Nora Radcliffe

Answer · Ross Finnie · 26 Mar 2007

I am pleased to announce thatthe review by Government (the UK Government and the devolved administrations) of the long-term management of the UK’s solid low level radioactive waste (LLW), has been completedand that the revised policy statement is being published today. Copies of the policystatement will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number42382). Copies are also available on the internet at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Waste/16293/176481">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Waste/16293/176481</a>.</p><p>The public consultation on thereview of solid LLW management policy was published on 28 February 2006. Itparallels and complements the on-going work Government is carrying out on the policyfor the management of higher activity radioactive wastes under our Managing RadioactiveWaste Safely programme, following recommendations made by the Committee on RadioactiveWaste Management (CoRWM) in July 2006.</p><p>As I made clear when I announcedthe consultation, unlike the higher activity wastes, paths for the long-term managementand disposal of LLW already exist but we recognised that there were problems whichneeded to be dealt with in that:</p><p>with the Nuclear DecommissioningAuthority (NDA’s) decommissioning and clean-up programme underway, there will begreatly increased arisings of LLW over the coming decades, and this is already startingto happen;</p><p>there will be insufficient capacityat the national LLW disposal facility near Drigg in Cumbria to dealwith this waste, and the future capacity of this facility is currently also underreview;</p><p>while other disposal routes forcertain types of LLW have been used (e.g. by disposal on or near the site of arising,by controlled and uncontrolled burial to landfill and by incineration), the availabilityof these other routes has diminished in recent years, and</p><p>finding small-scale treatmentand disposal routes for the least radioactive LLW, which are very important forthe non-nuclear sectors (hospitals, research and education establishments, and theoil and gas industry) is proving increasingly difficult.</p><p>The revised policy recognisesthat much LLW has very low levels of radioactivity and can be disposed of in a varietyof ways while posing a negligible risk to human health or the environment. The revisedpolicy will:</p><p>allow greater flexibility inthe management of the wide range of LLW that already exists, and will arise in futurefrom the NDA’s activities and other nuclear and non-nuclear industry arisings;</p><p>require the necessary level ofsafety to be maintained through the use of a risk informed approach, and the preparationof plans and safety cases that are acceptable to the regulatory bodies (includingthe Environment Agencies and the Health and Safety Executive);</p><p>seek to minimise the amount ofLLW for disposal by application of the waste hierarchy applied in other areas ofwaste management – avoidance of generation, minimisation, reuse and recycling –prior to disposal;</p><p>emphasise the need for effectiveconsultation and public involvement in the development and delivery of LLW wastemanagement plans;</p><p>make the NDA responsible fordevelopment of a UK-wide strategy for the management of nuclear industry LLW, includingthe identification of the need for additional LLW disposal capacity andfacilities, and</p><p>initiate the first steps towardsdevelopment of a UK-wide strategy for the management of non-nuclear LLW. The firststep in this will be for Government, in conjunction with the NDA, to undertake astudy which will give a clear picture of arisings across the UK.</p><p>The policy has been developedwith stakeholders, including two national stakeholder workshops held during 2005:the first to discuss the key issues; the second to discuss a first draft of theconsultation document which consequently was revised extensively. There were discussionswith stakeholders during the public consultation p

Answer · Ross Finnie · 21 Mar 2007

More than two thirds of thosewho responded to the consultation on Scotland’s first coastal and marine national park support theidea in principle. However, the consultation also revealed significant detailedconcerns which we need to address before decisions are taken.</p><p>The concerns reflected issues raised by businessinterests in particular, including fisheries, aquaculture and tourism businesses.I have therefore written to the enterprise networks inviting them to review theseconcerns and to discuss further with relevant interests. Furthermore, I would welcomesuggestions from the enterprise networks on measures and options for addressingthe concerns raised, going with the grain of the overall policy initiative. I haveasked for initial results of this review by the end of June.</p><p>In parallel, my officials willcontinue to work with the range of public sector bodies concerned to develop furtherthe proposals for a coastal and marine national park.</p><p>The summary of consultation responses,published on 1 March 2007, is available on the Scottish Executive website at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/28143406/0">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/28143406/0</a>.</p>

