Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30356 on 18 December 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30356 on 18 December 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

The Executive has earmarked £15million over the first two years of the five year implementation programme for ChangingLives. For 2006-07 we plan to spend around £1.5 million. No specific funding withinthis has been allocated to individual local authorities.

The five Change Programmes todrive forward this work have had their initial meetings and their workplans willbe firmed up in the new year. We are also currently analysing the self assessmentreturns from local authorities on the priority areas for work they are undertaking.This will feed into the work of the Change Programmes and inform future allocationof funding, whether directly to individual local authorities or elsewhere.

Data held by the Executive doesnot indicate how many prosecutions relate specifically to noise pollution in towncentres. Problems of noise can be dealt with in many ways, including prosecution,action under the Antisocial Behaviour Scotland Act 2004, action under the EnvironmentalProtection Act 1990 or through mediation and education. I recognise the tremendousdistress noise causes to people and their communities, and that is why the Executivehas put in place strong and effective measures.

The start and completion datesfor the Forthbank project were based on projections from Stirling Council whichhave proved to be unrealistic as the project has progressed. A contributory factorin the delay of this project has been the difficulty Stirling Council have experiencedin financing the project. Stirling Council advise that the estimated completiondate for this project is April 2009.

Sportscotland are concerned aboutdelays in the timescales for the National and Regional Sports FacilitiesStrategy projects and are in regular discussions with Stirling Council to try andresolve any problems as they arise.

I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-26568 on 7 June 2006. 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.

In fulfilling their statutoryresponsibilities, it is for local authorities to consider the five areas highlightedin the Audit’s Planning for the Future. The Executive through sportscotland standsready to assist local authorities and future funding will be committed to facilitiesthat clearly sit within a local authority’s sport strategy.

I refer the member to the followinginformation on the Scottish Executive website:

Projects funded from the firstround of the International Development Fund:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/News-Extras/intdevfundnov2005.

Projects funded from the secondround of the International Development Fund:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/International-Relations/internationaldevelopment/malawi/idfsept2006.

No funds are provided tolocal authorities specifically for dial-a-journey services. All Scottish localauthorities except the four city Councils receive grants under the Rural PublicPassenger Transport Grant Scheme which they are free to spend as they see fit onconventional bus services, community transport services or demand responsivetransport such as dial-a-journey in rural areas.

Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Argyll and Bute, Dundee City, Edinburgh City, Fife, Glasgow City andHighland Councils received Scottish Executive funding in the period 2003-04 to2005-06 under a demand responsive transport pilot scheme. These Councilscontinue to receive assistance in 2006-07 and 2007-08 in respect of successful projectsunder the scheme.

The start and completiondates for the Westfield Stadium project were based on projections from FalkirkCouncil which have proved to be unrealistic as the project has progressed. Acontributory factor in the delay of this project was due to a delay inobtaining planning consent for the project.

Sportscotland are concerned aboutdelays in the timescales for the National and Regional SportsFacilities Strategy projects and are in regular discussions with FalkirkCouncil to try and resolve any problems as they arise.

Falkirk Council have notraised any concerns about the project during these meetings and I have noreason to expect any further delays with this project.

The start and completiondates for the Ravenscraig indoor athletics training facility were based onprojections from North Lanarkshire Council which have proved to be unrealisticas the project has progressed. A principal factor in the delay of this projectis due to a significant delay in obtaining planning consent for the project.North Lanarkshire Council advise that several objections have been received inrespect of the planning application.

Thisplanning application is presently the subject of an appeal which has been heardby the Court of Session and is now going through the House of Lords.

Sportscotland are concernedabout delays in the timescales for this project and are in regular discussionswith North Lanarkshire Council to try and resolve any problems as they arise.However, at this time, North Lanarkshire Council are unable to give anycommitment that there will be no further delay with this project.