Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. The decision to continue in dialogue with HMRC and to seek adequate and reliable information about costs and timescales was mine.

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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The report of the public local inquiry into objections to the Corunna Street Glasgow compulsory purchase order has been received and is being considered. A decision will be issued once these considerations have been completed. While no precise date can be given, I hope that it will be possible to issue the decision before the end of the year.

The public local inquiry to hear objections against this compulsory purchase order commenced on 13 January 2010 and concluded on 20 May 2010. The inquiry and the evidence presented raised both complex and unique issues that required very careful consideration by the reporter. The report on the inquiry was submitted to Scottish ministers on 14 September 2010.

Creative Scotland is currently establishing partnerships with broadcasters, including the BBC. Opportunities for marketing Scotland''s culture overseas will be explored within these partnerships.

The Scottish Government has regularly encouraged broadcasters to promote Scottish culture internationally. For example, I raised the issue at my most recent meeting with Ken MacQuarrie, the Controller of BBC Scotland, on
13 September 2010.

The Scottish Government invested £150,000, as a co-sponsor with the Daily Record, for the Homecoming brand to sponsor three STV series in 2009 “ Scotland Revealed, The Greatest Scot and Made in Scotland. Made in Scotland was subsequently sold by STV to Australia and New Zealand, and across the UK. Scotland Revealed was sold to the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia. DVD sales of the programmes have also been made in the UK, Canada, and the United States.

The Scottish Government takes road safety very seriously and is committed to making the roads safer for all road users, including cyclists. Scotland''s Road Safety Framework to 2020, sets out our aims and commitments.

As part of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, we will increase the number of children who receive on-road cycle training at primary school, we will complete the missing links in the National Cycle Network, providing safe on and off-road routes, and we will continue to work with local authorities to encourage the further roll-out of effective 20 mph schemes in residential areas to reduce speeds.

The Scottish Government is supporting a range of initiatives to encourage people to cycle to work, school and for other journeys. Funding has been available for projects which encourage cycling including extending the National Cycle Network and providing safe routes to schools. Local authorities continue to receive £9m per year for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects. And as part of the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme seven local authority areas have received funding to promote active travel choices, including cycling.

The Government provides funding to Cycling Scotland to promote cycling through the mass participation ride, Pedal for Scotland, grant schemes for Cycle Friendly Employers, Cycle Friendly Schools and Cycle Friendly Communities. These schemes provide incentives to those who want to cycle.

As part of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, the Scottish Government has allocated £355,000 this year to Cycling Scotland to support local authorities in delivering cycle training.

The Scottish Government provides funding to Sustrans and Cycling Scotland to work in partnership with all local authorities to promote cycling on all parts of the National Cycle Network and on local roads. Local authorities also receive funding through the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets grant for promotion of active travel facilities. And as part of the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme seven local authority areas have received funding to promote active travel choices, including cycling.

The Scottish Government already provides public information on cycle safety through Road Safety Scotland and Cycling Scotland road safety campaigns. Also, Cycling Scotland administers the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme which provides skills training and information on how to cycle safely on an on-road setting. And since 2003, Scottish Government funding has been allocated to Sustrans to build and promote safe routes to school to encourage children to travel actively.