Chamber and committees

Proposals for an off-line upgrading of the A8000 to dual motorway standard are being considered in the Strategic Roads Review. I plan to report to Parliament on the Review shortly.

Civil servants from the Scottish Executive are being loaned to the Scotland Office rather than being transferred. Those staff involved will have a guaranteed right of return to the Executive once the 3-year loan period has expired. The number of civil servants on loan to the Scotland Office at the present time is 56. A number of further loans seem likely as the Scotland Office's staffing needs are firmed up.

Dover House is the principal office building of the Secretary of State for Scotland and his Department, the Scotland Office. The Scotland Office provides space in Dover House for Ministers and officials of the Scottish Executive who have business in London.

Bute House has served as the official residence of, successively, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the First Minister. Its rooms continue to be used to fulfil that role through, for example, the provision of accommodation and facilities to receive and entertain distinguished guests. Since the Scottish Parliamentary elections, it has also provided a Cabinet Room for the Scottish Executive.

I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his other question (00637).

All rights interests and liabilities relating to Bute House and belonging to a Minister of the Crown were transferred to Scottish Ministers by virtue of paragraph 3 of The Transfer of Property etc. (Scottish Ministers) Order 1999.

Scottish Ministers hold Bute House under a sublease from the Bute House Trustees who in turn lease the building from the National Trust for Scotland.The building is to be used as an official residence, and for the entertainment of distinguished visitors and other functions.

The premises at 2 Carlton Gardens in London were formerly used by the Scottish Law Officers and their Legal Secretariat, and were vacated as from 2 July this year. No future use of Carlton Gardens by the Scottish Executive is planned.Scottish Law Officers are now based in Chambers Street, Edinburgh. As with other Scottish Ministers they have access to accommodation in Dover House, Whitehall, as required.

The Committee chaired by Sir George Quigley is required by statute to report not later than 1 April, 2000. The Quigley Committee covers only one aspect of the review being carried out by the independent Committee of Inquiry on Student Finance in Scotland. This Committee is required to report by the end of this year at which time the Executive will consider all the recommendations made and its response and put these to Parliament.

Section 91 of the Scotland Act 1998 requires the Scottish Parliament to make provision for the investigation of complaints of maladministration against the Scottish Executive. Until the necessary Act of the Scottish Parliament can be passed, the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Complaints of Maladministration) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1351) provides for a Scottish Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to investigate complaints in respect of the Scottish Executive and a range of public bodies. This office is held by Michael Buckley, who is also the UK Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Health Service Commissioner for Scotland.As part of its preparation for the necessary legislation, the Scottish Executive will be examining the current arrangements for public sector Ombudsmen in Scotland. In doing so we would expect to examine and draw on experience in the UK and elsewhere. In the meantime, the Scottish Executive would be happy to receive comments from members on the operation of the current arrangements.

Most schools are situated adjacent to local roads. Local authorities have power to set speed limits outside schools (and elsewhere) on local roads. In particular, local authorities have the freedom to set 20 mph limits where they consider them to be appropriate. For other limits below 30 mph, local authorities require to obtain the consent of the Scottish Ministers. Scottish Ministers have power to set speed limits outside schools (and elsewhere) on trunk roads in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive will continue to promote road safety measures aimed at road users of all ages. Specific measures in relation to school children include:

• Guidance on safer routes to school projects will be issued later this year;
• A current research project is looking at road safety education in the Scottish curriculum;
• The training materials for the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme are being revised and will be issued early next year;
• Following a review of the use of the Scottish Road Safety Campaign's Workbook Diaries in primary schools, revised diaries are being distributed for the 1999-2000 session;
• The programme of road safety plays to tour Scottish schools is being expanded;

The Children's Traffic Club in Scotland, which provides road safety training free to all 3 and 4 year old children in Scotland, will continue to be funded.