- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether current measures allow local authorities to recover the cost of making good the damage done by fly-tipping, the abandoning of a vehicle or other unlawful dumping of rubbish, from the offender and, if so, what assessment has been made of their effectiveness.
Answer
Section 59(8) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and section 5(1) of the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978, provide that local authorities can recover costs from offenders, for dealing with fly-tipped waste and abandoned vehicles respectively.Existing legislation regarding litter and fly-tipping is currently the subject of a wide-ranging review, the recommendations of which will be known in late summer. There are no current plans to assess the effectiveness, in terms of cost recovery, of the legislation relevant to abandoned cars.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the current measures to prevent fly-tipping and other unlawful dumping of rubbish in residential areas.
Answer
The Executive will consider whether new measures are required, after it has completed its review of the effectiveness of litter and fly-tipping legislation, referred to in the answer given to question S1W-23273 today.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the current measures aimed at preventing fly-tipping and other unlawful dumping of rubbish in residential areas.
Answer
The Executive commenced a review of the effectiveness of litter and fly-tipping legislation on 21 February 2002. The review will consider whether the current legislation on litter and fly-tipping is effective and achieving its purpose, and also if it is being fully utilised by local authorities. The views of local authorities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other stakeholders are being sought. The review is expected to be completed by mid to late summer.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current procedures for the removal of abandoned vehicles from residential areas are sufficiently streamlined and swift.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19610 on 5 December 2001, which explained that the Executive would be consulting on this matter. The consultation closed on 1 February 2002.The responses are currently being considered.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments have been made of the effectiveness of the current measures to tackle anti-social neighbours.
Answer
The Scottish Executive commissions the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland to undertake an annual exercise to determine the use being made of evictions for anti-social behaviour and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders. It has also commissioned a number of detailed evaluations of specific initiatives and the Sociable Neighbourhood National Co-ordinator is undertaking a systematic audit of policies and practices at the local level.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend measures to tackle anti-social neighbours.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has taken action, in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, to extend the legislative remedies available through the introduction of "probationary" tenancies (a special variant of the short Scottish secure tenancy) and by suspending the right to buy for any tenants subject to recovery procedures. It also plans to use the forthcoming Criminal Justice Bill to introduce Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.The Scottish Executive is also encouraging good practice at the local level through the work of the Sociable Neighbourhood National Co-ordinator.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 20 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place between it, the Crown Office, local authorities and the police to ensure that anti-social behaviour proceedings are effective.
Answer
Any such arrangements are agreed at the local level, although the Executive seeks to positively encourage multi-agency working through guidance and the work of the Sociable Neighbourhood National Co-ordinator.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21010 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, how it will assist the Health and Safety Executive's follow-up study into individual worker histories at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock.
Answer
The Scottish Executive will assist the Health and Safety Executive with the follow-up study at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd in Greenock in any appropriate and possible way. For example, it has been agreed that the Scottish Executive will help to prepare the protocol for the study.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21012 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, whether there has been any increase in the workload of local GPs and other health service professionals following the publication of the Health and Safety Executive's report Cancer Among Current and Previous Workers at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd, Greenock.
Answer
Enquiries of the local NHS board indicate that there has been no significant increase in the workload of GPs or other health service professionals since publication of the report.
- Asked by: Duncan McNeil, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21013 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2002, what information it has received on progress made in encouraging semiconductor companies to carry out studies of ill health in their workforces with a view to establishing whether there is any causal link between the working environment and cancer rates.
Answer
The Health and Safety Executive advise that discussions have been initiated with other companies within the industry, seeking their individual agreement to become involved in a wider study of the type carried out at National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd.
