Chamber and committees

Scottish police forces were set a number of jointly agreed national road safety targets in May 2001, to be achieved by 2003-04:A reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 18%.A reduction in the number of children killed or seriously injured by 25%. A reduction in the slight casualty rate by 4%.These are part of a range of targets set following consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and Conveners of Police Authorities. Progress towards the targets will be monitored jointly by forces, police authorities and the Executive, but it will be for each force to decide how best to contribute to the national targets, taking account of local needs and priorities and the contribution that can be made by other bodies.

We welcome the close partnership which exists in Scotland between the NHS and the hospice movement, as it ensures that a comprehensive range of services is in place in response to patients' needs. We will continue to encourage hospices and the NHS to work together.Hospices will receive additional funding through NHS boards to take account of the impact on their running costs of the withdrawal of charitable relief on water and sewerage charges.

The information requested is not held centrally. The reporting of incidents to the Procurator Fiscal is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

The Water Industry Commissioner is responsible for promoting the interests of all customers through the economic regulation of the water industry. He has no role in the consideration of the Environmental Statements for individual projects.

This is a question for West of Scotland Water Authority and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:This information is available in Annex D of the Environmental Statement in the Project's Planning Application, and was also covered in great detail during the public meeting on 26 September 2001.

I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-22817 (26 February 2002), S1W-22386 (8 February 2002) and S1W-22910 (22 February 2002).West of Scotland Water Authority's Chief Executive adds:As Mr McNulty is aware, the Community Forum has now held two meetings at which representatives of the local residents are working with members of the Project Team to help minimise the effects of construction on the local population.In addition to this, the Project Team is always willing and is responsive to meeting with concerned individuals or groups. An example of this is a meeting held recently with residents of Craigmillar Avenue who are concerned about the routing of the sewer from the new works.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22910. Given that the Planning Application for the Katrine Water Project is currently under consideration by East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC), it is not appropriate for me or West of Scotland Water Authority to comment either on the content of the replies made by interested parties to EDC, or on the effectiveness of the consultation.

This is essentially a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. I understand that East Dunbartonshire Council, as planning authority, is presently giving consideration to a planning application and Environmental Statement submitted by the West of Scotland Water Authority for the Katrine Water Project. As a statutory consultee, Scottish Natural Heritage has been given the opportunity to comment on the Environmental Statement.

This is a question for West of Scotland Water Authority and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:The tendering process for the Katrine Water Project conformed to all public sector tendering rules and procedures.An independent audit of the process by PricewaterhouseCooper found that re-tendering stage 2 of the project would not result in any cost savings and would actually delay project progress, thereby adding to costs and would hamper the successful completion of the project.

Question (a) is a matter for West of Scotland Water and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:All construction activities for the new Milngavie Water Treatment Works will be carried out in a planned, methodical way with every necessary measure being taken to prevent contamination of the existing water supply and the surrounding environment.For question (b) I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22818 on 20 February 2002.