As there has been no change to Scottish Government travel policy, no carbon impact assessment was carried out. Scottish Government travel policy continues to reinforce the view that staff must consider if their journey is actually necessary (whether video-conferencing is a viable alternative). If there is the need to travel then staff are advised to use the train on the UK mainland. Air travel should only be taken where this is the most cost-effective and time-efficient method.

Expotel has confirmed that their deal offers sustainability benefits in that by using the latest technology, operating efficiently and filling the majority of seats, an easyJet passenger’s carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.

Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 includes a commitment to “Encourage local authorities to consider 20 mph zones in all residential areas”, but also says that we will “encourage and support the use of intelligence-led road safety targeting.” Transport Scotland is therefore assisting City of Edinburgh Council with the evaluation of its 20 mph zone pilot scheme in South Central Edinburgh, which has designated all side streets, and some of the main routes in the area as 20 mph. The final report on the project is due to be completed in summer 2013, and Transport Scotland hopes to use this evidence to encourage local authorities across Scotland to consider wider use of 20 mph zones.

In 2011, the UK Government relaxed the signing requirements for 20 mph zones and some local authorities in Scotland have taken advantage of the relaxation to apply for authorisations to implement 20 mph zones without physical measures. We are now looking at ways in which the administrative process by which such orders are granted can be streamlined.

Scottish Ministers have attended EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meetings where plant health issues have been on the agenda. Through Scottish Government officials there has also been liaison with EU officials on the Review of the EU Plant Health Regime.

I participated in the two recent Cabinet Office Briefing Room meetings on Chalara and wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about plant health on 5 November 2012. Scottish Government officials have regular, close engagement with UK officials through participation in UK plant health governance groups and have participated in the development of the Interim Chalara Control Plan, which was published on 6 December 2012 and includes retention of the current ban on the import and movement of ash plants, live trees and seeds into and within the British Isles pending review with the nursery and horticulture sectors in early spring 2013.

Initial work on Phytophthora ramorum by Forest Research involved extensive testing of host tree susceptibility to this disease. This indicated that our native oaks are of low susceptibility. Subsequent field observations throughout the UK have confirmed that even in the worst affected areas native oak has not had any significant level of infection. Those trees showing any sign of damage are very few in number and are thought to represent the tail end of this species’ overall susceptibility.

No further research on this subject is planned but ongoing aerial and ground-based surveys will continue to monitor disease progression across the range of tree species found in the UK.

Research into tree diseases is undertaken, on behalf of Forestry Commission Scotland and the other parts of the Forestry Commission, by Forest Research which has sites in Roslin, Midlothian and Farnham, Surrey.

Details of research programmes aimed at promoting environmentally acceptable measures to prevent and control damage to trees, including native trees, from pests and diseases can be found on the Forestry Commission website at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestresearch.nsf/ByUnique/INFD-5STC8A.

Individual project announcements will be made as and when funding becomes available.

Scottish Ministers are well aware of the benefits of cross-cutting policy work. Over the last two years, Ministers and Transport Scotland officials have had discussions with colleagues in health (including sport), environment and education to discuss how closer working relationships could benefit all of these individual policy areas. Such discussions will continue and will help to inform the refresh of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, due to be published in Spring 2013.

Since 2006, the Scottish Government has awarded Cycling Scotland just over £200,000 for cycling investment in public sector workplaces. In that time, there has been 114 Cycle Friendly Employer Award certificates issued to Scottish public sector employers, representing a total workforce of 71,925 employees.

Also, Cycling Scotland subsidises adult cycle commuter courses. Employers registered with Healthy Working Lives are asked to pay £100 per course against a retail value of £400. To date, 17 such courses have been delivered to public sector employers.

My letter of 12 November to the Cross Party Group on Cycling said:

“I welcome the opportunity to speak with elected members of all parties to discuss what more could be done locally to deliver more cycling facilities. Currently, local government officials attend the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland Delivery Forum, Chaired by Cycling Scotland, and I know that Cycling Scotland would welcome representation at a more senior level, both at official and elected member levels. I will ask officials in the Sustainable Transport Team to progress this with Ian Aitken at Cycling Scotland.”

The current position is that Cycling Scotland will organise this first annual meeting for Summer/Autumn 2013. Other cycling interest groups are represented on the National Cycling Interest Group chaired by Paths for All. This will remain the case.