Chamber and committees

The provisions proposed in thenoise nuisance part of the bill are enabling and flexible. It is proposed thatthe power to issue a fixed penalty notice for a noise nuisance offence will begranted to officers of local authorities as well as the police. It will be for eachlocal authority to determine which of its officers are authorised to use thepower.

The Executive measuresprogress in tackling child poverty, promoting social inclusion and closing theopportunity gap through the 29 social justice milestones, and the objectivesand targets set out as part of the budget process.

Resources are allocated tolocal authorities, health boards and others to promote progress with a range ofobjectives, including the achievement of these milestones and targets.

The Standing Committee onResource Allocation chaired by Sir John Arbuthnott has examined theimplications of unmet need for the allocation of NHS resources. The results ofthis work are currently being considered by the Executive.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Herresponse is as follows:

This extra funding will beused specifically in rural areas and will be aimed at addressing the mostsevere supply problems. Communities Scotland will shortly open discussions with local authoritiesand others with a view to identifying potential projects for support.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3491 on 17 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.

While the regulation of theelectricity network is a reserved matter, the Executive is working with the UKGovernment, the regulator, and the industry to ensure that the grid isstrengthened in order to fully realise Scotland’s renewable energy potential. I understand that thetransmission companies are currently considering a range of options forstrengthening the grid in various places but no conclusions have yet beenreached on specific proposals or on the costs and timing involved.

To enable effective,innovative treatments to move smoothly into mainstream use across NHS Scotland,the Scottish Medicines Consortium is developing a “horizon scanning process” toallow it to identify its likely future workload, ideally 12 months in advance.This “forward look” will allow a national implementation plan to be agreed for effective,innovative drugs.

NHS board general revenueallocations already include provision for the cost of prescribed drugs and areset to allow for the introduction of new drugs and the greater use of existingtherapies. The new national planning arrangements will improve theeffectiveness of this process.

The management of therelocation of its headquarters staff to Inverness is an operational matter for SNH. However, the Executive strongly supports SNH management in their aim to encourage as manystaff as possible to move to Inverness. SNH have indicated that they also intend to providestaff who do not wish to move, with information and assistance to help themfind suitable alternative employment.

Part 11 of the AntisocialBehaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill introduces a power for the police to issue fixedpenalty notices (FPNs) for a range of low-level, anti-social and nuisanceoffences committed by persons aged 16 and over.

Paragraph 172 of the policy memorandumto the bill, which was published on 30 October, confirms that the Executive plansto pilot the use of FPNs for anti-social offences and that an evaluation of thepilot will be carried out.

The bill and accompanyingdocuments, including the policy memorandum, can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/bills/index.htm#12.

The Scottish Executive commissioned research project on home supervision, reported in December2002, found 22% of the 189 cases examined had no allocated social worker. Thedetailed findings are at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cru/.In addition, Audit Scotland reported in 2002 on children on supervision forreasons which include offending that between 300 and 500 were not receiving theservice prescribed. Performance audit clearly plays a valuable role inassessing the effectiveness of youth justice policies and Audit Scotland hasundertaken to provide updates. The first update in November 2003 reaffirmed theearlier findings and identified areas for further action by the Scottish Executive and councils. The Scottish Executive has accepted all of thereport’s recommendations.

Any proposal to construct oroperate an electrical generating station with a generation capacity in excessof 50MW requires consent from Scottish ministers under section 36 of theElectricity Act 1989. When consent is granted, ministers also grant deemedplanning permission under section 57(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland)1997.

Scottish ministers mustconsult the relevant local authority, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and may also consult other parties withan interest in the development.

Applicants are required bystatute to publish notices in the local and national press which describes theproposal and advise how representations should be made.

Under the Electricity Works(Environment Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000, ministers are required toconsider whether a proposal is likely to have a significant effect on theenvironment. Any section 3 application must be accompanied by an environmental statement.

In reaching decisions, ministersare guided by the provisions contained in Schedules 8 and 9 of the ElectricityAct 1989 and by Executive planning policy as set out in National PlanningPolicy Guideline 6 Renewable Energy.

Ministers can grant consentto a proposal as it stands (or with conditions), reject it, or refer it to apublic local inquiry.