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On 10 November I announced an award of £1.865 million to the Scottish Borders Council under the third round of the Public Transport Fund for the cost of securing the necessary permissions for reinstating the railway between Edinburgh and the Central Borders.

On 28 November, the Scottish Executive launched its consultation paper on the strategic priorities for Scotland's railways as part of the process of developing directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority on the franchise for passenger rail services that start and end in Scotland. During this process we will give consideration to a wide range of issues, including proposals for additions to the passenger rail network such as the reinstatement of the Borders railway.

An extensive analysis of the environmental impacts of transporting timber by rail from the Keilder Forest can be found in Volume 3, Parts 5 & 6 of the Scottish Borders Railway Feasibility Study.

On 28 November the Scottish Executive published its consultation paper on the strategic priorities for Scotland's railways as part of the process of developing directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority on the franchise for passenger rail services that start and end in Scotland. During this process we will give consideration to a wide range of issues, including proposals for additions to the passenger rail network such as the reinstatement of the Borders railway.

The occupational health and safety minimum dataset is expected to be published to the NHS in Scotland shortly. When published, a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Library and on the "Scotland Health on the Web (SHOW)" site. The first set of information collected is expected to be available in late summer 2001.

The information requested is not available centrally. The Scottish Ambulance Service however may hold the data locally and you may therefore wish to write to Mr Adrian Lucas, Chief Executive, Scottish Ambulance Service, National Headquarters, Tipperlinn Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5UU with your request.

I replied to the member's letter on 30 June 2000. I have arranged for a further copy to be sent to you.

Question S1W-11098 was answered in the belief that it referred to the regulation of drinking water quality, which is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. Prevention of drowning and other accidents is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive.

Tackling debt is a key element of the Scottish Executive's Social Justice agenda and we have been working in partnership with a wide range of organisations to improve the financial services available to people on low incomes. Measures being developed or under consideration include:- Arrangements to provide free, high quality money advice for all who need it;- Encouragement of the provision and use of basic bank accounts;- Delivering wider access to low cost credit through the development of credit unions;- Provision of low cost insurance with rent schemes.The Executive is also providing active support to moves by the Department of Trade and Industry to improve lending practices of credit providers and transparency of information provided to consumers.

The response was from a member of the public. Representatives of local Elderly Forums were present at awaydays in Dumfries, Gourock and Aberdeen. The specific point on the Royal Commission was made by the representative in Dumfries.

Of the £135 million carried forward under the end year flexibility arrangements from 1999-2000, £101 million has been allocated to health boards and Trusts or has been earmarked to meet slippage in the capital programme. As announced by the Deputy First Minister on 3 July, the remaining £34 million, which was the health budget's contribution to the Scottish Executive contingency reserve, was guaranteed by the Cabinet to be used for health-related spending. Of this £34 million, we have already announced £10 million for local authorities to help reduce the number of delayed discharges from hospitals into the community; £4.5 million will be used to address the health-related needs of rough sleepers and, as I announced on 5 October, a further £5 million will be used to buy more aids and adaptations to help the elderly to live at home in the community. The remaining £14.5 million will also be used to improve care for elderly people.