Chamber and committees

The National Waste Strategy: Scotland provides a framework for moving towards sustainable waste management. The 11 draft Area Waste Plans, being developed as part of the strategy, outline the measures which will be taken to encourage waste reduction, reuse and recycling as well as responsible disposal of residual wastes.In addition, the Executive launched the second phase of the Do a Little, Change a Lot advertising campaign in September 2002 which focuses on waste issues. This campaign aims to encourage householders to reduce, reuse and recycle their waste. The Packaging Waste Regulations encourage businesses to minimise, recover and recycle packaging waste. Other forthcoming producer responsibility initiatives include those for End of Life Vehicles and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.

Lord Mackay of Drumadoon was nominated to oversee the procedural progress of asbestos related actions in December 2001. As of 28 October 2002 procedural hearings have been held in 330 such actions. In 21% of these cases, the court has been notified that the action has settled in advance of a proof (hearing of evidence) without the need for further judicial intervention. Lord Mackay has been successful in focusing attention on the areas of dispute between the parties and in seeking ways of expediting progress within the scope of the Rules of the Court of Session, with the ultimate aim of parties reaching early settlement where this is possible. Lord Mackay will continue to hear further asbestos related cases by order. Proof diets are being allocated with particular reference and sensitivity to the nature of the pursuers illness.

The National Waste Strategy promotes a partnership approach to achieving sustainable waste management in Scotland. The Executive, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), local authorities, waste industry, community sector, enterprise agencies and the general public all have a key role to play in encouraging recycling and waste minimisation.The Executive has allocated over £230 million over the next three years for local authorities to implement Area Waste Plans as part of the National Waste Strategy. Local authorities are expected to use this funding to reduce waste disposed of to landfill and encourage more sustainable options such as reduction, reuse, recycling and composting. SEPA has responsibilities to regulate waste management activities including recycling and composting operations. The Scottish Executive's Energy Efficiency Office actively promotes to Scottish business, Envirowise; a UK government programme offering free, independent advice on practical ways to minimise waste and convert turnover into profit.

The Scottish Executive has identified over £230 million over the next three years in the Strategic Waste Fund for local authorities to implement Area Waste Plans as part of the National Waste Strategy. This will enable local authorities to implement kerbside recycling of paper, plastic, glass and other materials in line with the Area Waste Plans. A further £16 million is available this financial year.

The risk assessment study carried out by the Scottish Agricultural College was commissioned by Scottish Water and the completion of works recommended by the study is a matter for Scottish Water.Scottish Water has advised that the following recommendations have been actioned:

• Erection of fencing around the water margin to prevent grazing sheep having direct contact with reservoir.
• Diversion of critical minor watercourses intercepted by the aqueducts. This work is in design development and will start on site in the near future.

Further discussions are also taking place with landowners/occupiers to determine the likely cost of removing grazing animals from direct catchment land not under the ownership of Scottish Water.

The provision of a barrier to minimise the risk of cryptosporidium entering the Glasgow water supply from Loch Katrine is a matter for Scottish Water. The Katrine Water Project being progressed by Scottish Water proposes the introduction of a process consisting of chemical coagulation followed by rapid gravity filtration. Trials have been carried out on site and the proposed process has been shown to perform successfully when judged against current legislative standards and industry best practise.The current undertaking given by Scottish Water to Scottish ministers requires Scottish Water to complete the Katrine Water Project by December 2005.

The selection of an appropriate treatment process is a matter for Scottish Water. However, Scottish Water has advised that cryptosporidium challenge trials were undertaken on the pilot plant used to test the treatment process proposed for the Katrine Water Project. These trials concluded that the proposed process is adequate for Loch Katrine water. As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-30442, the proposed treatment process has also been subjected to an independent expert review. 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.

The information requested is given in Cryptosporidium Sampling Results for August 2002, a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 24867).

To date, Scottish Water has carried out a number of actions related to raw water quality within the Loch Katrine complex; over and above its normal operating and maintenance regime. In April 2001, the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) was commissioned to carry out a cryptosporidium risk assessment and in September 2002, the Babtie Group was commissioned to carry out further risk assessment work along the full length of the aqueducts. Detailed physical inspections of parts of the old and the new aqueduct were also carried out in September 2002.Scottish Water has also undertaken an internal review of the cryptosporidium incidents that occurred in both Glasgow and Edinburgh in August 2002. This was carried out under the independent chairmanship of Professor Cluckie.Details of the work carried out by Scottish Water in response to the recommendations contained in the SAC report are contained in the answer given to question S1W-30441 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.

Scottish Water commissioned the Water Research Centre (WRc) to undertake an independent expert review of the treatment process proposed for the Katrine Water Project. WRc concluded that the proposed process would meet the relevant legislative and regulatory requirements including those for cryptosporidium.