Chamber and committees

Local authorities have a duty under section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to make such arrangements as they consider necessary for the transport between home and school of pupils residing, and attending schools, in their area. In considering these arrangements, authorities are required to have regard to the safety of the pupil.

The statutory walking distance is two miles for children aged under eight and three miles for children aged eight or over. The statutory provisions on school transport prescribe neither distances beyond which authorities must, nor distances below which they must not, provide transport. It is, however, for authorities themselves to determine criteria for eligibility for free school transport.

The provision of school transport in Scotland is a local authority responsibility. Section 51 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 sets out that authorities have a duty to make such arrangements as they consider necessary for the provision of school transport and, in so considering, having regard to the safety of pupils.

Revised guidance issued by the Scottish Government on Setting Local Speed Limits in August 2006 outlined the framework for roads 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. The guidance states that each roads authority must oversee a review of all speed limits by 2011. Transport Scotland, as trunk roads authority, instructed its operating companies to review the speed limits on all qualifying sections of the trunk road network, with a view to meeting the deadline and making recommendations.

For the purposes of checking consistency throughout the country, the outcomes of each route review will not be reported until the Speed Limit Review is complete. These outcomes are due to be published by spring 2012.

The initial consultation exercise for the Speed Limit Review will be with the Police and Transport Scotland’s operating companies. Further public consultation will follow as and when the recommendations of the Speed Limit Review are taken forward.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01777 on 17 August 2011. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01777 on 17 August 2011. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01777 on 17 August 2011. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

No. The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 only gives power to compulsory purchase the building where the local authority carried out work and the owner cannot be found.

Circular 42/1976: Compulsory Purchase Procedures provides local authorities with general guidance on the use of their compulsory purchase powers.

In February 2011, draft revised guidance was published by the Scottish Government on the use of compulsory purchase. This contained specific reference to the compulsory purchase of derelict properties. Following consideration of the responses to the public consultation, finalised guidance will be published later in the year.

Only one licence has been issued to permit the shooting of one common seal at the edge of a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) where seals are designated features. This licence includes strict conditions governing the location and circumstances in which this seal may be shot which is at some distance from the main locations used by seals. It was considered that this would not have an adverse effect on the qualifying interests of common seals for the local SAC.

Information on numbers of seals shot under licence during the first quarter of operation of the seal licensing system can be found on the Marine Scotland website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/marine/licensing/seallicensing.