Chamber and committees

The information requested is set out in the following table:

Year	Expenditure at 2003-04 Prices (£ Million)	Real Terms Percentage Increase
1996-97	5,454
1997-98	5,483	0.5%
1998-99	5,607	2.3%
1999-2000	5,700	1.7%
2000-01	6,015	5.5%
2001-02	6,566	9.1%
2002-03 Plans	7,139	8.7%

The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of good public transport services in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, and supports projects where need and value for money are demonstrated.

I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows: There are 825 wastewater treatment plants and 1,106 public septic tanks throughout Scotland in which sewage is collected, treated and disposed of. Information about the location of any of these facilities is available from Scottish Water.

I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows: There are a number of different ways sewage is treated and many factors considered in an area before treatment occurs, but in general raw sewage goes through a settlement process to separate and remove any solids. In many areas the remaining water is treated using a biological process in which naturally occurring bacteria and other organisms are used to digest any pollutant matter. Sewage then goes through a final settlement stage. An additional level of treatment, such as ultraviolet light, is also used in some cases. Scottish Water is able to discuss the process carried out at specific treatment plants in more detail with you.

I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows: Scottish Water currently recycles sewage sludge cake to land reclamation sites. The sewage sludge cake, which is composed of 75% water and 25% of the solids removed during the treatment process, is integrated into the existing ground to produce soil conditions beneficial for forestry. Currently 20% of sludge cake from wastewater treatment plants in Scotland is recycled to land reclamation sites. The volume of sludge cake recycled in this way over the past three years is: 299,560m³ in 2002, 203,940m³ in 2001, and 29,700m³ in 2000.

Information on the location of sewage sludge spreading activities is not held centrally. The spreading of sewage sludge on non-agricultural land can be carried out subject to conditions set out in the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. The activity is regulated by Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which will ensure that it is within the conditions.Responsibility for the protection of the health of local populations rests jointly with the local NHS board and the local authority. Action in respect of local health threats, including consideration of the need to extend the normal provision for monitoring and reporting the local incidence of disease, is a matter of decision for these bodies.

The spreading of sewage sludge on non-agricultural land can be carried out subject to conditions set out in the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, in order to ensure that the environment is protected. The activity is regulated by Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which will ensure that it is within the conditions.

The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to health and safety at work. The UK Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for the regulation of risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.

The Scottish Executive normally buys goods and services from contractors at market prices, following open and competitive procurement. It does not hold information on its contractors' current levels of pay, nor does it monitor its contractors' rates of pay, since such matters are generally for the contractor and its employees. It is generally not possible to draw meaningful comparisons between contractors on the basis of rates of pay, or between contractors and the Scottish Executive. Details of average pay rates may be examined during the bidding process where these are considered to have a bearing on the quality of service. Where there are doubts about whether wage levels contained within a contractor's proposal could have an adverse impact on the quality of service required, the bid would not be accepted.

All staff in the Scottish Executive core departments are paid above the national minimum wage.