Chamber and committees

The Scottish Governmentdoes not provide grants to businesses for the provision of changing facilities.Most grant assistance to businesses is provided through Scottish Enterprise andHighlands and Islands Enterprise. However, there are also other bodies, including local authorities,that provide business funding. We are not aware of any grants available specificallyto help businesses provide changingfacilities for babies on their premises. However, such costs may be eligible forsupport as part of a larger upgradeor development.

In the main, the burningor other disposal of waste is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agencyrather than local councils. Arange of controls are available, depending on circumstances such as the scale of the activity and the exact nature of the waste being burned.

Local authoritiesare, however, responsible for administering the law of statutory nuisance, establishedby Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Where burning horse manurecauses smoke to be emitted, or a smell to arise, so as to be prejudicial to healthor a nuisance, it would be the responsibility of the local authority to take action.In such situations local authorities could issue notices prohibiting this activityand there are a range of penalties for non compliance.

Disclosure Scotland, who carry out criminal record checks on behalf of Scottishministers, do not have access to information about the criminal records of foreignworkers before they enter the United Kingdom. It is the responsibilityof the person concerned to provide information from her or his home country if thatis sought by an employer.

We are working withcolleagues elsewhere in the UK to give effect to a number of EU initiativesthat should improve the sharing of information for employment purposes.

The Private WaterSupplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006 continue the role of localauthorities set out in the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 andthe previous Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations1992 to regulate private water supplies as part of their wider public health role.The overriding objective of the 2006 Regulations is to ensure the provision of cleanand wholesome drinking water to those using such supplies.

Where a supply failsto meet the water quality standards for drinking water as set down in the 2006 Regulationsthe local authority will advise the owners and users of the private water supplyof appropriate remedial action they should take to improve their supply.

The Scottish Governmentrecognises the financial implications of the 2006 Regulations for some rural communitiesand businesses and a non-means tested Grant Scheme, administered by local authorities,was introduced at the same time as the 2006 Regulations to assist individuals andbusinesses invest in new equipment to improve their private supply.

We are determinedto focus government and public services on creating a more successful countrywith opportunities for all to flourish through increasing sustainable growth. Wewant the third sector at the heart of this agenda for change, as servicedelivery partners, builders of stronger communities and local economies,advocates and contributors to policy-making.

The third sectorhas a crucial role to play across each of the strategic objectives and we haverecognised that by bringing our relationship with the third sector to the coreof government, close to public service reform, local government, best value andperformance management.

We will engageclosely with the third sector to ensure its particular contribution isavailable to help drive the transformation of our country.

We have recentlyconfirmed that installed renewables capacity in Scotland exceeds that ofnuclear power. The Scottish Government is focussed on supporting rapidincreases in this renewables capacity across a range of sources, includingwave, tidal, biomass and hydro as well as wind. We also believe there iscapacity for significant advances in other areas, such as cleaner coal andcarbon sequestration.

Section 57 strictlylimits the information which may be stored by the Registrar General for Scotland, the sources of that information and with whom it maybe shared. The limits, which may only be extended with the consent of the Scottish Parliament, are set out in section 57 itself and in The National Health ServiceCentral Register (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (SSI 2006 No. 484).

We are committed toreducing unnecessary burdens on all public service providers. The Independent Review of Scrutiny, led by ProfessorLorne Crerar, is examining how regulation, audit, inspection and complaints arefunctioning in Scotland’s public services. The review is developingrecommendations for a better system of scrutiny which should reduce the burden ofregulation on third sector bodies which deliver such services.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

Householders can anddo make a contribution towards the cost of their central heating system if the costof installing the system is above the maximum grant available. This can occur ifhouseholders choose to have additional, voluntary work carried out such as the installationof further radiators and the associated pipe work.

The Programme ManagingAgent (Scottish Gas) has indicated to Communities Scotland that the number of householderswho have made a contribution to their central heating installation since October2006 is 2,428. Scottish Gas has indicated that all contributions,so far, have been for the additional, voluntary works and no payments have beenmade as a result of the maximum grant limit being insufficient for the installationof basic measures.

I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:

In addition to thenew building regulations which came into force on 1 May 2007, the SBSA is also reviewing energy standards with a viewto introducing further improvements. These will further reduce CO₂ emissionsand improve the energy efficiency of all new buildings as well as existing onesbeing converted, altered or extended.

The recent changesincluded improved energy standards which will provide more energy-efficient housingdesigns for all housing in Scotland, including those for local authorities, andwill reduce CO₂ emissions by 40% compared with housing constructed fiveyears ago. The measures introduced have the capability to deliver the best CO₂emissions in the UK.