Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive supports the principles of Rethinking Construction as a means of delivering best practice and improvements in the construction industry and seeks, where possible, to embed Rethinking Construction principles into policy and implementation.Communities Scotland is introducing new policies and procedures for Registered Social Landlords in order to embed the principles of Rethinking Construction. The object is to secure an improved and cost-effective service from the construction industry for the benefit of tenants.The Public Private Partnership (PPP) process encourages innovation through consortium working to secure effective delivery of projects. The councils participating in the schools PPP programme will be given training and guidance specific to PPP. However, it is a matter for PPP service contractors to decide whether to apply the principles of Rethinking Construction to building procurement within individual school building programmes.We have embarked on a wide-ranging modernisation of the planning system. A number of the initiatives, in particular the recently announced reforms of development planning and the Executive's commitment to higher design standards, support the aims of Rethinking Construction.The modernising of the building control system, which will follow from the proposed Building Bill, will respond to several aspects of the Rethinking Construction initiative, including leadership, focus on the customer, and an integrated team to increase productivity and predictability.

The potential savings identified by Sir John Egan in the Rethinking Construction report are a 20% reduction in accidents and defects, and a 10% reduction in capital costs and construction time. The report also highlights a potential 10% increase in productivity, turnover and profits for contractors.The Scottish Executive supports the principles of Rethinking Construction as a means of delivering best practice and improvements in the construction industry. Scottish Enterprise will lead a Rethinking Construction initiative in consultation with Communities Scotland and other stakeholders, using their established clusters approach. Central to this initiative is the creation of a Core Industry Group supported by a wider Rethinking Construction Panel.

The Construction Best Practice Programme is a key part of Rethinking Construction and works to find the most efficient ways of distributing the innovations and best practice captured by the Demonstration Projects Programme and Best Practice Clubs.The Scottish Executive supports the principles of Rethinking Construction as a means of delivering best practice and improvements in the construction industry. Scottish Enterprise has agreed to lead a Rethinking Construction initiative. In addition, the Executive supports and promotes best practice through the funding of Pulling Together Scotland.

The Scottish Executive supports the principles of Rethinking Construction as a means of delivering best practice and improvements in the construction industry. Scottish Enterprise have agreed to lead a Rethinking Construction initiative, in consultation with Communities Scotland and other stakeholders, using their established clusters approach. Central to this initiative will be the creation of a Core Industry Group supported by a wider Rethinking Construction Panel.My officials have kept in touch with developments in the rest of the UK, including the recent establishment of Rethinking Construction Centres. Should the Core Industry Group take the view that a Centre is an effective approach to progressing Rethinking Construction in Scotland, the Executive would consider the options.

Consideration is being given to funding a range of initiatives as part of the spending review, the outcome of which will be announced later this year.

All applications for training grants under section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for funding in the financial year 2003-04 are to be received by 30 September 2002. Alcohol Focus Scotland will be advised of the outcome by 31 December 2002.

The European Commission has announced that it intends to revise the Bathing Waters Directive (76/160/EEC) but the proposals have not yet been published. Until the potential impact of the new directive can be assessed, it would be unwise to identify more bathing waters.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27702.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27702.

During the period 1996-2002, the Scottish water authorities spent £407.5 million on coastal sewerage and wastewater treatment. Over the period 2002-06 Scottish Water is planning to spend £427.4 million on sewerage and sewage treatment, of which £50.9 million will be used to make improvements at bathing and other, non-identified, recreational and coastal waters.On 10 July 2002 the Scottish Executive announced £3 million investment to facilitate improvements in bathing waters standards where agricultural practices are a major contributor to pollution. £550,000 to be spent on litter initiatives through Keep Scotland Beautiful was announced on the same day, which will also benefit Scotland's beaches.