Chamber and committees

Perth is currently widely promoted across Scotland's key markets under the Perthshire brand. Now it has regained city status, VisitScotland’s promotional material will highlight Perth as a city. Perth will also take its place in the cities section of VisitScotland's consumer website following its re-launch at the end of this month. In addition to other ongoing marketing activity, VisitScotland will also continue to work closely with the Perthshire Area Tourism Partnership on developing a tourism strategy and action plan for the area.

I am delighted that Perth has been awarded city status as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It has been welcomed into the Scottish Cities Alliance and, along with Scotland’s other cities, Perth will be able to access the £7 million Cities Investment Fund to help develop collaborative programmes that promote growth, lever investment and protect and create jobs. It will also be able to apply for UK and EU funding for cities and the Scottish Cities Alliance will be considering how best to maximise investment in all Scotland’s cities and their regions.

Cities and their regions are key drivers of the economy. As part of the Scottish Cities Alliance, Perth will play a full part in seeking increased investment, jobs and businesses in cities and their regions, delivering a benefit for Scotland as a whole. The revision of the National Planning Framework, announced in March 2012, will provide a further opportunity to consider the role of cities in the national context.

The Scottish Government recognises that world-class digital infrastructure is essential for Scotland’s future economic growth. That is why the Scottish Government, in Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan, has clearly set out its commitment to ensuring the availability of world-class digital access in Scotland by 2020. The action plan has also set an interim milestone of ensuring the availability of broadband at a speed of 40-80 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 85-90% of premises by 2015. We will also put in place measures to ensure an uplift in service can be delivered to the remaining 10-15% for whom delivery of broadband at this speed will not be possible.

Upgrading of BT exchanges such as those at Trochry and Amulree is a matter for BT.

Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan makes clear the Scottish Government’s 2015 connectivity targets – broadband at a speed of 40-80 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 85-90% of premises. We will also put in place measures to ensure an uplift in service can be delivered to the remaining 10-15% for whom delivery of broadband at this speed will not be possible.

The Scottish Government is clear that all areas in Scotland where the market will not deliver commercially represent our priorities for broadband investment. As we progress through delivery and implementation of our forthcoming procurement plan, we will be working closely with local authorities – including Perth and Kinross Council – to ensure that we fully understand local plans and priorities.

NHSHealthScotland is conducting on behalf of the Scottish Government a wide ranging evaluation of the implementation and compliance with, Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

In addition, the Scottish Government has started work to review the guidance issued to licensing boards under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, and to looking at other aspects of licensing legislation to see if changes are necessary.

We are committed to ensuring that the sale of alcohol is appropriately regulated.

Premises licences issued under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 do not require renewal. Personal licences run for 10 years before requiring renewal. There are no specific plans to look at these arrangements.

(a) The current service frequency in Fife is specified in the Franchise Service Level Commitment and was significantly enhanced in December 2008.

(b) ScotRail is also obliged to allocate its available train fleet to provide passengers with a reasonable expectation of a seat within 10 minutes of boarding a train, and to minimise any forecast overcrowding.

Transport Scotland meets regularly with ScotRail and Network Rail on operational and timetabling issues. Following on from these discussions, ScotRail has recently consulted on alterations to morning peak services to provide an earlier arrival into Edinburgh from Fife stations. This consultation feedback will be used to inform future service provision.

ScotRail monitor the number of carriages required for service in advance of each timetable change and review this following any change. An assessment of passenger loadings on peak services is currently taking place to inform a longer term review of provision within Fife. Any proposed alterations will be delivered from within existing franchise budget, resources and infrastructure.

The Scottish Government is striving to provide a high quality passenger experience for travellers using the Fife rail services through the following investments:

Class 170 diesel trains used on Edinburgh via Fife to Dundee/Perth/Aberdeen routes are currently undergoing both internal and external refurbishment works to be completed by late 2013.

All automated audible public announcement equipment at 40 Fife stations will be renewed over the summer. This will increase the flexibility of staff to communicate locally to inform passengers during times of disruption.

Routes between Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee including Fife Circle are expected to be electrified in phase 3 of the electrification of the strategic rail network, as outlined in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, published in 2008.