Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Executive Health Department has not set any efficiency target for the National Health Service in Scotland. Health boards may set targets for their local Trusts and any adverse effects would be for local management to consider and address.However, Our National Health: a plan for action; a plan for change, published on 14 December, sets out a range of measures that will be taken to simplify the funding system to ensure resources are managed in as an efficient and effective way as possible. The plan also sets out our aims for working in partnership with staff, valuing and investing in their skills to help them perform and develop their full potential.

Local authorities are responsible for the running of their respective district courts. The industrial action of UNISON arises out of a dispute between the relevant local authorities and UNISON on behalf of its members. The Procurator Fiscal sought where possible in law to expedite some summary cases by accelerating them to be dealt with before the industrial action. Some cases may be dealt with after the conclusion of the industrial action.

The Executive has made no such assessment, as there are no plans to introduce British Energy Saving Time. The fact that there are no such plans being considered was made clear by Mr Brian Wilson MP, Minister of State at the Scotland Office, in an announcement on 20 November 2000.

Conditions attached to right to buy sales relating to insurance policies are a matter for local authorities and prospective purchasers to agree. Information on these matters is not held centrally.

If a public inquiry is necessary then that is part of the statutory process and is not a delay. It is not possible to estimate the cost of an inquiry until the scope of any objections to the scheme are known.

Where a tenant has exercised his or her right to buy their council property, they should be allowed the full enjoyment and use of the house as owner. However, if ownership of the building is shared between the local authority and RTB owners, specific conditions may be put in place to cover arrangements for carrying out factoring services and repair and maintenance work. In general terms, such conditions may be required to ensure that all parties will pay their share of the costs towards any communal work carried out. The precise conditions of sale are a matter for agreement between the landlord and purchaser and it is for each party to satisfy themselves, in consultation with their legal advisors prior to completing the transaction, that all terms are reasonable. Any dispute over the conditions would normally be resolved by the Lands Tribunal for Scotland.

I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-12520.

The Scottish Executive keeps the financial needs of small business under continued review. I am very pleased that the change of status afforded to Scottish Equity Partners - formerly Scottish Development Finance, Scottish Enterprise's investment arm - has allowed the company to raise £80 million for a new Venture Capital Fund aimed at early stage and growth technology companies. This will provide access to equity funding for an increasing number of Scottish small businesses.

Officials in the Executive's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department hosted a seminar on 7 December at which the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) gave a presentation on the report. This allowed the FSB representatives to discuss the findings with officials working on most of the subjects covered by the report. My officials will continue to meet regularly with the FSB.

The scheme that will be taken forward in partnership with Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, will have four key junctions. It will create significant investment and regeneration opportunities for the whole of west central Scotland and in addition, more locally assist in making contaminated land safe.