Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Agricultural College does not provide bee inspectors for the Scottish Government. Bee inspection is carried out by staff of the Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate.

The Scottish Government is providing advice, training, surveillance and diagnostic services to the honeybee-keeping industry. The Scottish Government have also introduced a telephone Bee Helpline and have established a Disease Stakeholder Group which is meeting on a fortnightly basis to discuss control.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26300 on 24 August 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26109 on 19 August 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The resources for the provision of public toilet facilities are included within the annual overall block grant provided through the local government finance settlement. It is for each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and jointly agreed set of national and local priorities, including the Scottish Government''s key strategic objectives. For its part, the Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding; £23 billion over the period 2008-10.

Decisions about the relocation of Scottish Government functions will be considered in terms of ensuring the best use of the existing government estate, providing the best value for money for the Scottish Government as a whole and maintaining or improving the operational effectiveness of the function in question. This approach means that relocation is an option, and will only be pursued following a rigorous and transparent process that shows there are efficiencies for Scotland and that the move provides best possible value for money.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26109 on 19 August 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Scottish Government coordinates the response to the current flu pandemic across Scotland, liaising closely with the UK Government and other administrations. The responsibility for local planning in highland Perthshire rests with the Tayside strategic coordinating group (SCG).

Planning at this local level has been ongoing for some time and the response to swine flu includes maintenance by the local authority of key service provision to all communities, including those in rural areas, during a period of sustained community transmission. Emergency services have also considered arrangements for response in rural areas during an outbreak of swine flu and have agreed a contingency to maintain effective service provision. The SCG also has the lead role in ensuring effective communication with local communities, providing advice and reassurance through press and media.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26107 on 4 August 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Basic broadband coverage, defined as 512 Kbps, is now generally available throughout Scotland. This is following successful completion of the Scottish Government''s Broadband Reach Project in May 2009. The project, delivered by Avanti Communications Ltd, is providing an affordable, basic broadband service to the demand known to the Scottish Government, in the (less than) 1% of the population previously unable to access a broadband service due to distance from the exchange.

The Scottish Government is satisfied that all known broadband demand in highland Perthshire and the Angus Glens area, which Avanti is able to serve and which wished to take up this service, has now been met.