Chamber and committees

I am currently considering theform that independent scrutiny should take and will make an announcement soon.

The A82 Tarbet to Fort WilliamRoute Action Plan recommended a ten year improvement programme at a cost of £90million. The outcome of this study will feed into the Strategic Transport ProjectsReview which will examine the needs of our national strategic transport corridors.This is due to report in summer 2008.

In March of this year, the £5million replacement of the Lairig Eilde Bridge in Glencoe was completed.

Arising out of the A82 Study,Transport Scotland is planning a £16 million improvement package to be deliveredover the next five years. This package includes improvements at Pulpit Rock betweenTarbet and Ardlui, a Western Bypass at Crianlarich, additional road safety measures,new lay-bys and picnic sites.

The following table shows thenumber of injury accidents on the A82 trunkroad in each year since 1999.

Year	No. of Accidents
1999	190
2000	180
2001	169
2002	151
2003	166
2004	155
2005	148
2006	138

 

The figures quoted may differslightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a differentdate and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returnsor corrections to earlier returns.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

The following table shows thenumbers of fatal accidents and fatal casualties on the A82 trunk road in each year since 1999.

Year	Fatal Accidents	Fatal Casualties
1999	8	10
2000	8	9
2001	5	6
2002	11	12
2003	7	7
2004	6	6
2005	7	9
2006	7	8

 

The figures quoted may differslightly from those published elsewhere because they were extracted on a differentdate and the database may have changed between the two dates, e.g. due to late returnsor corrections to earlier returns.

Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-445 on 13 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

We will consider the need forfurther development of financial education in the 2007 review of the FinancialInclusion Action Plan.

The Curriculum for Excellenceacknowledges the contribution financial education makes to ensuring that all youngpeople have the opportunity to become successful learners, confident individuals,responsible citizens and effective contributors.

The 11 local authorities receivingthe Financial Inclusion Fund are implementing a range of financial education activities.Following positive evaluation, the pilot education projects with Citizens AdviceScotland and the Greater Easterhouse Money Advice have received continuation funding.The lessons learned and best practice developed by Financial Inclusion InitiativeFife will be used to inform the future direction and delivery of services in Fife. We continueworking with the Financial Services Authority to bring financial education intothe workplace.

We will support the money advicesector to help those with problem debt. We will increase individuals’ ability touse financial products and services through financial education, both in and outof school. We will support third sector lenders (credit unions, and community developmentfinance institutions) who provide affordable credit.

However, our ability to assistin this area is limited due to powers over several important areas that can effectlevels of debt such as regulation of consumer credit and financial services andthe tax and benefit systems.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-395 on 13 June 2007. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Argyll and Bute educationauthority is responsible for arrangements to transport pupils to school and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is responsible for the setting of examinations.I understand that, for the duration of the exams, the authority put in place specialschool transport arrangements to bypass the protests. These arrangements have nowbeen rescinded, and no problems have been reported to the education authority. TheSQA has also confirmed that no special circumstances have arisen with examinationsin the area.

We will consider the needfor further activity to support credit unions in the 2007 review of theFinancial Inclusion Action Plan. As social enterprises, credit unions areincluded in the strategic aims of Better Business - a strategy and actionplan for social enterprise in Scotland published in March2007 which aims to grow and develop social enterprises in Scotland todeliver services and improve communities.