Chamber and committees

The response of the UK Government and devolved administrations to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology Report on the Management of Nuclear Waste was announced to the Scottish Parliament on 25 October 1999. A copy is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 7754).The response indicated that views on the possibility of new statutory powers for the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) over the storage of wastes on nuclear licensed sites will be sought in due course in the forthcoming consultation on radioactive waste management policy.

No.

The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and Fisheries Research Services purchase some of their marine gas oil requirements from Esso under the terms of a contract put in place by the Ministry of Defence. Other areas of the Executive occasionally purchase small amounts of fuel oil from, amongst others, Esso.Contracts placed by non-departmental public bodies are a matter for the individual body concerned. Information on contracts placed by those bodies is not held centrally.

The regulations have now been laid and will come into force on Monday 23 July. We will publish an overview of the responses to the consultation paper during July.

Timber elements will be included in the following trade packages which have still to be tendered:1. Assembly Building Timber Flooring2. Assembly Building Carpentry and Specialist Joinery3. Queensberry House Carpentry and Specialist Joinery 4. Desks, Counters, etcThe Convener of the HPG has confirmed that in addition, there will be timber elements in many of the loose furniture items to be procured for the new Parliament building.

Neither the UK Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, or its Scottish Working Group, has considered the issue of damage to bird nest sites outwith the breeding season as part of the proposals for legislative change set out in The Nature of Scotland, nor have they received advice related to this issue from either the Joint Nature Conservation Committee or Scottish Natural Heritage.

There are currently three Trade Packages out to tender which include elements of oak timber totalling 752m³. The individual packages are as follows:Trade Package Volume1. Assembly Building Specialist Glazing 270m³2. Assembly Building Windows 180m³3. MSP Office/Queensberry House 302m³ Timber FlooringI understand that specifications for all Holyrood building works packages which include timber state that "all timber and timber-based materials used in the project must either be demonstrably from well managed, regulated, sustainable sources, or be suitable re-used timber re-finished to meet the quality requirements of BS EN942". The Holyrood Progress Group is satisfied that this wording will ensure that the timber procured will be from responsible and sustainable sources.

The procurement of approximately 50m³ of Scottish oak timber for the Holyrood Project, from suppliers throughout Scotland, is nearing completion. All of the suppliers concerned are licensed by the Forestry Commission, which ensures that the timber meets the Holyrood project's environmental aims and obligations. Two trade packages which include timber elements have already been awarded, the details are as follows:1. MSP Office Building Cladding Type Appalachian American White Oak Volume Approximately 80m³ ordered to date Origin Patrick Lumber Co Ltd, Portland, Oregon, USA2. MSP Office Building Carpentry and Specialist Joinery Type European Oak Volume 80m³ Origin France or Germany (under negotiation)Environmental certification details have been requested and as soon as these have been received, the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group will write to the member with the information and place a copy of the letter in SPICe.

The specifications for timber furnishings for the Holyrood building have not yet been produced, however, an "environmental purchasing policy" is currently being drafted to cover this area of procurement, and will be made available to members when completed. The specifications for internal timber finishings will include the wording "all timber and timber based materials used in the project must either be demonstrably from well managed, regulated, sustainable sources, or be suitable re-used timber re-finished to meet the quality requirements of BS EN942". The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group is satisfied that the wording used will ensure that the timber will be procured from a responsible and sustainable source.

Consultation on The Nature of Scotland ended on 29 May and responses are now being analysed. Scottish Natural Heritage's (SNH) response did refer to the issue of damage to nest sites outwith the breeding season and will be taken into account by ministers. I have asked the Chief Executive to provide you with a copy of SNH's response. A copy will also be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.