Maureen Macmillan

Answer · George Lyon · 22 Feb 2007

In our procurement of new rollingstock we will consider the use of controlled emission toilets.</p><p>Transport Scotland havespoken with Network Rail station and track cleaning, particularly at Inverness Station,and have agreed an action plan given the recent concerns.</p>

Answer · Ross Finnie · 1 Feb 2007

We are providing support to thecommunity recycling sector through INCREASE, a grant scheme for the sector; througha number of Strategic Waste Fund awards to local authorities to support communitysector work, and through the Community Recycling Network for Scotland, whichwe fund to develop the sector. In addition, we have just streamlined our StrategicWaste Fund procedures to make it simpler for local authorities to apply to supportcommunity sector work.</p>

Answer · Tavish Scott · 16 Feb 2007

Network Rail arrange the cleaningof railway tracks, including the track bed within stations, in accordance with theirAnnual Management Maintenance Plan and in agreement with Environmental Regulations.</p><p>Through Transport Scotland’s ServiceQuality Inspection Regime, First ScotRail managed stations are audited for tracklitter within station areas. Information on any failure is passed to First ScotRailfor appropriate action to be taken.</p><p>Network Rail, in partnershipwith First ScotRail, are looking at ways to improve the method with which trackcleaning is undertaken throughout Scotland.</p>

Answer · Tavish Scott · 2 Mar 2007

Transport Scotland willkeep the matter of upgrading existing rolling stock to include controlled emissiontoilets under consideration. This consideration will have regard to the necessaryinfrastructure investments and changes to operating arrangements, as well as therolling stock investment.</p><p>Wehave no plans to install controlled emission toilets during the current Class 158interior refurbishment programme.</p><p>TransportScotland has spoken with First ScotRail and Network Rail with regard to station andtrack cleaning, particularly at Inverness Station, and have agreed an action planto improve cleanliness.</p><p>We will continue to use the ServiceQuality Inspection Regime (SQUIRE) to ensure that the cleanliness of station areatrack is maintained to the standard we expect.</p>

Answer · Ross Finnie · 15 Dec 2006

For the year 2006-07 the ScottishFisheries Protection Agency’s financial resources will provide for the followinginputs from the surveillance and enforcement assets at its disposal:</p><p>Air: Total flying hours contracted– 1,900.</p><p>Sea: Total available patrol days- 1,264.</p><p>Land: Total available British Sea</p><p>Fishery Officer enforcement days– 9,900.</p><p>Based on these inputs and followinga review of the agency’s performance measure, I have set the following key targetsfor the financial year 2006-07:</p><p>Agency Enforcement Effort</p><p>achievement of enforcement;</p><p>targets set by European Commissionfor recovery measures - 100%, and</p><p>percentage of total running costsexpended on front-line activity - 89 %.</p><p>Aerial Surveillance</p><p>per cent of hours flown on task- 85%.</p><p>Marine Surveillance</p><p>uptake as a per cent of totalavailable patrol days - 94%.</p><p>Sea Fisheries Inspectorate</p><p>per cent of total tonnage landedinto Scottish ports, and</p><p>checked against logsheet - 80%.</p><p>Cases for Prosecution</p><p>cases for prosecution to be reportedwithin six weeks of offences being detected - 97%;</p><p>number of cases where court proceedingsare taken or the imposition;</p><p>of a PF fine or reprimand, aspercentage of offences reported, and</p><p>to prosecuting authorities -84%.</p><p>Efficiency</p><p>cash-releasing efficiency gain- £170,000.</p><p>The Chief Executive will be directlyaccountable to me for the achievement of these targets, which will be reported inthe agency’s annual report for 2006-07.</p><p>A comparison with actual performancein 2005-06 is attached for reference.</p><p>Agency Performance Measuresand Targets</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=264 rowspan=2> <p>Measures</p> </td> <td width=228 colspan=3 valign=top> <p>2005-06</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=top> <p>2006-07</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>Target</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>Actual</p> </td> <td width=84 valign=top> <p>Achieved</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=top> <p>Proposed</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <td width=264> <p>Agency Enforcement Effort</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=84 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=264> <p>Achievement of recovery measure enforcement targets set by European Commission</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>N/A</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>100%</p> </td> <td width=84 valign=top> <p>N/A</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=top> <p>100%</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=264> <p>Percentage of total running costs expended on front-line activity</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>N/A</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>89%</p> </td> <td width=84 valign=top> <p>N/A</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=top> <p>89%</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=264> <p>Aerial Surveillance</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=84 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=264 valign=top> <p>Per cent of hours flown on task (%)</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>85</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>85</p> </td> <td width=84 valign=top> <p>YES</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=top> <p>85</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=264> <p>Marine Surveillance</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=84 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=top> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=264 valign=top> <p>Uptake of Available Patrol Days (%)</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>98</p> </td> <td width=72 valign=top> <p>95</p> </td> <td width=84 va

Answer · Tavish Scott · 23 Nov 2006

We are currently in dialoguewith a number of companies who are developing projects for the transfer of freightfrom the A9 to rail or water.</p><p>Freight grant funded projectshave removed over 76 million lorry miles from Scotland’s roads including over fivemillion lorry miles from the A9 corridor since 1999.</p>

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm · 9 Nov 2006

The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm · 5 Oct 2006

Although there are no definitivefigures available we are aware that there has been significant recent growth inthe number of migrant workers in the Highlands.</p><p>In the first instance it is forHighland Council, as the strategic housing authority, to assess what impact thiswill have on housing provision in its area and to develop proposals for meetingany impact. I know that the council is working with a range of bodies, includingCommunities Scotland, to address the issue.</p><p>For our part, the Scottish Executivehas increased the housing development programme in the Highlands from£5.4 million in 1997-98 to over £31 million in the current year, a six-fold increasein resources.</p>