Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Forward Scotland and a representative from the Sustainable Development Team attends board meetings as an observer. The Auditor General for Scotland may carry out an examination of Forward Scotland under section 23 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000.A wide range of information about Forward Scotland's activities is available on its website (www.forward-scotland.org.uk). Forward Scotland will also produce an Annual Report. Forward Scotland would be happy to discuss their activities with any member.

The Executive placed particular emphasis on environmental considerations when awarding the contract for the installation of internal furnishings and fittings in the new office building in Perth. The suppliers are committed to correct environmental practices, and are full signatories to the Office Furniture and Filing Manufacturers Association environmental policy.

Forward Scotland is a company limited by guarantee (company number 232302) established under the Companies Acts 1985 and 1989. The Scottish Executive provides development funding for Forward Scotland through the Sustainable Action Fund, under the powers provided in section 152 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

The objectives of Forward Scotland are set out in the company's Memorandum of Association, as follows: Within the context of promoting sustainable development for the benefit of communities across Scotland, the objects of the company are:(a) to advance the education of the public - communities, organisations and individuals - in the subject of sustainable development by:(i) delivering training in all aspects of the principles of sustainable development; (ii) encouraging and providing financial and/or other support for the delivery of practical projects that demonstrate aspects of sustainable development and promote their replication, and(iii) collecting and disseminating information and learning, and undertaking research for the benefit of the public, with a view to influencing public policy and the spreading of knowledge of best practice and encouraging its application, in the area of sustainable development.(b) to promote and support the conservation, protection, and improvement of the physical and natural environment by:(i) improving land and buildings to enable these to make a positive contribution socially, economically, environmentally, or in terms of heritage interest, for the benefit of the local community, and(ii) encouraging the better use of resources.(c) to advance the education of the public - communities, organisations, and individuals - in all aspects of waste minimisation, waste management and waste recycling.

Forward Scotland are required to submit a draft corporate plan covering the year ahead to the Scottish Executive by the end of April each year.The plan is required to set out:Forward Scotland's key objectives and associated key performance targets for the year ahead and its strategy for achieving these objectives, anda forecast of expenditure and income. These forecasts should represent Forward Scotland's best estimate of its available income.The main elements of the plan - including the key performance targets - are agreed between the Scottish Executive and Forward Scotland. An amended Corporate Plan for 2002-03 was agreed at the board on 6 September and Forward Scotland will place it on their website (www.forward-scotland.org.uk).A representative from the Sustainable Development Team attends board meetings as an observer.

The Chairperson of Forward Scotland is appointed by the Scottish ministers, and the directors are appointed by the chairperson. Current board members have a wide range of backgrounds and interests in sustainable development. Further details can be found on the Forward Scotland website (www.forward-scotland.org.uk).

This information is not available. Farms subject to movement restrictions (Designated Area Orders - DAOs) for infectious pancreatic necrosis and bacterial kidney disease since 1979 follow. These tables give a general indication of the number of cases. Some DAOs are historical because farmers have not sought their revocation and some sites have been subject to more than one DAO per year. DAOs are served on suspicion or confirmation of the presence of the disease agent but this does not necessarily mean a clinical outbreak.(a) Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis

1979	12	1991	168
1980	10	1992	194
1981	20	1993	219
1982	36	1994	220
1983	37	1995	180
1984	33	1996	179
1985	29	1997	197
1986	25	1998	190
1987	34	1999	215
1988	44	2000	292
1989	63	2001	325
1990	108	2002

(b) Bacterial Kidney Disease

1979	2	1991	26
1980	2	1992	23
1981	6	1993	23
1982	9	1994	18
1983	14	1995	19
1984	18	1996	19
1985	18	1997	17
1986	15	1998	15
1987	17	1999	20
1988	22	2000	27
1989	24	2001	26
1990	27	2002	22

In the case of infectious salmon anaemia, confirmed and suspect cases were 10 and 15 respectively in 1998 and one and nine in 1999.

The reported information is as follows:Algal Bloom Mortalities

Year	Number of Incidents	Estimated Number of Fish Killed
1999	2	151,000
2000	1	1,400
2001	9	1,232,300
2002	0	0

Jellyfish Mortalities

Year	Number of Incidents	Estimated Number of Fish Killed
1999	2	89,000
2000	1	3,280
2001	6	970,300
2002	4	1,685,100

While P&O Scottish Ferries have taken the view that Trade Union Protection of Employment legislation (TUPE) applies, Northlink have taken the view that it does not. TUPE is a matter of law and only the courts can determine whether TUPE does or does not apply in this case.

The Scottish Executive Health Department published its report entitled Needlestick Injuries - Sharpen Your Awareness in May 2001. This recommended that the Medical Devices Agency, Health Services Advisory Committee, Health and Safety Executive, Chief Scientists Office and the UK Health Departments prepare a co-ordinated plan to test and evaluate safer devices and safer disposal methods. The Scottish Executive Health Department is currently funding £260,000 of practical projects aimed at reducing needlestick injury. Around eight NHS employers are involved in one project worth £116,000 which involves a series of evaluations of sharps safety devices in a variety of clinical settings.The Common Services Agency is involved with safer needles through its divisions, the Scottish Health Care Supplies and the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health. Scottish Health Care Supplies is involved in on-going discussions with the Medical Devices Agency and with manufacturers and suppliers, including the Sharps Injury Prevention Manufacturers Alliance. The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health is conducting a study into needlestick injuries. Its report is expected late next spring and will provide information on the proportion of injuries that could have been prevented by the use of safety devices.