Chamber and committees

I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that specifications for 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 Project Team would be happy to provide relevant extracts from specific tender documents although full tender specifications are not made publicly available.

I understand that the procurement of timber for the Holyrood building was considered jointly by representatives of Bovis Lend Lease, the Project Team, the Design Team and the Holyrood Progress Group, taking into account advice from the Forestry Commission. The Convener of the Progress Group has informed me that all of the parties involved are satisfied that the wording agreed for the tender specifications will ensure that the timber procured will be from responsible and sustainable sources.

I welcome this opportunity to inform Parliament that the full report of this important study for Scotland will be published tomorrow.

The Forestry Commission already requires archaeological surveys to be carried out as part of the environmental assessment of forestry planting proposals where there is likely to be a significant impact on the archaeological features of the area.

The aim of the Survey of Complainers to the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman (SLSO) was to help the Ombudsman to improve the view and the understanding which complainers have of the SLSO's investigations. The study yielded useful operational information, it made clear a desire for the process of investigation to be speeded up and a need for more personal contact. The Ombudsman has acted on this information. The backlog of cases has fallen from 14 months (in July) to six months. It is the Ombudsman's intention that the backlog will be further reduced to four months by Easter 2001. The Office of the Ombudsman is to occupy new premises in early December, which has easy access for disabled complainers and a dedicated interview room.The Central Research Unit is currently in discussion with the Law Society with a view to carrying out research into complaints handling and related issues.

Under the last round of the Scottish Renewables Obligation in 1997, special provision was made to encourage the development of small, community-scale clusters of wind turbines. I recently launched a consultation document on a new renewables support mechanism for Scotland, the Renewables Obligation (Scotland). This will place an obligation on all electricity suppliers to supply a specified proportion of electricity from qualifying renewable sources, subject to the cost to the consumer being acceptable. We wish to explore the possibilities for more community-scale renewable energy schemes in Scotland, and have asked for views on this point.

Scottish Natural Heritage, which has a key role in controlling non-native plants which threaten sites of high natural heritage value, is assessing the implications of the introduction of non-native species such as Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed. This work is being undertaken with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the countryside agencies for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Local authorities may act under the powers of the Environment Protection Act 1990 and the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 where the amenity of a public area is at risk. Action might include the introduction of an appropriate control programme to tackle the problems caused by invasive plants.

It is an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 to plant or encourage the growth in the wild of any plant listed in Part II of Schedule 9 of the Act, which includes Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed.

Urban nesting by most species of gull has increased over the last two decades and a number of enquiries relating to nuisance caused by gulls are received by the Executive each year.

Lethal control of three species of gull (Herring gull, Greater and Lesser Black-backed gull) is permitted under general licence for the purposes of preserving public health and public safety. Local authorities and the owner or occupier of a property are able to take appropriate, lawful, action under the terms of this licence. Licences covering other species of gull can also be issued in certain circumstances. There are, however, significant practical difficulties associated with the lethal control of gull populations in an urban setting.

The most effective long-term solution is to restrict the availability of food, which gulls obtain from household and commercial rubbish and from foodstuffs discarded in the street. This is in part a matter for local authorities to address and in part something which everyone can help to prevent by responsible management of litter and household waste.

I refer Mr Harper to my statement on transport expenditure of 28 September.

The Executive is considering the responses to the Scottish Climate Change Consultation, which ended on 2 June. I plan to publish the final Scottish Climate Change Programme in the near future. This will detail the action we will take in Scotland across all sectors to combat the threat of climate change.