Chamber and committees

The Scottish Governmentis committed to a coherent approach to energy policy, recognising that promotingreduced energy consumption and promoting low carbon technologies are key to achievingsustainable economic growth. Ihave already started a dialogue with key stakeholders and this will continue soas to ensure a clear and shared strategy and achievement of objectives.

Arising from thiswork, the government will produce a statement setting out a strategic overview forenergy policy in Scotland by the end of the year. This will set outkey objectives and priorities for Scotland and provide the context for the Executive,industry and other stakeholders to take forward a range of workstreams.

The Scottish Governmentagrees with the World Health Organization that water is critical to human life.

In temperate climates,such as the UK, the Food Standards Agency advises that sixto eight glasses (about 1.2 litres) of water, or other fluids, should be consumedevery day to prevent dehydration. This amount should be increased when the weatheris warm or when exercising. Fluid intake is also achieved through food eaten.

The Scottish Governmentis not responsible for purchasing for either hospitals or care homes. Responsibilityfor all procurement for the health service lies with NHS National Services Scotland.In the case of care homes, responsibility lies in the main with individual homes.

In 2003 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland published ClinicalStandards for Food, Fluid and Nutritional Care. These standards state that whereclinically appropriate, patients should have access to fresh drinking water at alltimes. These standards apply to patients only.

There are currentlyno national standards which relate to provision of water for staff and visitors.This is a matter for local health boards and care homes.

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

Schedule 2 to Regulation4 and Schedule 6 to Regulation 12 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, asamended, respectively list all of the ‘triggers’ for conversions and current buildingstandards which either apply to or apply so far as is reasonably practicable toconversions. With regard to energy, where a building is converted, so far as isreasonably practicable, it shall meet the energy standards 6.2 - 6.6 and shall notfail those standards to a greater degree than before the conversion. It shall alsomeet the requirements of energy standards 6.7 - 6.10.

With respect to alterationsand extensions to existing buildings, the new building work shall meet standards6.2 - 6.10 and shall not cause the remainder of the building to fail the standards,or in the case of an older building, to a greater degree than before.

The energy standardsreferred to above are contained in Schedule 5 to Regulation 9 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, as amended and are as follows:

6.1 carbon dioxideemissions

6.2 building insulationenvelope

6.3 heating system

6.4 insulation ofpipes, ducts and vessels

6.5 artificial anddisplay lighting

6.6 mechanical ventilationand air conditioning

6.7 commissioningbuilding services

6.8 written information

6.9 energy performancecertificates

6.10 metering (non-domesticonly).

It should be notedthat standard 6.1 “carbon dioxide emissions” only applies to new buildings, wherea “whole building” approach is possible. Where a building is converted, alteredor extended it is not feasible to apply standard 6.1 and in these cases a traditionalelemental approach is followed.

The Protection ofVulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 will provide a modern, streamlined,efficient and effective vetting and barring system. People who work or volunteerwith children and/or protected adults will apply to join the vetting and barringscheme once. Thereafter, their scheme record will be kept up-to-date so that theyno longer have to undergo a time-consuming disclosure check each time they changeposts. This will be beneficial for the individuals and the organisations they workwith including churches, voluntary and charitable organisations. Implementationof the new scheme is on-going with full stakeholder engagement including a Voluntary Sector Issues Group on which churches, voluntary and charitable organisationsare represented.

In the interim, organisationsnow have the option of applying to Disclosure Scotland direct for free disclosurechecks for volunteers in the voluntary sector working with children, young peopleand vulnerable adults at risk.

No. There is existinglegislation allowing local authorities and the Scottish Environmental ProtectionAgency within the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as amended to take action againstthose causing a nuisance or pollution through bonfires.

The budget for thisfinancial year is £42 million of which £19.5 million has been allocated to date.It is for local authorities to come forward with confirmed schemes to take up theremaining resources.

I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1362 on 10 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Information on thenumber of newly qualified teachers who sought but were unable to find permanentfull-time work in each year since 2003 has not been held centrally.

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

The Programme ManagingAgent (Scottish Gas) has indicated that 87 contractors have been engaged to carryout installations under the central heating programme with 96% of the value of allthe work being undertaken by those contractors.