Chamber and committees

The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 requires local authorities to consult the Keeper Of the Records of Scotland on proper arrangements for the preservation and management of their records and to have regard to what he says. In this role, successive keepers have offered general guidance to local authorities. This has included references to British Standards and other sources of best practice, as well as recommendations on the best local solutions for acquiring professional expertise. The archivists in Scottish Local Authorities Working Group (ASLAWG) also issues guidance on professional matters to its members.

Variations of outcomes across the country are not necessarily indicative of inconsistency of approach, but instead reflect an appropriate response to local circumstances and offending behaviour, as well as, most importantly, the individual circumstances of each case. The aim of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is to continue to provide a high quality service to the public. In pursuit of this aim, the service is currently undergoing a far-reaching programme of reform and renewal. New information systems are being rolled out as part of the modernisation of the service, and these will offer greater opportunity to area procurators fiscal to monitor trends and ensure continued consistency - not standardisation - of practice.

The Scottish Executive provides annual core funding of £234,000 to Keep Scotland Beautiful, which runs a number of anti-litter initiatives. Over the last year, additional funding of £900,000 has been secured to bolster this programme, including the Have Some Pride anti-litter poster campaign, launched in March 2002.As part of the Executive's Quality of Life Initiative, in addition to the £95 million allocated to local authorities this year, a further £180 million has been provided over the next three years to fund local initiatives that will improve the local environment and quality of life. Around £3 million of this year's allocation has been committed to litter reduction schemes and councils can use this money to raise awareness through publicity campaigns.

The report submitted by Environmental Resources Management will be published when the Scottish Executive has fully considered the recommendations. The report was somewhat delayed from initial plans, in order to take account of comments from the advisory group, which included representatives from local government, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Local authorities fund environmental initiatives from monies distributed by the Executive and from their own resources. As part of the Executive's Quality of Life Initiative, £95 million was allocated to local authorities this year, and a further £180 million has been provided over the next three years, in addition to regular annual funding. These additional resources were made available to fund local initiatives that will improve the local environment and quality of life. Around £3 million of this year's allocation has been committed to litter reduction schemes. In addition, the Executive has made £20 million available over the next three years to put in place a network of community wardens, one of whose tasks will be to combat littering.

Aberdeen City Council, Stirling Council and Shetland Islands Council currently have formal litter plans.

Plans for the Pathfinder procurement in the south of Scotland envisage the continued involvement of these posts.

Contracts will be awarded on the basis of best value for money, which takes account of quality as well as cost. The contracts will require guaranteed minimum standards of service. Bids which fail to meet those required minimum standards will not be accepted.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32395 on 9 January 2003. 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/webapp/search_wa.

I refer the member to the answer given to S1O-6230 on 16 January 2003, which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/search.htm.