Chamber and committees

The appraisal summary tables published as part of the Strategic Roads Review explained that serious detrimental environmental impacts would occur as a consequence of the Kelvin Valley route in relation to:an increase in carbon dioxide emissions (global air quality);the impact of the drainage regime on the natural land drainage system;the impacts on ecology;disturbances to the Antonine Wall and the Forth and Clyde Canal;the impacts on the rural landscape character.

An environmental assessment of options for upgrading the A80 to motorway using the Kelvin Valley and the present route of the road was carried out by the Babtie Group in 1996. This work was reviewed as part of the Strategic Road Review and the emerging appraisal summary tables were published by the Scottish Executive Development Department in November 1999 in Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review.

The valuation of non-domestic property for rating purposes is the responsibility of the Scottish Assessors. Assessors act independently of both central and local government reaching decisions in accordance with statute and case law.

Consultation was a continuing thread throughout the Central Scotland Transport Corridor Studies, for each of the A80, A8 and M74 corridors, and involved a steering group, a consultative forum and focus groups. In addition, the Scottish Executive has taken advice from an External Advisory Panel of four eminent academics, established to provide an independent and impartial overview of the direction and content of the studies. In addition to these consultations, local councillors and MSPs have been presented with information from the studies at key points.This consultation process was an integral part of the corridor studies work and the cost of consultation cannot be separated out from the overall budget for the studies, nor can the costs for the A80 study be separated out from the total costs for the three corridors.

This information is not held centrally.

The following table shows how many people died from mesothelioma in each of the last three years, and what the average age was. There are no projections of future deaths from mesothelioma.

	1999	2000	2001
All deaths involving mesothelioma	158	138	160
Mesothelioma coded as underlying cause of death but no mention of exposure to asbestos	N/A	116	137
Exposure to asbestos coded as underlying cause of death, with a mention of mesothelioma	N/A	16	14
Other underlying causes with a mention of mesothelioma	N/A	6	9
Average age of all persons included in the total	71	70	71

Notes:1. In Scotland, the cause of death recorded on death certificates is coded using the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The Ninth Revision of the ICD, which was in use up to 1999, did not have a specific code for mesothelioma. However, all cases where mesothelioma was mentioned on the death certificate were identified by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). 2. The 10th Revision of the ICD, which has been used to code cause of death in Scotland since 1 January 2000, includes a specific group of codes for mesothelioma. The Scottish Executive's strategy for all cancers is to ensure patients have access to the best care possible through multidisciplinary managed clinical networks involving clinicians drawn from among relevant disciplines. There are therefore no centres of excellence vested within particular institutions or facilities.Through the Chief Scientist Office, the Scottish Executive funds a wide range of research into cancer. Many researchers and research groups are involved. Concentrating research in a single centre would not be an efficient way of ensuring that its benefits, in terms of improved treatment and organisation of care, are implemented as widely as possible throughout the health service.

I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:The repairs to Hallbar Tower were grant aided by Historic Scotland and were carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions that apply to the historic building repairs grant scheme. One of the conditions of the scheme is that work be carried out in accordance with an advisory report prepared by Historic Scotland architects. The advisory report is provided to guide the applicant's professional adviser in the preparation of a comprehensive scheme of repairs.The advisory report for Hallbar Tower recommended the removal of the stone slab roof and its replacement with slate, the original roofing material. The stone slab roof was a relatively late element in the tower's construction, having been introduced in the 1860s. It was not considered to be of archaeological importance and the slabs were re-cycled as footpaths round the tower and at the nearby bothy. The work was supervised on a day-to-day basis by the firm of architects appointed by the applicant, with periodic visits by a Historic Scotland architect to ensure that works progressed in accordance with the requirements of the advisory report. This is normal practice on a grant-assisted project.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28850 today. 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.

Fraud has not yet been firmly established for any learning provider. It is a matter for the Procurator Fiscal Service to decide what constitutes "fraudulent activity" and whether there is sufficient evidence for criminal proceedings. It is then for the court to decide if there is sufficient evidence to convict.

A faulty projector was removed and replaced in 1999. Disposal of equipment has been arranged through the Dispersal Service Agency.