To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) gritters and (b) snow blowers and how many other types of machinery were available for use on trunk roads in the Fife area on (i) 10 December 2001, (ii) 3 December 2001, (iii) 26 November 2001 and (iv) the same dates in 2000. Scottish Executive records indicate that the number of dedicated gritters available for use on trunk roads in the Fife area on the dates requested are as follows:DateGritter NumbersDateGritter Numbers26 November 2000526 November 200153 December 200053 December 2001510 December 2000510 December 20016Both the previous and current trunk road operator had/have access to resources in addition to dedicated gritters for the trunk roads.Snowblowers are likely to be required less often on the trunk roads in the Fife area and therefore no snowblowers are dedicated to these routes.