Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2433on 14 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

None was approvedor returned within three months. I am currently examining the Regional TransportStrategies. They are complex documents that deserve careful consideration. Itis my intention to complete that consideration before Parliament resumes.

The ScottishExecutive does not consider the use of biometric systems by educationauthorities to be necessary. Section 8 of the Schools (Health Promotion andNutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 will require educationauthorities to take reasonable steps to protect the identity of pupilsreceiving free school lunches. This can be achieved in a number of ways and itis up to local authorities and schools to determine the best system locally. If an authority decides to use biometricsystems in its schools then we would expect them to follow best practice whenit comes to data protection and to consult parents.

The Scottish Government hasnot participated in discussions on the development of the economic partnershipagreements between the European Commission and the African, Caribbean andPacific countries. This is an issue that I will consider raising in futurediscussions with UK Ministers.

The Scottish Executivetreats these allegations very seriously and has stated its opposition to renditionflights. Civil Aviation is a reserved matter and so is the responsibility of theUK Government but attempts to commit or to conspire to commit torture are crimesunder Scots law and it is for the police to investigate allegations of such offencesand for the procurator fiscal to decide whether to bring proceedings. However, theappropriate authorities can only act on the basis of evidence. To this end, I haveinvited civil liberties organisations to present me with any evidence they may haveabout Scottish airports being used for extraordinary rendition flights. If suchevidence is there it will be considered by the appropriate authorities.

The Scottish Government is committedto equality and to ensuring that the specific needs of particular communities areaddressed.

In preparing a community safetystrategy, community safety partnerships are encouraged to undertake a communitysafety audit and to consult the community, including members of equality groups,to enable them to be actively involved in setting priorities. Public bodies involvedin community safety partnerships are also subject to duties to promote gender, disabilityand race equality.

We will continue to encouragethe involvement of all of our citizens in making Scotland a safer and stronger place.

The Executive has already issuedguidance to the wider Scottish public sector on how, and under what circumstances,environmental criteria can be specified in public contracts. The Executive has beenworking with external stakeholder bodies to produce Scottish specific guidance onincluding social criteria in public procurement activity which will be issued assoon as a final version has been agreed. The Executive is also involved in pilotprojects looking at incorporating “social clauses” into contracts. All Executiveguidance on social and environmental issues in public procurement can be found onthe Executive’s website.

We are discussing theprogrammes of the regional transport partnerships with them, to see what can bedone to reduce traffic levels, and encourage modal shift and car sharing.

The Transport Scotland Act2005 section 6(1)(a) states that each Regional Transport Partnership, beforearriving at its Regional Transport Strategy must consult its constituentcouncils, each Health Board in its area and other persons as it thinks fit.

Scotland’s TransportFuture: Guidance on Regional Transport Strategies states that meaningful and effective engagement withregional stakeholders, including community planning partners and the widerpublic should be carried out throughout the Strategy development process.

There is no statutory deadlinefor the approval of regional transport strategies. The Transport (Scotland) Act2005 section 6(1)(b) required the Regional Transport Partnerships to submit theirfirst transport strategies by 31 March 2007. The document Scotland’s Transport Future: Guidanceon Regional Transport Strategies states that ministers will aim to approve orreturn submitted strategies within three months.