Chamber and committees

Ministers accepted the advice contained in the Water Industry Commissioner's Strategic Review of Charges in November 2001, which related to proposed revenue caps, the harmonisation of charges and cost-reflective tariffs. In the light of this decision, the three water authorities then agreed with the commissioner charging schemes and policies for Scottish Water to inherit.

I understand that an interim interdict was recently served on cockle handgatherers preventing them from fishing in Burntisland Bay. The Scottish Executive will consider conducting an assessment of the effect of the handgatherers activities on the features of the Firth of Forth Special Protected Area and whether this is sustainable in the longer-term. The Scottish Executive is also considering possible legislative reforms arising from its policy statement The Nature of Scotland. Future legislative proposals will address the protection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and may, in particular, afford them increased protection from the actions of third parties.

The Scottish Executive has discussed this issue with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). SNH has a general function under section 2 (1)(a) of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 to provide advice to Scottish ministers or any other minister on the development and implementation of policies for or affecting the natural heritage of Scotland.

Where an intertidal area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, SNH may, at the time of notification of the SSSI, have specified cockle or other shellfish harvesting as an operation likely to damage the features of interest of the SSSI. Local authorities may in certain circumstances have general legal powers to intervene in this area.

In terms of fisheries management, ministers have powers under the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 to prohibit fishing in any specified area of Scotland's inshore and intertidal waters. In the past, these powers have mainly been exercised to protect fish stocks or in the pursuit of resolving conflict between fishermen using different types of gear. Ministers also have powers under the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967 to provide local management organisations with powers to manage local shellfisheries sustainably under Regulating Orders.Where an intertidal area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) may, at the time of notification of the SSSI, have specified cockle or other shellfish harvesting as an operation likely to damage the features of interest of the SSSI. If so, any owner or occupier proposing to carry out such an activity would have to consult SNH regarding the proposal and SNH may enter into a management agreement which would prevent the owner or occupier from carrying out the operation.In cases where the person proposing or carrying out the cockle or other shellfish harvesting is not the owner or occupier of the SSSI, or where it does not prove possible for SNH to enter into a management agreement with the owner or occupier of the SSSI, Scottish ministers may, after consultation with SNH, make a Nature Conservation Order under section 29 of the 1981 act to restrict the operation, if that operation is likely to destroy or damage the feature of interest for which the SSSI has been designated. Nature Conservation Orders to control shellfish collecting are currently in place on a number of SSSIs around Scotland where this activity would cause damage to the features of interest of the sites. Where an intertidal area is classified as a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EC Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the Birds Directive) or as a proposed Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EC Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (the Habitats Directive), Scottish ministers may, after consultation with SNH, make a Special Nature Conservation Order under Regulation 22 of the Habitats Regulations to restrict an activity, which could include harvesting of cockles or other shellfish, if that operation is likely to destroy or damage the feature of interest for which the SPA has been classified or the SAC proposed.

The minimum qualifications for surveyors taken on by Eaga are City and Guilds Certificate 6176 "Energy Awareness" and/or NVQ Level 2 "Domestic Energy". Many surveyors have supplemented these qualifications with the NHER Site Assessor qualification. Prior to undertaking surveys for Eaga, surveyors must participate in a four-day training course which is specially designed by Eaga and leading experts in the field. Surveyors have to pass this course before they are approved to carry out surveys.

Three thousand, two hundred and nineteen gas central heating systems have been installed by Eaga to date.

A total of 2,763 inspections of gas central heating systems have been undertaken to date. All Eaga's engineers are CORGI registered and are trained to Approved Code of Practice (ACOPS) 1-15 standards. There are various codes of practice that they must comply with. These are: gas safety regulations, specific building regulations, electrical regulations, water byelaws, health and safety and the heating system's manufacturers guidelines. Eaga's has its own inspection guidelines which were put together by Eaga and leading industry experts in the field, including British Gas.

The cost of each inspection is paid for out of Eaga's management fee.

The Clackmannanshire and Stirling Structure Plan was submitted to the Scottish ministers for consideration on 24 August 2000. The plan was approved, with modifications, on 21 March 2002.