Chamber and committees

The Scottish Executive is not at present providing funding to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution for the recycling of farm plastics. However, there are possible sources of funding from the Executive and the institution has been made aware of those.

In line with the National Waste Strategy: Scotland, adopted in 1999, it is the Executive's policy to promote reduction, re-use and recovery (including recycling) of waste where possible. The Executive supports two initiatives to create and develop markets for recycled materials - the UK-wide Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and Recycling Market Development (ReMaDe) Scotland. An aim of WRAP's initial work programme is to stimulate greater use of recycled plastic by raising awareness of the range and quality of products already available. A programme to review plastic standards will also be undertaken with the aim of removing discriminatory standards for recycled plastic products. ReMaDe Scotland has also identified plastic as a priority material for its work to determine opportunities for local market development.

I have already announced that reducing waiting times is our key priority because waiting times are important to the public and less waiting can improve the quality of clinical care. We have already set a maximum six month waiting time for in-patient and day case treatment by 2005 and specific targets for cancer and heart disease. Earlier today we announced a maximum wait of six months for a first out-patient appointment by 2006. The National Waiting Times Unit is working with NHSScotland to help ensure that these targets are delivered.

The new requirement that ozone-depleting substances in the foam insulation of fridges have to be recovered during disposal is proving a complicated problem for the UK and other EC countries. The Executive has been working closely with other Government Departments to prepare technical standards for both storage and treatment of fridges. We are now working with local authorities to assess the costs involved. Last week I announced that I would make additional funding available to authorities for this financial year to assist with the cost of storage.

New Dignity at Work guidance was issued to the service in January, which made clear that bullying in the NHS is not acceptable. Data on the number of incidents of aggression and harassment are due to be collected for the first time over the summer. The data should be available by the end of the year and will be published.

I am not aware of any demand-responsive public transport schemes in Scotland that have included the use of telematics. I am aware that a number of local authorities and community groups are considering using telematics for this purpose.

The Scottish Executive would welcome applications to the Rural Community Transport Initiative for projects that aimed to make innovative use of telematics such as those outlined in the VIRGIL report.The Scottish Executive has commissioned research into the accessibility of rural areas and part of this research involves an assessment of the experience of local authorities and others of promoting rural transport projects.In addition, the Scottish Executive, together with the Countryside Agency and National Assembly for Wales, will shortly commission a research team led by the University of Aberdeen to carry out a two-year collaborative project, part-funded by the UK Government, to develop policies to promote accessibility in rural areas of the UK. The study will involve the use of local case studies (of which two will be in rural Scotland) to assist in the development of an integrated approach to transport, planning, service provision and environment.

The Scottish Executive provides funding to local authorities through the Rural Public Passenger Transport grant which authorities may use for demand-responsive public transport services if they wish. It would be for authorities to decide whether to use part of that funding for a pilot project on the use of telematics.In addition, voluntary and community groups can apply to the Scottish Executive's Rural Community Transport Initiative (RCTI) for funding for demand-responsive services. I would be happy to consider any application for the use of telematics in demand-responsive rural transport service provision alongside the many other bids I will no doubt receive this autumn.

The Scottish Executive, together with the UK Government, is in contact with the European Commission from time to time to discuss a broad range of transport issues including rural transport such as public service obligations on lifeline air and ferry routes.

The Scottish Executive provides funding to local authorities through the Rural Public Passenger Transport grant which authorities may use for demand-responsive public transport services if they wish. I am aware that East Lothian Council has used part of its funding for such a service around Gaberlunzie.In addition, voluntary and community groups can apply to the Scottish Executive's Rural Community Transport Initiative (RCTI) for funding for demand-responsive services. 12 of the projects funded from the RCTI include demand-responsive elements.