Chamber and committees

As indicated in paragraphs 324 to 334 of the Scottish Executive's Financial Memorandum, which accompanied the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill on introduction to Parliament on 27 November 2001, various costs to the Executive are envisaged in relation to the community and crofting community right to buy provisions of the bill. Further estimated costs to other parties are detailed in paragraphs 337 to 350 of the Financial Memorandum.The level of funding required to assist community and crofting community bodies in purchasing land under the provisions of the bill will depend on the level of uptake. There will be no financial assistance provided by the Executive towards the cost of purchasing the land itself. It will be for community bodies themselves to look for sources of funding. The Highlands and Islands and Scottish Enterprise Community Land Units and the Scottish Land Fund are one possible route.Copies of the bill and its accompanying documents are available from the Scottish Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17790).

On 1 April 2002 the Forth Estuary Transport Authority took over responsibility for management, maintenance and operation of the bridge. As well as establishing the new Authority the Executive has extended the present Tolling Order until 31 March 2006. The authority will be tasked with developing a charging strategy, under the terms of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001, which includes the requirement to consult widely on its strategy and obtain Scottish ministers' approval.

The Executive has not conducted any studies on this issue. Nor are we aware of any work carried out by other organisations.

Toll revenue is used to fund the maintenance, management and operation of the Bridge, and this arrangement will continue with establishment of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority on 1 April 2002. The authority will however have the flexibility to use surplus toll revenue more widely. It is entirely up to the authority, subject to the research it undertakes, to determine what it spends its surplus revenue on, provided that it funds schemes that reduce road congestion or encourage the greater use of public transport.

All expenditure of money received from tolls on the Forth Road Bridge was on matters relating to the undertaking. This included revenue spent on traffic management schemes that impacted on the bridge's operation, namely:

	Amount	% of revenue
1998-99	£459, 198	5
1999-2000	£ 13, 775	0.15
2000-01	£ 95, 391	1.05

In response to recommendations from phase one of the work of the independent Review Group on the Retention of Organs at Post-Mortem, the Executive issued guidance in January 2001 to all Scottish NHS trusts indicating that they should, in appropriate cases, meet the expenses associated with the burial or cremation of organs retained at post-mortem examination without the parents' authorisation.

More than one sedation agent may be used when intravenous sedation is administered by a dentist or an anaesthetist in an NHS hospital setting, where there is immediate access to appropriately trained personnel and equipment in case of emergencies. In general dental practices where NHS general dental services are offered, a single sedation agent is advised for purposes of patient safety.The Chief Dental Officer advises Scottish ministers on all dental matters which are devolved, including dental sedation in the NHS.The General Dental Council's ethical guidance Maintaining Standards gives a general guideline on how sedation should be administered. It is not specific in relation to setting or technique.

As the member will now know, the Criminal Procedure (Amendment)(Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 25 February, to reverse the decision of the High Court of Justiciary in the case of Reynolds v Procurator Fiscal Linlithgow, with retrospective effect. All three stages of the Parliament's consideration of the bill were completed on 27 February. It received Royal Assent on 8 March and came into force on 9 March as the Criminal Procedure (Amendment)(Scotland) Act 2002.

On current predictions, the earliest date on which the new road will open to traffic is Christmas 2003.

Detailed information on review hearings is an operational matter for the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration.Supervision requirements must be reviewed by children's hearings no later than one year after they have been made. An earlier review may be called at any time by a children's hearing or by the relevant local authority if the circumstances of the child require it.