Chamber and committees

There has been significant and continuing improvement in the environmental record of the Carntyne incinerator since the committees submitted their reports in 2003. Specific measures to upgrade odour abatement systems have been installed, and improved monitoring equipment and systems introduced. The incinerator now complies fully with all relevant environmental standards. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), which regulates the incinerator, has been asked to submit regular reports to the Executive confirming details of any complaint received by the agency concerning the plant’s operations, togetherwith the action SEPA and the company are taking to address the complaint. We expect SEPA to take robust enforcement action in the event of any future breaches of the incinerator’s authorisation.

The Executive has also commissioned research on the interaction between land use planning and environmental regulation, which was published in October 2004. This report makes a number of detailed recommendations which are being carefully considered by ministers. The report can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/planning/iblu-00.asp.

Scottish ministers are considering the detailed recommendations of the Working Group on Hate Crime and expect to respond to it in due course.

The Scottish Executive is marking LGBT history month in a number of ways.

I will be hosting a reception for LGBT communities later in the month. This will be an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution that LGBT people have made to Scottish society.

Communities Scotland have announced funding of £9,995 for the charity group “OurStory Scotland” to support a project researching the history of Scotland’s LGBT communities.

And in addition, as an employer, the Scottish Executive, in conjunction with its LGBT staff network and the “Remember When” project, will mark LGBT History Month with a variety of events, including a lunchtime seminar for Executive staff. This will focus on the contribution of LGBT staff members to the Executive and the wider civil service.

The Scottish Executive is investing around £100,000 in the Year of the Volunteer 2005. This is being administered by the Scottish Executive. We expect to fund a small number of organisations to deliver the Scottish aims of the Year and funding has already commenced.

Closure orders are made in respect of premises, not individuals. When considering an application for such an order the sheriff is required to consider the vulnerability of anyone living in the premises in question. The issue of housing benefit is likely to be one of the matters that would be taken into account. Any entitlement to housing benefit is a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions and further information can be obtained from that department.

We have issued guidance to police and local authorities that prior to making an application for a closure order in respect of premises where people live, the police should liaise with the local authority about financial vulnerability, particularly where children or vulnerable people may be affected, and consider alternative options available.

Yes. My officials are currently developing proposals to mark the decade. A meeting of the Sustainable Development Education Liaison Group is scheduled for 1 February at which this issue will be discussed.

The information is not held centrally.

Between April 2003 and March2004 17 people were reported to the Procurator Fiscal for smoking on public transport.Six were reported for a contravention of section 129(2)(c) of the Railways Act 1993and 11 were reported for a contravention of Regulation 6(1)(d) of the Public ServicesVehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations1990.

A decision to take criminal proceedingsin court was made in six of these cases,
one accused was offered and accepted a fiscal fine, two accused were given warnings,one was dealt with by the Reporter to the Children’s Panel and no proceedings weretaken in seven of the cases.

Detailed legal, policy and practiceguidance is available to procurators fiscal, to be applied in decision making inrelation to all cases submitted for consideration of prosecution. Offences arisingfrom smoking on public transport are not the subject of any additional specificguidance.

The beauty of our countryside is a major attraction for all of our visitors to Scotland, but particularly those who come for a walking holiday. That part of the market alone is worth around £400 million a year. Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, the establishment of Core Paths will make large parts of the Scottish countryside more accessible, and enhance the attractiveness of our landscape to our visitors.