Chamber and committees

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.

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) 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.

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.

Information is not held centrally on these particular categories. Selected data on vacant and derelict land is contained in Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2010, which is available online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Planning/Publications.

Planning guidance is contained in Scottish Planning Policy http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/03132605/0 and Planning Advice Note 65 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/30100623/0.

This information is not held centrally. The Greenspace Scotland report Community Growing in Scotland – Towards a framework for action (April 2011) includes this information at Table 3.1. The report may be accessed online at: http://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/default.asp?page=578.

These matters could be considered in local authorities’ development plans informed by the Open Space Audit and Strategy recommended in Planning Advice Note 65. The Planning Advice Note is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/05/30100623/0.

This information is not held centrally. The Greenspace Scotland report Community Growing in Scotland – Towards a framework for action (April 2011) includes this information at Table 3.1. The report may be accessed online at: http://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/default.asp?page=578.