payment, Less Favoured Area Support Scheme, Land Managers Options, Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation, and Rural Priorities

Advice and support on agricultural issues, including animal and plant health and Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Attendance by local officials at various public and stakeholder meetings on issues of interest to the local farming community, such as keeping farmers and producers in touch with possible changes through CAP reform.

Officials also work closely with Scotland’s Environmental and Rural (Delivery) Services partners, for example to combine inspections and visits, where appropriate, to reduce the number of inspections for rural businesses. There has been ongoing work with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on achieving diffuse pollution targets in the area. Officials have been involved in meetings with local farmers to explain the Galloway Coastal Priority Catchment concept and what funding is available to help mitigate farm pollution.

We have provided support for community transport initiatives in Dumfries and Galloway and East Lothian through the Bus Service Operators Grant in 2011-12. We have also recently announced £45,000 funding to the Community Transport Association to support community transport across Scotland.

Since 2007 the following improvements have been completed on the A75 and A76 trunk roads:

A75 Overtaking Opportunities (comprising improvements at Planting End to Drumflower, Newton Stewart and Barfil to Bettyknowes)

A75 Cairntop to Barlae

A76 Glenairlie Improvement.

In addition to these, the procurement process for the A75 Dunragit Bypass commenced on 16 April 2012.

Significant progress is being made by the colleges in developing their proposals to merge. The consultation exercise organised by the colleges closed on 7 May and I intend to give close consideration to all the responses. Separately, I have written to a wide range of stakeholders offering a further opportunity to provide comments on the proposed merger directly to me.

The precise number of people living in Dumfries and Galloway and East Lothian who will receive a pump as a consequence of the additional funding is not centrally held. However, NHS boards are expected to meet the ministerial commitment to provide 25% of young people with type 1 diabetes with an insulin pump by March 2013.

The Scottish Government has therefore provided NHS boards with funding of £2.5 million to support the purchase of insulin pumps and associated consumables for people with type 1 diabetes in 2012-13.

This support is expected to make sure that children and young people with type 1 diabetes have access to life-changing insulin pumps therapy and ensure equitable provision across Scotland.

The Scottish Government is committed to improving road safety under the auspices of Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020, the hallmark of which is collaborative working among the signatories to that partnership document. Transport Scotland helps steer this partnership work and also delivers specific initiatives such as engineering and enforcement solutions on the trunk road network; co-operation with local authorities on local initiatives such as 20mph zones and cycling safety, and education and media products for schools and the general public.

Reported road casualties in Scotland in 2010 were the lowest since records began.

The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the benefits to and creating a lasting legacy for the whole of Scotland from Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. These benefits span the four themes of Active, Flourishing, Connected and Sustainable as set out in our Scotland-wide games legacy plan: A Games Legacy for Scotland.

We continue to work with our wide range of partners, including local authorities, to ensure individuals, groups, communities and businesses across Scotland get every possible benefit from these games and other major events coming to Scotland.

Most recently, the Scottish Government announced a £10 million Legacy Fund to improve community facilities for sport and physical activity, and a £5 million youth employment initiative. More details of these will emerge later in the year. We have also made over £600,000 available to EventScotland which they will use to support local authorities who wish to hold Games for Scotland events this year and next. These events will encourage community involvement and participation in games-related activity. In addition, we are supporting the Scottish Community Development Centre who will work with local authorities to help a number of community organisations shape legacy activities in local neighbourhoods and achieve positive outcomes for the people within them.

To reflect what is going on nationally and locally, we have developed a web portal http://www.gameslegacyscotland.org/ which showcases the programmes and range of support provided across legacy activities. The portal is the key focal point for information on legacy and how to get involved.