Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01934 on 11 August 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 placed a duty on local authorities to introduce a minimum £50 discount for council tax, where householders undertake efficiency improvements to their home. The Scottish Government, as required by the act, will report on council tax rebate schemes in Scotland, after 1 April 2012.

The Scottish Government also provided funding to allow COSLA and the Improvement Service to commission a review of energy efficient council tax rebate schemes in Scotland. The review was completed in September 2010 and a copy of the report was published in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51226).

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) uses a combination of sampling data provided by regulated businesses themselves, and monitoring information gathered by SEPA staff at individual regulated sites, to ensure that the conditions in permits or licences for those sites are being complied with. Each permit or licence will specify the types, frequency and methods of sampling to be used and will set emission limits for certain substances. SEPA also monitors the effect of the release of pollutants upon the wider environment.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) provides an on-line system to enable businesses to supply data to the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI). The system should automatically identify where significant changes have occurred between reported emissions, and requires the operator to provide an explanation for such changes. SEPA staff should then review these explanations and follow up any which are considered questionable. Depending on the findings this may lead to corrections to the data entry.

Accuracy should also be ensured because, in addition to sampling by the operator (the types, frequency and methods of which will be specified in the conditions of the relevant permits/licences), SEPA undertakes its own monitoring of the pollutants released from discharging sites.

SEPA also provides guidance and support for regulated business to promote a consistent approach to reporting to SPRI.

Safe levels of emissions are ensured through conditions included within appropriate permits and licenses, compliance against which is monitored and enforced by SEPA staff.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is responsible for maintaining the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory, the content of which is supplied by individual regulated businesses. SEPA has confirmed that a number of entries in the inventory are inaccurate and has proactively commissioned a review both of the data and of the procedures which should have prevented this.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has proactively commissioned a review of the accuracy of data on the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory. The government is being kept informed of the progress of this work.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01853 on 16 August 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency provides a wide range of guidance and support for regulated business, both through guidance material published on its website and in hard copy, and through bespoke advice. Guidelines are also provided through conditions included in appropriate permits and licenses.

Guidance on recording and monitoring of waste transfers is set out in the Duty of Care Code of Practice made under section 34(7) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This code places a duty on anyone who in any way has a responsibility for controlled waste to ensure that it is managed properly and recovered or disposed of safely.

BlindCraft Edinburgh has received no financial assistance from either the Scottish Executive or Scottish Enterprise since 2009.

Over the past 8 years the City of Edinburgh Council has contributed over £11m to BlindCraft. Since 2002-03, the levels of subsidy from the Council have been as follows:

The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism met with the City of Edinburgh Council and other interested parties in November 2010 to explore potential options for BlindCraft Edinburgh. Unfortunately no new solutions were found at that time. The Minister has subsequently offered to meet the Council and Unions again to ensure every option has been considered fully.

The City of Edinburgh Council provides tailored in-house support for all employees with additional support needs, including those at BlindCraft. Support has also been provided by the local PACE Partnership, making full use of Jobcentre Plus expertise and experience of supporting individuals with multiple needs. PACE has secured additional assistance from specialist agencies, including RNIB Scotland.