Seòmar agus comataidhean

This information is already in the public domain and can be downloaded from www.isdscotland.org.

The Scottish Executive has no current functions in relation to introduction of a renewable transport fuel obligation. This is a reserved matter.

We value, and are continually improving, our evidence base for rural areas in order to inform our policies. We document key facts on rural Scotland, including population figures, in our annual Rural Scotland: Key Facts publication:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/09/08115837.

We also have a research programme looking at rural services:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/10104938.

Although no specific assessment has been made regarding the impact of the closure of particular facilities, we are committed to improving access to key services in priority rural areas as we work to maintain strong, prosperous and growing rural communities.

All newly qualified nurses and midwives in Scotland are offered a minimum of a one-year guarantee of employment if they are unable to secure a post through the normal recruitment process. The guarantee applies to available posts anywhere in Scotland and all NHS Operating Divisions may potentially offer the one-year employment opportunity to newly qualified nurses and midwives, where there are vacancies available.

No representations have been made by the Executive to the Department of Trade and Industry in light of the Indicators of Sustainable Development for Scotland: Progress Report 2005, published on 31 August 2005. The Executive did however, make representations on the implementation of the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements (BETTA), following which the UK Government confirmed that it would exercise its powers under section 185 of the Energy Act 2004 to introduce a “cap” on transmission charges for renewable generators on Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles. The DTI issued a consultation paper on 27 July on what the level of the “cap” might be and whether such a scheme should also cover the mainland of Northern Scotland. The consultation period ends on 19 October.

This information is not held centrally.

The information requested is not held centrally. However, Office for National Statistics figures below show that the number of petrol stations operating across Scotland has fallen from approximately 880 in 1999 to about 700 in 2004.

Number of Business Sites¹ in the “Retail Sale of Automotive Fuel” Sector² by Local Authority Area³, November 1999 - November 2004

Local Authority	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Aberdeen City	40	40	30	25	25	20
Aberdeenshire	55	50	50	45	45	40
Angus	15	15	20	15	15	15
Argyll and Bute	35	35	35	35	40	35
Clackmannanshire	5	5	5	5	5	5
Dumfries and Galloway	50	50	40	40	40	35
Dundee City	25	15	15	15	15	10
East Ayrshire	25	25	20	20	20	20
East Dunbartonshire	20	20	15	20	15	15
East Lothian	15	15	10	10	10	10
East Renfrewshire	10	10	10	10	10	10
Edinburgh, City of	35	30	45	40	45	45
Eilean Siar	10	15	15	15	15	15
Falkirk	25	20	20	20	20	15
Fife	65	65	55	40	40	30
Glasgow City	60	60	60	50	55	50
Highland	70	65	65	65	60	55
Inverclyde	5	5	0	5	5	5
Midlothian	5	10	10	5	5	5
Moray	25	25	25	25	25	30
North Ayrshire	20	20	20	20	20	20
North Lanarkshire	45	45	35	40	35	30
Orkney Islands	10	5	10	5	5	5
Perth and Kinross	40	40	40	35	35	35
Renfrewshire	25	25	30	25	30	25
Scottish Borders, The	15	15	20	15	15	15
Shetland Islands	5	5	5	5	5	5
South Ayrshire	20	15	15	15	10	10
South Lanarkshire	50	45	40	35	40	40
Stirling	10	10	15	10	10	15
West Dunbartonshire	10	10	10	10	15	10
West Lothian	25	25	30	25	25	20
Total	880	835	810	750	745	700

Source: Scottish Executive, ONS (IDBR).

Notes:

1. Excludes central and local government.

2. Petrol stations are classed as Retail Sale of Automotive Fuel by the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2003 (SIC code 50.5).

3. Includes June 2002 LA boundary changes between The City of Edinburgh and West Lothian and Glasgow City and Renfrewshire.

4. Figures are rounded to nearest five in each local authority area. Totals may not equal the sum of the constituent parts due to rounding.

Assessments undertaken by the Scottish Executive indicate that fuel prices in remote and rural areas of Scotland tend generally to be higher than in urban areas, largely resulting from higher distribution costs and low throughput. In contrast, in urban areas the retail market and the higher number of users, which reduces costs through economies of scale, help to keep prices competitive. However, fuel prices are only one component of total motoring costs. The distance travelled by motorists, insurance premiums, and garage costs are all factors that make up the overall cost. Some motoring costs such as insurance premiums and garage expenses can be lower in rural areas.

A table detailing the number of maternity beds in NHS board areas in the last six years, along with year on year percentage changes is given has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37418).

This table shows the average daily number of beds, which were staffed and available for the reception of inpatient and day cases. Borrowed and temporary beds are included, beds in day bed units are excluded.

To date, the Executive has given advice on cost-benefit analyses on a case by case basis based on the principles of Flood and Coastal Defence Project Appraisal Guidance 3 - Economic Appraisal, published by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and available on their website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/pubs/pagn/fcdpag3/default.htm.

On the basis of advice from the Flooding Issues Advisory Committee, and its predecessor group the National Technical Advisory Group on Flooding Issues, the Executive is developing its own guidance, Flood Prevention Schemes; Guidance for Local Authorities, which includes a chapter, Economic Appraisal, dealing with cost–benefit analysis. Further information on the development of this guidance is available on the Executive’s website at

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Water/Flooding/16919/15222

We expect to publish later in the autumn the first chapters of our guidance, including the chapter on Economic Appraisal, with further chapters rolled out over the next two years. I shall arrange for copies of the guidance (Bib. number 37463) to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, on publication.