Answer · Ross Finnie · 14 Mar 2007

We have considered very carefullythe strategic outline cases and draft outline business cases which have been preparedby local authorities. These various cases outline authorities’ views on the infrastructureneeded to achieve Scotland’s share of targets laid down by the EU Landfill Directiveon reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill. The strategicoutline cases have already been published, with certain commercially sensitive informationremoved, on the Scottish Executive website at:</p><p><ahref="http://search.scotland.gov.uk/search/pages/search/basic.asp?QuerySubmit=true&amp;Paging=true&amp;Page=1&amp;QueryText=strategic+outline+cases">http://search.scotland.gov.uk/search/pages/search/basic.asp?QuerySubmit=true&amp;Paging=true&amp;Page=1&amp;QueryText=strategic+outline+cases</a>.</p><p>The Executive gives very highpriority to waste prevention and minimisation. We have just issued our householdwaste prevention plan, which as well as work on waste prevention commits us to morework on re-use. We have also just issued our business waste framework.</p><p>In addition, we want to ensurethat we continue to increase the recycling and composting of municipal waste. Ican announce today that we remain committed to achieving 30% recycling and compostingof municipal waste by 2008. We also need to achieve a substantial increase in recyclingand composting by 2010, to meet Scotland’s share of the Landfill Directive targets. Furthermore,we remain committed to achieving 55% recycling and composting of municipal wasteby 2020, in line with the National Waste Plan.</p><p>We also consider that our aimshould be to achieve 50% recycling and composting from increased recyclate and compostablematerial from kerbside collections and from recycling centres and points and 5%from residues arising from infrastructure to treat residual waste.</p><p>These are Scottish figures andwe expect that there will be some variations between individual authorities reflectingthe larger number of flatted dwellings in the four bigger cities and the currentavailability of waste infrastructure and we will be writing to local authoritiesseparately on their recycling and composting targets.</p><p>We have also considered how muchadditional residual waste capacity in Scotland is required by 2020 to meet the EU Landfill Directivetarget. We have concluded that the 1,140,000 tonnes of capacity is required acrossScotland and that the indicative awards from the Strategic Waste Fund to local authoritieswill total £48 million a year at today’s prices.</p><p>The two groups of authoritieswho are most advanced are, in one group, City of Edinburgh Council, Midlothian Council,West Lothian Council, East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council and, inthe other group, North and South Lanarkshire. We are announcing today that the allocations of fundingand treatment capacity for these two groups of authorities will collectively amountto 500,000 tonnes of capacity with indicative allocations amounting to £21 millionper annum at current prices. Any funding is dependent on the approval of final outlinebusiness cases submitted by these groups of authorities by the Scottish Executive.These outline business cases should clearly indicate the public participation thathas been undertaken.</p><p>We will advise other groups ofauthorities in due course on their allocations. These will be within the overallScottish total of 1,140,000 tonnes of capacity for 2020 and overall indicative fundingof £48 million. Again, any funding is dependent on ministers approving cases submittedby groups of authorities, following public participation.</p><p>We are also confirming todaythat we remain committed to local authorities working together when carrying outprocurements of residual waste infrastructure to ensure value for money and economiesof scale. To support local authorities, we intend to establish arrangements whichwill provide support to local authorities in procuring this new waste i

Answer · Nicol Stephen · 12 Mar 2007

I am pleased to announce thelaunch today of Achieving a Low Carbon Future, our first Energy Efficiency and MicrogenerationStrategy for Scotland. This draft for consultation sets out the substantialsteps that the Executive is already taking and our proposed way forward to ensurethat energy efficiency and microgeneration make a significantly increased contributionto sustainable development, climate change and energy objectives. The document willbe available online at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations">www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations</a>from 12 noon today, Monday 12 March.</p>

Answer · Ross Finnie · 8 Mar 2007

The first annual report, <i>Scotland’s Climate Change Programme: Annual Report</i> <i>2007</i> is being laid before the Scottish Parliamenttoday. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.number 42132).</p>

Answer · Sarah Boyack · 29 Jan 2007

Scottish Natural Heritage hasadvised that there are three Sites of Special Scientific Interest where damage hasoccurred due to the actions of statutory bodies. The details are as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p align=center>Year of Damage</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p align=center>Site Name</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p align=center>Damage Caused by</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p align=center>Remedial Action Undertaken</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p>2000-01 </p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>Durness</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>NoSWA (pre establishment of Scottish Water)</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>SNH met with utility contractor and sent letter. Managed recovery likely in the long term.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign=top> <p>2002-03</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>Balerno Common</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>Scottish Water</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>SNH met landowner. Issue partly due to natural factors, action is underway to prevent future damage.</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign=top> <p>2004-05 </p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>Clauchlands Point - Corrygills</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>Scottish Water (Solutions)</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p>SNH contacted contractor. Matter reported to the police. </p> </td> </tr></table><p>&nbsp;</p>

Answer · Sarah Boyack · 29 Jan 2007

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)has reported that in the last five years they have recorded one instance of significantdamage to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on land owned by the ScottishExecutive or any body accountable to Scottish ministers.</p><p>The damage occurred on the BalernoCommon SSSI on land owned by Scottish Water and resulted from the drawing down of the reservoir to undertake necessary maintenance work. SNH has advised that althoughefforts were made to restore the water level, the problem was exacerbated by unseasonablylow rainfall. Action is underway to prevent a similar situation arising in future.</p><p>TheNature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 requires public bodies and office holders toconsider the impacts of any and all their activities on the protected natural featuresof SSSIs.</p><p>Under section 12 of the act,public bodies and office holders must consult SNH in relation to the exercise ofany function is so far as it affects any land which is or forms part of an SSSI.</p>

Answer · Rhona Brankin · 11 Dec 2006

The Flooding Issues AdvisoryCommittee (FIAC) has been advising the Executive on how to define sustainableflood management. A public consultation was planned for summer 2006. Preparationwork on the consultation paper has taken longer than expected with the result thatconsultation has been delayed into 2007. The delay has, however, allowed us timeto arrange for interactive workshops to take place during the consultation period.In the meantime, further information on the advice given to the Executive by FIACon sustainable flood management is available in the FIAC paper <i>What is sustainableflood management?</i> which can be found on the FIAC website at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1223/0028633.pdf">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1223/0028633.pdf</a>.</p>