Chamber and committees

This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally.

This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally.

The Scottish Executive has had no recent discussions with the UK Government on this issue, as no sites have been selected for the decommissioning of nuclear submarines. I understand that, in its announcement on the publication of the final report of the Project ISOLUS (Interim Storage of Laid Up Submarines) Front End Consultation, the Ministry of Defence stated that it will not be until industry comes forward with proposals, that potential sites will begin to emerge.

Our published target for renewable energy is 18% by 2010. But in the light of the recommendation of the recent PIU report on energy policy that the UK should adopt a target of 20% by 2020, we intend to consider how we might work towards a figure of 30% in Scotland by 2020. Any revision to our target would be made only after a full process of consultation with all interested parties on the many issues that a higher target would raise.

The Study Report, Skye Bridge Revised Study and Economic Feasibility Report was published in 1988 and was lodged on production SO RD12 at the public local enquiry into the Skye Bridge project in 1992. A copy has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19709).

Implementation of the National Waste Strategy is well under way, with most draft area waste plans expected to be published by the end of March. The draft plans will then be integrated into a National Waste Plan for Scotland. The integration process will be carried out by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and will ensure that the area plans are consistent and together meet the strategy's objectives. I have decided to establish a high-level Scottish Waste Strategy Advisory Group, which I shall chair, to assist me to ensure the strategy is being effective and to advise on any changes which might be required as it develops. I envisage the group consisting of representatives of key stakeholders in the waste field, including local government, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Scottish Environmental Services Association, Enterprise Agencies, the Institute of Waste Management, NGOs, CBI Scotland, the Recycling Advisory Group Scotland, and REMADE Scotland. The group will initially meet some three times over the next year and its composition and remit will be reviewed at that stage.

Information is not collected centrally that is sufficient to calculate the age of pupils on the date they left school. Information is, however, collected and published on the number of pupils who leave school at the minimum school leaving age and is presented in the following table. The latest information currently available relates to the 1998-99 school year.All School Leavers by Stage and Term of Leaving: 1994-95 to 1998-99

Academic Year	Number of Leavers (=100%)	S4		S5		S6	% who left at School Leaving Age
		Winter	Summer	Winter	Summer
All
1994-95	61,836	0.8	23.0	10.6	21.8	43.8	30.1
1995-96	62,978	0.6	22.1	12.0	21.6	43.7	30.1
1996-97	65,988	0.6	21.3	12.9	20.8	44.4	30.7
1997-98	62,601	0.8	20.6	13.6	19.6	45.5	30.1
1998-99	62,246	0.7	20.4	12.1	19.9	47.1	28.3

Scottish Executive records indicate that the number of vehicles available and dedicated for use on trunk roads in the Highland area on the dates requested are as follows:

Type / Date	26 November 2001	3 December 2001	10 December 2001
Snow plough vehicles	31	32	32
Glycol sprayers	2	3	3
Footway ploughs / vehicles	7	7	7
Snow blowers	5	5	5
Patrol vehicles	2	2	2

Additional vehicles stationed elsewhere in the North West Unit were available for redeployment on the Highland network if required. The North West Partnership Winter Plan of 2000-01 indicates the following vehicles were available for use on trunk and local roads. The tables are not directly comparable, as Highland plant was not dedicated to trunk roads.

Type	Number
Snow plough vehicles	48
Glycol sprayers	2
Footway ploughs / vehicles	Not Known
Snow blowers	13
Patrol vehicles	Not Known

Decisions about Environmental Impact Assessments are for the competent authority, currently the Crown Estate. No development application, either for renewal or modification, has been received to date by the Crown Estate for the site in question.

It remains my intention to issue a draft bill on Agricultural Holdings Legislation in the spring of this year. No date has yet been fixed for publication.