Chamber and committees

This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's response is:I refer you to the answers given to questions S1W-22821 (on 20 February 2002), S1W-22907 (on 22 February 2002), S1W-23119 (on 5 March 2002) and to my reply to his letter of 15 November 2001. The procurement process was undertaken in accordance with EU procurement requirements. In addition, the whole process was modelled on similar tendering routes for major works of comparable cost and scale elsewhere in the water industry. EC Harris, an internationally renowned Capital Project and Facilities Consultancy, was employed by West of Scotland Water at the inception of the tendering process to advise and oversee all stages of this procedure.

Scottish Screen is working with the property managers to market the site as a production base for film and television companies. One company is currently using it for their production offices while filming on location.

This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:This information is contained within the planning application submission to East Dunbartonshire Council. The overall dimensions for the water treatment works are as follows:The total length along the back of the building: 210 metersThe total length along the front of the building: 243 metersThe general width at the filter block: 44 meters.

The information requested is not held centrally. I am aware, however, of a number of initiatives, including the Loch Lomond Catchment Plan, being progressed by Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and others; the Millennium Forest for Scotland Project; and the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park Project, being undertaken by Forest Enterprise in Partnership with the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Executive.The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Interim Committee also continues to undertake a programme of work aimed at providing a properly managed infrastructure for visitors.

I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. His response is as follows:The plans for the new Water Treatment Works at Milngavie take into account the need to conserve and enhance the existing reservoirs. For example, no above ground construction is planned, except behind the tree belt around the site at Barrachan. Additional planting is also to be established to reinforce this tree line.One of West of Scotland Water's environmental objectives is to improve public access to its properties, as far as this does not compromise water quality, public safety or essential maintenance activities. Once the new plant is in service, this will take all operational and maintenance activities away from the existing works at the south of the reservoirs, along with personnel access and chemical deliveries. This will remove the conflict between public access and operational requirements, leading to a possible reduction in the existing restrictions on public activities. Some further tangible evidence of delivery of the authority's Environmental Strategy in the Craigmaddie/Mugdock area, include improving path networks and signposting within accessible areas, by December 2002. Suitable locations for bat boxes have also been identified in the locale and will be pursued in due course. When the project is completed, the need for bird scaring on the reservoirs will also be removed.The authority and East Dunbartonshire Council have undertaken to discuss the long-term future of public access to Milngavie reservoirs. These future discussions will help formulate how to best meet the needs of the population, with respect to the reservoirs, Mugdock Country Park, access between them, and car parking.

West of Scotland Water Authority schemes completed since 1996 which will have improved water quality in the River Clyde are as follows: Allers Sewage Treatment Works (STW) Outfall SewerDaldowie STW Phases III and IVHelensburgh STW Secondary TreatmentArdoch STW Secondary TreatmentDalmuir STW (PFI)at a total cost of over £95 million.Schemes in the current investment plan 2002-06 that will improve or maintain water quality are as follows:Bothwellbank STW UpgradingAllers STWCarbarns STWHelensburgh Sewerage SchemeVarious Combined Sewer Overflow Improvements (2002-06) with further work between 2006-10together with capital maintenance at:Shieldhall STWDalmarnock STWDaldowie STWHamilton STWat a total cost of some £30 million.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) continuously monitors river and estuary water quality and regulates the performance of discharges into watercourses. Since the 1970s, the River Clyde has been improving year on year, in terms of chemical and biological indicators in the SEPA water quality classification schemes. Migratory salmon now regularly return to the Clyde, Cart and Kelvin systems.The multi-million pound programme of improvements, described previously, to CSOs will ensure that this improvement continues, and SEPA is confident of continued improvements in water quality.

The Clyde has been improving year on year since the 1970s, in terms of the chemical and biological indicators in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) classification schemes. Migratory salmon now regularly return to the Cart, Kelvin and Clyde systems.Improvements to combined sewer overflows, and sewage treatment work upgrades throughout the Clyde and its tributaries, aim at continuing this improvement. The SEPA has published an interactive CD-ROM, called West Region Water Quality Review, which gives information about water quality, river flows, monitoring activities and environmental initiatives. It is available from the agency's Corporate Office at Erskine Court, The Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4TR or by contacting: [email protected].

I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. His response is as follows:The current consumption of water at Balmore water treatment works is approximately 220 megalitres per day. The consumption of water at Milngavie water treatment works is approximately 400 megalitres per day.The capacity of the Balmore works is approximately 350 megalitres per day. With a leakage reduction of approximately 20 megalitres, this means that 150 megalitres will be available to the Glasgow network. The proposed new water treatment works at Milngavie has been designed to provide 240 megalitres per day based on a leakage reduction for the Glasgow area of 43 megalitres per day.

Responsibility at community level rests primarily with NHS boards. They are well aware of the Executive's commitment to promoting equity of access to all services, including primary prevention measures. The results of the national demonstration project in primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), Have a Heart Paisley, will be rolled out to all parts of Scotland. The lifestyle changes which help reduce the prevalence of CHD and stroke are also effective in reducing the prevalence of cancer.

Local police force initiatives are the responsibility of the individual Chief Constable. The Strathclyde Police Spotlight Initiative on Safer Streets will continue until 31 March 2002. In addition, I understand that Strathclyde Police intend to concentrate on crime priority areas such as organised crime, drugs suppliers, vandalism and street disorder. There will be two national Safer Scotland campaigns during 2002. The first, "Crime Breakers", will run from 28 March until 31 May focusing on the activities of criminals who utilise the transport network and will also target drink and drugs driving offences. The second national campaign will take place in the autumn and will focus on public reassurance and high visibility policing.