Christine May

Answer · Rhona Brankin · 1 Mar 2007

We have substantially increasedour funding to support affordable housing investment and housing regeneration acrossScotland. The central Fife area has benefited from this with Communities Scotlandinvesting around £10 million in the area over the past two years alone. This bringsthe total funding in the area in the past four years to over £13.5 million whichhas resulted in 188 new affordable homes being approved for construction.</p>

Answer · Patricia Ferguson · 25 Jan 2007

The Culture Bill seeks to expandcultural opportunities for all Scots including those for people in deprived andremote communities, and we are working with local authorities now to help them dothat.</p>

Answer · Tavish Scott · 23 Nov 2006

The Executive is addressing roadsafety through a combination of engineering, enforcement and education.</p><p>This includes close liaison withTransport Scotland, who are responsible for trunk roads, and local authoritieswho are responsible for road safety matters in their areas. In addition, the Executivethrough Road Safety Scotland actively engages with the police forces and a widerange of other parties to promote the road safety message throughout Scotland.</p>

Answer · Nicol Stephen · 2 Nov 2006

We willcontinue to work with local authorities, the enterprise networks and otherbodies to encourage regeneration and the promotion of enterprise in Scotland’s deprived areas. Clearly it isvital that the most up to date information on deprivation is acted upon.</p>

Answer · Allan Wilson · 8 Sep 2006

I can announce that the Scottishministers have withheld consent for this proposal in terms of Section 36 of theElectricity Act 1989.</p><p>This announcement follows a comprehensiveconsultation process which involved environmental groups, government bodies andmembers of the public. In view of the decision by Perth and Kinrosscouncil to object to the application, the matter was referred to Public Local Inquiry.The reporter concluded that the proposed development would have significant adverseimpacts on the local environment which could not properly be addressed and recommendedthat consent should not be granted. I have concluded after careful considerationto accept the reporter’s recommendations.</p>

Answer · Patricia Ferguson · 30 Jun 2006

The key performance targets Ihave set for Historic Scotland in 2006-07 are set out in the table:</p><p>Historic Scotland KeyPerformance Targets 2006-07</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=147 valign=top> <p>Key Performance Target</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>Target for 2005-06</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>2005-06 out-turn</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>Target for 2006-07</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <td width=147 valign=top> <p>1. Scheduling</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>31 Parishes in Strathdon (Aberdeenshire) and around Inverness</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>100%</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p> 22 parishes in Dumfries and Galloway and Strathdon, (Aberdeenshire) </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=609 colspan=4 valign=top> <p>Commentary - Last year was the first year of a revised process and of new, tighter criteria for determining “national importance”. The target was only achieved by diverting significant resources from other important work. In the light of that experience, and with a significantly changed team, a slightly less ambitious target has been set for this year.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=147 valign=top> <p>2. Listing</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>Complete the resurvey of the Cairngorms National Park and burgh of Galashiels</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>100%</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>Resurvey of Aberdeen Ward 34 (Castlehill).</p> <p>.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=609 colspan=4 valign=top> <p>Commentary - This is a priority city centre ward in Aberdeen for which the list essentially dates from 40 years ago, selected at the request of the council. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=147 valign=top> <p>3. Number of weeks in which 80% of</p> <p>scheduled monument consent cases solved<b> </b></p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>9</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>9 </p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>80% of cases to be resolved within 9 weeks</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=609 colspan=4 valign=top> <p>Commentary - Only a change of wording is proposed (in the interests of consistency with the listed building target). The number of applications has been increasing and it is important that cases continue to receive careful attention. It is worth noting that no applications were refused last year.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=147 valign=top> <p>4. % of listed building etc cases resolved within 28 days</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>97%</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>97.4%</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>97%</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=609 colspan=4 valign=top> <p>Commentary - No change proposed; this target is proving very demanding and the casework teams in Historic Scotland are under real pressure.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=147 valign=top> <p>5. Condition surveys at Properties in Care<b>.</b></p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>33</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>33</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>27</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=609 colspan=4 valign=top> <p>Commentary - Historic Scotland has now completed the first round of condition surveys. These will need to be updated, but this is a less urgent task. The agency plans this year to update 27 surveys with a remit to “review conservation strategy and update priorities”. This lower target will release some resources for other conservation work.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=147 valign=top> <p>6. Historic Scotland earned income</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>£22.35 million</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>£21.61 million</p> </td> <td width=154 valign=top> <p>£23.485 million</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=609 colspan=4 valign=top> <p>Commentary - The provisional outturn for last year was 3.3% below ta

Answer · Nicol Stephen · 14 Jun 2006

I am pleased to announce thepublication today of the Scottish Executive response to the UK Energy Review. Itfocuses on diversity and security of supply issues, as well as measures to helpminimise fuel poverty.</p><p>Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39856).</p>

Answer · Nicol Stephen · 11 May 2006

I have today written to Sir JohnWard, in respect of Scottish Enterprise’s budget for 2006-07. A copy of this letteris being placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39557)</p><p>The Executive will provide anadditional £45 million of resource cover so Scottish Enterprise can meet its non-cashrequirements in 2006-07 and access reserves. Scottish Enterprise will also be ableto retain receipts up to £5 million above the previously agreed target. These stepswill cover repayment of the non-cash element of the budget overspend in 2005-06.Scottish Enterprise will therefore be able to deploy an additional £50 million ofresources. This will now allow the board to agree Scottish Enterprise’s budget for2006-07, reflecting Executive priorities, when it meets on Friday 12 May.</p>