Chamber and committees

The Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information indicates that certain categories of information are exempt from the commitment to provide information, including internal discussion and advice. This includes legal advice.

The first major comprehensive survey of local authority archives took place in 1969-72. This survey is still occasionally referred to and forms a baseline for knowledge of some of the older records in local custody. It generally omitted from its coverage the Dean of Guild court records, an important historical source on buildings, but these were surveyed in a guide published in 1994. More recently, in 2000 there was a mapping exercise, An Archival Account of Scotland, which was conducted with administrative assistance from the National Archives of Scotland. In addition, the Archivists in Scottish Local Authorities Working Group has for many years compiled statistics on the usage of local authority archives.

The provision of publicly accessible local archives is part of the routine business of a local authority and so should generally be funded from their existing resources. However, there are other sources of funding. The Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network (SCRAN) has been a source of grants for digitisation of records and associated work for a variety of organisations, including local archives. The National Archives of Scotland also provides small grants for conservation of archives and local archives have benefited from these.It is also open to local authorities to apply for other possible sources of funding for local archives, such as the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). A number of archive projects in Scotland have already benefited from awards from these funds. For example, the HLF-backed Scottish Archive Network (SCAN) project is assisting the automation and remote consultation of local archives by offering direct assistance to local authorities that join the network. Further information on these funds is available from the Lottery distributors.The Executive is not responsible for the funding of individual community councils - their funding comes primarily from local authorities - or for archives of independent trusts and other parties. However, it is also open to these bodies to apply to the NOF or HLF for funding for archives and other heritage projects.

Archives at a local level are a local responsibility. However, the Scottish Executive is concerned to ensure that Scotland's archival heritage is appropriately and securely preserved, maintained and publicly accessible, in line with statutory obligations and current best practice.

The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 requires local authorities to consult the Keeper Of the Records of Scotland on proper arrangements for the preservation and management of their records and to have regard to what he says. In this role, successive keepers have offered general guidance to local authorities. This has included references to British Standards and other sources of best practice, as well as recommendations on the best local solutions for acquiring professional expertise. The archivists in Scottish Local Authorities Working Group (ASLAWG) also issues guidance on professional matters to its members.

Policy and related expenditure matters on Scottish fisheries are devolved and are for consideration by the Scottish Executive. The cost of the compensation package falls to be met from within the overall resources available to the Executive and there are no grounds on which additional resources might be sought from the UK Exchequer.

Variations of outcomes across the country are not necessarily indicative of inconsistency of approach, but instead reflect an appropriate response to local circumstances and offending behaviour, as well as, most importantly, the individual circumstances of each case. The aim of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is to continue to provide a high quality service to the public. In pursuit of this aim, the service is currently undergoing a far-reaching programme of reform and renewal. New information systems are being rolled out as part of the modernisation of the service, and these will offer greater opportunity to area procurators fiscal to monitor trends and ensure continued consistency - not standardisation - of practice.

Local authorities fund environmental initiatives from monies distributed by the Executive and from their own resources. As part of the Executive's Quality of Life Initiative, £95 million was allocated to local authorities this year, and a further £180 million has been provided over the next three years, in addition to regular annual funding. These additional resources were made available to fund local initiatives that will improve the local environment and quality of life. Around £3 million of this year's allocation has been committed to litter reduction schemes. In addition, the Executive has made £20 million available over the next three years to put in place a network of community wardens, one of whose tasks will be to combat littering.

Aberdeen City Council, Stirling Council and Shetland Islands Council currently have formal litter plans.

The Scottish Executive provides annual core funding of £234,000 to Keep Scotland Beautiful, which runs a number of anti-litter initiatives. Over the last year, additional funding of £900,000 has been secured to bolster this programme, including the Have Some Pride anti-litter poster campaign, launched in March 2002.As part of the Executive's Quality of Life Initiative, in addition to the £95 million allocated to local authorities this year, a further £180 million has been provided over the next three years to fund local initiatives that will improve the local environment and quality of life. Around £3 million of this year's allocation has been committed to litter reduction schemes and councils can use this money to raise awareness through publicity campaigns.