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Councils are independent of central Government control and are locally accountable.The Scottish Executive expects local authorities to manage their budgets on the resources available to them.The Accounts Commission for Scotland has the overall responsibility for issues concerning the accounts of local authorities in Scotland. The Controller of Audit may decide to make a report to the Accounts Commission on a particular matter arising out of or in connection with the accounts of any local authority, or the Accounts Commission may ask him to produce such reports as it requires. This is a matter for them.I understand that the council are considering a range of measures which might be taken to address the deficits they have identified. There are no plans to make additional funds available to Scottish Borders Council.

Scottish Enterprise Borders have been awarded an additional £6.096 million for the period 1999-2002 to support economic development in the area and the Scottish Executive is continuing to work closely with local agencies to secure sustainable economic development. Since the Scottish Borders was included on the Assisted Areas map in July 2000, £4.1 million in Regional Selective Assistance have been offered to companies in the area, involving the planned creation and safeguarding of some 900 jobs.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16253.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16253.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16253.

The allocation of funding to Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust for the provision of sleep disorder services is a matter for the health boards that commission such services from the Trust. I understand, however, that Lothian Health Board and Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust are conducting a review of the sleep apnoea service provided by the Sleep Centre.Information relating to the numbers of people suffering from sleep apnoea, or on waiting lists for treatment of the condition, is not available centrally.

Amey Highways Ltd, as agent for the Scottish Executive, is responsible for consents and providing guidance to those wishing to place bunting, banners and flags across and alongside trunk roads.

There are no centrally held estimates of the numbers of very sheltered dwellings required in the current financial year.

£27.5 million for flood prevention and coast protection schemes is included in the Scottish Executive support for local authority capital expenditure published in Making a Difference for Scotland: Spending Plans for Scotland 2001-02 to 2003-04. This will issue as capital allocations under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Memory clinics are provided in the following health board areas:Ayrshire and ArranDumfries and GallowayFifeForth valleyGrampianGreater GlasgowLothianWestern IslesSome other health board areas provide memory loss services as part of the wider range of services for dementia sufferers.