Seòmar agus comataidhean

Statistics on restrictions dueto accidents are not held centrally.

Transport Scotland hasoperational responsibility for this matter and can be contacted for more informationif required.

The following table details thenumber of closures of the Erskine Bridge in the last four years. Information aboutpartial closures or lane closures is held by route not by specific location.

The Clyde Tunnel is a local roadand is the responsibility of Glasgow City Council.

Year	Closures due to Severe Weather	Closures Due to Accidents	Total Closures
2004	0	1	1
2005	2	1	3
2006	3	0	3
2007	3	0	3

 

Transport Scotland hasoperational responsibility for this matter and can be contacted for more informationif required.

Scottish Enterprise issuednew contracts for the local delivery of Business Gateway services on 11 July 2007.

Between 1 January 2003 and 1 July 2007 the A82trunk road between the Erskine Bridge and Inverness has been restricted on 2780 occasions due to roadworks.Of these, 613 were on the section in the South West Trunk Road Area from Erskine Bridge to Balloch, and 2167 were on the section in the NorthWest Trunk Road Area from Balloch to Inverness.

Transport Scotland hasoperational responsibility for this matter and can be contacted for more informationif required.

Scottish Enterprise hasreviewed the operation of the Business Gateway over the past two years. This hasnow been completed and new contracts for the local delivery of Business Gatewayservices were issued on 11 July 2007.

I recently brought together allof Scotland’s major energy companies and suppliers to discuss thefuture supply and demands on Scotland’s energy sector. Ofgem attended this seminar and contributedto discussions on a wide range of energy related issues, including security of energysupplies and transmission constraints as well as the development of the Scottishenergy strategy.

I recently brought together manyof Scotland’s major energy companies and suppliers to discuss the challenges andopportunities for Scotland’s energy sector, and to seek their views on Scottishenergy policy.

Over the summer recess, I hopeto meet again with a variety of energy suppliers, to familiarise myself with theiroperations and to discuss topical issues relevant to the Scottish people.

The First Minister has also metwith the Chief Executive’s of Scottish and Southern Energy and Scottish Power (Iberdrola).Amongst other things, they discussed options for the further development of lowcarbon generation in Scotland.

The Executive funds the national anti-bullying service forScotland, Respectme which is charged with supportingschools and communities to prevent and tackle all types of bullying. As indicatedin the recent Enable Speak Up report Respectme is working in partnershipwith Enable to develop services meet the needs of children and young people withlearning disabilities.

When carrying outroadworks, roads authorities are expected to comply with the Code of Practice DeliveringBest Value in Highway Maintenance. This Code of Practice has been prepared by the Institutionof Highways and Transportation and is endorsed by, amongst others, the ScottishExecutive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Society of ChiefOfficers of Transportation in Scotland.

Utility Companiessuch as gas and electricity suppliers also carry out roadworks and are requiredto comply with the statutory Code of Practice – Safety at street works and road works issued jointly by the Scottish Executive, theDepartment for Transport and the Welsh assembly Government.

The New Roads andStreet Works Act 1991 requires utilities to serve notice on roads authorities givingadvance intimation on all proposed road works and reinstatements. It further requiresroads authorities to keep a register of road works in roads for which they are responsible.Information submitted by utility companies is circulated to other utility companiesso that, where possible, they may co-ordinate road works.

Provisions containedin the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 will further improve the co-ordinationand planning of road works. Measures include new requirements for improving thequality of information submitted and the appointment of a Scottish Road Works Commissionerwho can impose penalties in the event of systematic failure to comply.

The report of theSocial Work Inspection Agency on Argyll and Bute Council’s social work servicesis due for publication by the agency in late October 2007.