Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government are working closely with the Big Fund (the brand that the Big Lottery Fund used to distribute non lottery funds) to ensure that the Coastal Communities Fund is accessible to all Scottish coastal communities.

As administrator of the Coastal Communities Fund, the Big Fund in Scotland will notify key Local Authority stakeholders at the programme launch as well circulate information in their next newsletter which has a recipient list of over 2000, and on their BIG Scotland Blog. The Big Fund will also run a series of events across the country at which they will provide information and advice on all programmes including the Coastal Communities Fund.

No review was undertaken.

The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil announced on 14 September 2011 that the Scottish Government will help oversee the final delivery of the Edinburgh Tram Project. A team of experienced project managers from Transport Scotland now fill key senior roles in the new governance structure with City of Edinburgh Council, bringing the professional approach that has seen major projects such as the M74 completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international obligation of the UK and has been ratified by the UK Government. Under the current constitutional settlement, the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate on those matters that are reserved. In bringing forward their proposals for legislation, Scottish Ministers will seek to reflect the principles of the UNCRC insofar as the current settlement allows, taking into account all factors that are relevant. As outlined in my answer to S4W- 05889 on 6 March 2012, the Scottish Government will provide more detail of its legislative proposals in the spring of this year.

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.

Transport Scotland, with the agreement of ministers stepped down from the Edinburgh trams project board following the July 2007 meeting.

We are currently giving careful consideration to the 123 consultation responses received and the issues arising from these. The Scottish Government’s response to the consultation will be published in spring 2012 and this will detail whether any legislative proposals will be amended as a result of the consultation exercise.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05883 on 6 March 2012. 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 Scottish Government is already accountable to the Scottish Parliament for executive action to ensure the implementation, within devolved competence, of relevant international obligations, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In order to achieve this, we take steps wherever possible to reflect the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in policy and legislation.

All of our ongoing activity to give furtherance to the Convention is being delivered within the context of our wider commitment to respect and realise human rights for the people of Scotland.

Human rights are at the heart of the Scotland Act and are universal in nature. Like everyone else in Scotland, children enjoy all of the rights recognised internationally by signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights. The Scottish Government has no power to act in ways that breach Convention rights. Legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament is not law if it is incompatible with those rights. These fundamental protections are entrenched and cannot be modified or removed by either the government or the parliament.

The public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010 came into force on 5 April 2011. This duty requires Scottish public authorities to have “due regard” to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. It covers the relevant protected characteristics of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Through the recent Scottish Government consultation on the proposed Rights of Children and Young People Bill we obtained a range of views, some of which focussed on the potential extension of duties to other public bodies. We are currently considering next steps following that exercise.

The Scottish Government seeks to reflect the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child wherever possible in the development of national policy and legislation. We believe that the proposed children’s legislation, along with wider policy development, will help us to make major improvements in the practical realisation of children’s rights. As outlined in my answer to S4W- 05889 on 6 March 2012, the Scottish Government will provide more detail of its legislative proposals in the spring of this year.

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.

No representations from the City of Edinburgh Council were received regarding the decision to remove Transport Scotland officials from the management board of the Edinburgh Trams project in 2007.

Delivery of the project is and always has been the responsibility of the City of Edinburgh Council as the promoter, authorised undertaker and operator in terms of the Tram Acts.