Chamber and committees

The requirements referred to come into effect on 1 January 2002. Local authorities, or their agents, should already be able to remove ozone-depleting substances from refridgerator cooling circuits. However, they will not be able to meet the deadline for removing those trapped in insulation foams because the UK currently does not have the technology for treating such foams in an environmentally-secure manner. It is likely that discarded refrigerators will have to be stored or exported for treatment until Scottish facilities are available and the Executive is currently considering local authority funding issues.

I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-19583.

This is a matter to be considered in future spending reviews.

A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture specifically mentions the significant role farmers have in tackling water pollution. Reducing potential threats to bathing waters is merely one manifestation of this role. Our strategy commits us to taking a joined-up approach to agriculture and environment policy, to ensuring better advice and guidance to farmers, and to identifying solutions which are good for the environment and good for business. The approach we are developing is not limited to the single issue of bathing waters but is valid and applicable across the whole range of issues where agriculture affects the environment.

The requirement to remove free ozone-depleting substances from domestic fridges and freezers (e.g. those in the cooling circuit) is an existing duty which local authorities already have to discharge. The requirement to remove trapped ozone-depleting substances (e.g. those in insulation foams) is a new one and funding issues are currently under consideration.

None. Such events tend to be marked by standards bodies rather than governments.

In July this year, the Scottish Executive issued advice for farmers on the prevention of pollution at bathing waters, based on the conclusions of the study, to farmers in Ayrshire and on Bute. The advice is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 14970). In the debate on the Agriculture Strategy for Scotland on 3 October, my colleague Ross Finnie announced the creation by the Scottish Executive, together with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, WWF Scotland, the Scottish Agricultural College and the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, of an advice co-ordination post at the college. One of the postholder's main tasks will be to collate and publicise advice on best practice in bathing water catchments, based on the research work by the college.Further work, building on the research, is currently under discussion with stakeholders.

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the bodies of the European Union on a wide range of issues including the Bathing Waters Directive (76/160/EEC).

Research on the feasibility of protocols suggested for the proposed revision of the Bathing Waters Directive (76/160/EEC) was carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency at Troon, Ayr, Whitesands and Eyemouth during the 2000 bathing season. It was carried out in conjunction with similar studies by the Environment Agency in England & Wales, and with others elsewhere in Europe, at the request of the European Commission, and there are no plans to publish results. The need for beach management trials and plans for beach management committees will be considered further in connection with implementing the proposed revision.

Annex C of A Working Document for Dischargers and Regulators, published by the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department in February 1998, provides guidance to the water authorities and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on the design construction and operation of waste water collection systems and treatment plants. A copy of this document is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17088).No specific guidance has been given by the Executive to the Scottish water authorities and SEPA about the protection of bathing waters in the future under possible climate change scenarios.