Chamber and committees

Local authoritiesare expected to dispose of land for the best consideration reasonably obtainableto achieve their best value obligations, under Part 1 of the Local Government inScotland Act 2003. However, that does not mean that best value can only be achievedthrough disposal to the highest bidder. Best value can also be achieved by anauthority deciding that the best option is to dispose at an undervalue to help fulfilthat authority’s social and housing objectives, which would give a better outcomefor the community rather than selling to a developer at best price.

Water coolers connectedto the mains public supply are installed as appropriate. There is one within VictoriaQuay which services the restaurant area.

The Weeds Act appliesto all land and empowers the ScottishGovernment to serve notice requiring the occupier of land to control the spreadof five injurious weeds - common ragwort, broad-leaved dock, curled dock, creepingthistle and spear thistle. My officials are currently working on guidance on howto prevent the spread of ragwort. The aim of the guidance is to promote good practiceto significantly reduce the risk of ragwort poisoning to horses and other livestock.

My officials are finalisingdraft animal welfare guidance on how to prevent the spread of ragwort. This willbe issued for a 12 week consultation period in January 2008. After the consultationresponses have been considered final guidance will be issued under section 38 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

There are currentlyno plans to upgrade the A1 in Berwickshire. However, the A1 is recognised as oneof the nationally strategic transport corridors which will be considered as partof the Strategic Transport Projects Review. This will examine the longer term needsof Scotland’s transport network to develop the investmentplan for 2012 to 2022.

Provision of freshdrinking water is included in all nutritional standards which have already beenpublished or are currently being drafted and will be included as a matter of coursein any future nutritional standards.

As noted in the answer to question S3W-3425 on 27 August 2007, the National CareStandards for care homes already include the right for residents to have cold drinkswhenever they wish. Nonetheless, access to fresh drinking water in care homes willbe considered when the National Care Standards are reviewed in due course. Any proposedchanges to the Standards resulting from a review will be consulted on publicly beforea decision is taken on whether or not to make the revisions.All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Responsibilityfor the provision, adequacy and wholesomeness of a private water supply restswith the owners and users of that supply and not central or local government.

However, wherethe insufficiency or unwholesomeness of a supply for domestic purposes poses adanger to life or health, local authorities have powers under the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 to require Scottish Water to provide anemergency supply of water until the owners and users secure an alternative oradditional private supply of water. The 1980 act enables local authorities torecover the costs of the emergency provision of water from the owners and usersof the failed supply.

The totalprovided was 123,884 litres of water at a cost of £34,201.90. This includedboth bottled water provided for restaurant and hospitality purposes and waterfor water coolers.

Fundsfor the initial pilot has been funded from the 2007-08 budget.

Anydecision about extending the provision of free school lunches for primary 1 to 3pupils in the Scottish Borders – and to primary 1 to 3 pupils in the other localauthorities participating in the trial – will depend on spending review decisionsand discussions with COSLA aboutlocal authority outcome agreements.