Chamber and committees

This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked Scottish Water’s chief executive to write to you to provide these details.

For each regulatory period, the Scottish Ministers direct Scottish Water as to the improvements it must deliver. The improvements required for this period are available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/917/0088613.pdf.

In relation to customer service, which also includes measures in relation to sewer flooding, Scottish Water is required to improve its performance to deliver the upper quartile performance achieved by the industry in England and Wales by 2015. Further information on the basket of measures that describe customer service and the targets set is available on an information sheet provided by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland at:

http://www.watercommission.co.uk/UserFiles/Documents/Updated%20Public%20Information%20Note%20OPA.pdf.

BT is the only broadband operator to have received public money to upgrade exchanges, through the Scottish Government’s 2005 Broadband for Scotland Project.

Discussions regarding telephone exchanges and cabinets are likely to form part of the ongoing procurement exercises for the Step Change 2015 Programme. The programme, which is technology neutral, will deliver next generation broadband connectivity throughout Scotland by 2015 and is progressing through two procurements – for the Highlands and Islands, and the rest of Scotland. Detailed rollout plans in respect of both procurements will not be known until after the contracts are awarded.

The Scottish Government’s Step Change 2015 programme – which will deliver infrastructure capable of delivering next generation broadband by 2015 – is technology and supplier neutral. The extent to which the programme will involve upgrades to BT cabinets will depend on the detail of the contracts awarded under the Highlands and Islands and the Rest of Scotland Procurement exercises.

The focus of the Scottish Government’s broadband policy is to address the digital divide by extending the infrastructure needed to deliver next generation broadband to those areas where the market will currently not go. The focus of Step Change investment will therefore predominantly be in rural areas.

The willingness of broadband operators to upgrade cabinets will depend on the outcomes of ongoing discussions which are taking place in relation to the Scottish Government’s Step Change 2015 Programme. This programme is progressing through two procurement exercises and detailed rollout plans, including the technological solutions, in respect of both procurements, will not be known until after the contracts are awarded.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13351 on 11 March 2013.

Scottish Water is named as a Responsible Authority under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009. Amongst other duties, this requires it participate in efforts to assess and mitigate the risk of flood arising from the public sewerage network. Currently, six projects are underway in partnership with Local Authorities and SEPA in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Grangemouth, Aberdeen, Dundee and the Irvine coastline to understand better the performance of drainage and sewerage networks.

As I announced on 25 February, a package of investment worth some £250 million over the next five years for Glasgow has been informed by the excellent work undertaken by the Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership. This will relieve flooding at numerous locations across Glasgow and deliver significant improvements to the quality of the water in the River Clyde.

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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Customer Forum is already participating effectively in the on-going process of determining Scottish Water’s investment and service level priorities. The Forum is working with Scottish Water in scrutinising its customer research programme, analysing and interpreting the results. Key stakeholders across the industry – the Scottish Government, the Water Industry Commission, and Scottish Water itself - have acknowledged that the customer voice in decisions about water and wastewater service provision can be strengthened. The Forum will make sure that customers’ opinions are heard and taken into account in determining charges and spending priorities in the next price setting period.

This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the chief executive to write to you with the information you have requested.

This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the chief executive to write to you with the information you have requested.

This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the chief executive to write to you with the information you have requested.

This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I will ask the chief executive to write to you with the information you have requested.