Chamber and committees

Sentencing decisions rest with the courts but we do support the aim of reducing prison numbers. That is why we have accepted in principle the recommendations contained in "A Safer Way", the joint Prisons and Social Work report which reviewed community disposals and the use of custody for women offenders in Scotland, and why an inter-agency forum, chaired by Professor Sheila McLean, was set up to consider the issues raised by the review.

The methods for disposing of animal waste are laid down in the Animal By-Products Order 1999, which implements the EC Animal Waste Directive, 90/667/EEC. The main methods allowed are rendering, incineration or, in certain limited circumstances, burial. Currently, alkaline hydrolysis is not one of the prescribed processes. However, the Scottish Executive is aware of the potential benefits of this method. Assuming the process can be shown to be effective in destroying pathogenic material in animal waste, the next step would be to approach the European Commission with a view to the method being added to the prescribed processes stipulated in the Animal Waste Directive. The Directive is currently being reviewed, and the Executive will bear the process in mind when offering comments on any proposals put forward by the European Commission.

22,300 tonnes of rendered material is held at the store in Ratho, while the Glenrothes facility holds 49,800 tonnes.The Intervention Board Executive Agency, whose Board answers to all the UK Agriculture Ministers, is responsible for procuring the storage facilities and estimates that in total this would equate to approximately 577,000 head of cattle.

Two stores in Scotland, located at Ratho, just outside Edinburgh, and Glenrothes in Fife, are used to store the rendered remains of cattle slaughtered under the Over Thirty Months Scheme.A privately run waste management company, Snowies of Stirling, is responsible for both facilities.

The Intervention Board Executive Agency, whose Board answers to all the UK Agriculture Ministers, has procured storage facilities for this material at two sites in Scotland. Both the units, at Ratho and Glenrothes, have the required planning permission and statutory consents in accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1997.

Both stores are secure, with padlocks and seals in place on all external doors. Officials of the Meat and Livestock Commission check security arrangements on a regular basis, and the seals can only be broken in their presence. Furthermore, officials from the Scottish Executive audit security on a monthly basis.Finally, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency monitor compliance with licensing conditions.

The material will be held in secure storage until the Intervention Board Executive Agency, whose Board answers to all the UK Agriculture Ministers, has procured the capacity required to dispose of this material in a satisfactory manner.The Board has already awarded incineration contracts to three companies and is currently in negotiations with other interested parties. The Board estimate that the current stockpile of material will begin to be reduced at the beginning of the year 2000. They have been set a target of incinerating 60% of the MBM stocks produced under the cull by March 2002.

The Intervention Board, an Executive Agency whose Board answers to all the UK Agriculture Ministers, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Over Thirty Months Scheme, including the procurement of storage facilities for holding rendered material.

Contracts for the stores in Scotland were awarded in 1996.

Cull material arising in Scotland is either sent direct for incineration, or rendered then held in secure storage pending final destruction.

Cull material arising in Scotland is either sent direct for incineration, or rendered then held in secure storage pending final destruction.

No. I am responsible for criminal prosecutions and the investigation of deaths in Scotland. I am sorry, but there is nothing I can add to the information which has already been provided to Mrs Godley and her representatives about the tragic death of her son.