To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reduce the level of dependency on the private car for those resident in rural areas in the South of Scotland, and if so, to detail these plans.

The Scottish Executive is pursuing a variety of initiatives to promote more sustainable and integrated transport in the rural areas. On 15 September, I announced grants to three community transport projects in the South of Scotland totalling nearly £92,000. Other initiatives include Rural Public Passenger Transport Grants, Social Inclusion Partnerships and the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund. The Executive is also looking forward to the outcome of the feasibility study exploring the potential for the reinstatement of the rail link between Edinburgh and the Borders let in April 1999.