Chamber and committees

Authorisations for thedisposal of radioactive waste are a regulatory matter for the ScottishEnvironment Protection Agency. Details are not held centrally. I understand,however, that only two facilities in Scotland have been authorised asspecialist facilities for the disposal of solid radioactive waste. Both are onthe UKAEA Dounreay site, namely the Dounreay low level waste pits and theDounreay intermediate level waste shaft.

The Executivesets objectives for environment protection annually in the corporate plan forthe Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Outcomes are reported inSEPA’s annual report. Both the report and the corporate plan may be found onSEPA’s website at  www.sepa.org.uk.The Executive’s high-level objectives for environment protection for thepresent Parliament are set out in A Partnership for a Better Scotland,which may be found in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 27591).Achievements against objectives set during the previous Parliament are set outin Reporting our Achievements, which is also available in theinformation centre (Bib. number 25620).The Water Quality andStandards document, Investment priorities for Scotland’s Water Authorities 2002-2006,set a number of standards for progress during that period. These includedstandards for drinking water quality, percentage of the population receivingsecondary treatment, indicative lengths of water main to be relined/replacedand sewer rehabilitation. This document can be found in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (Bib. number 15676). Improvements in the level of compliancewith standards in public drinking water supplies can be found at www.dwqr.org.uk, and on the quality of the Scottish water environment at www.sepa.org.uk.

This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water and I have asked them to write to you about thismatter.

Scotland has already designated 48 Special Protection Areas(SPAs) under the Birds Directive that have one or more species of seabird as aqualifying interest and 54 coastal or marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)under the Habitats Directive.

We do not hold thisinformation centrally. This is a matter for Scottish Water.

A range of mechanisms are inplace to ensure potential impacts are fully assessed, including scrutinyagainst development plan policies, environmental impact assessment and consultationwith Scottish Natural Heritage.

Projects whichwould have an adverse effect on the conservation interests for which a site ofinternational significance has been designated should only be permitted wherethere is no alternative solution and there are imperative reasons ofover-riding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature.Where a priority habitat or species (as defined in Article 1 of the HabitatsDirective) would be affected, prior consultation with the European Commissionis required unless the development is necessary for public health or safetyreasons.

The Conservation (NaturalHabitats, & Conservation) Regulations 1994 include a duty for competentauthorities to exercise their functions with regard to the requirements of the habitatsdirective and regulation 48 states that where a competent authority considersthat a plan or project is likely to have a significant effect on a special protectionarea or a special area of conservation, it shall undertake an appropriateassessment of the implications of the site. If the appropriate assessment showsthat a plan or project would have an adverse effect on the conservationinterests for which the site has been designated, the proposal will only bepermitted where there is no alternative solution and there are imperativereasons of over-riding public interest.

The following local authorities offer a taxicard alternative to their senior citizen concessionary bus pass:Aberdeen CityAberdeenshireAngusClackmannanshireDumfries and GallowayDundeeEast LothianEdinburghFifeFalkirkMidlothianMorayStirlingWest Lothian.

Directors and deputy directors of Europol are appointed by the Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs meeting at the Council of the European Union, where the Home Secretary represents the UK.The UK Government leads in negotiations with EU member states in all areas of justice and home affairs, including Europol. The Scottish Executive maintains regular contact with the Home Office on a wide range of EU justice and home affairs issues to ensure that devolved Scottish interests are appropriately represented in these negotiations.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:None. Premier Prison Services is solely responsible for such matters.