Chamber and committees

We have made additional provision for expenditure on the environment in Scotland by the Scottish Executive and local authorities of almost £190 million in total over the next three years (2001-02 to 2003-04) - a major funding package to deliver on our commitments to the environment and set in train action now to protect future generations.

Making a difference for Scotland: Spending Plans for Scotland in 2001-02 to 2003-04 sets out spending totals for Environment. Below is a table of the increases in spending on the environment by the Scottish Executive over the next three years in comparison with 2000-01.

£ million	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	Total
Water	8.3	8.3	15.7	32.3
Environmental Protection	6.1	6.6	7.2	19.9
Natural Heritage	9.1	10.6	13.6	33.3
Research and Sustainable Action	0.4	0.4	0.4	1.2
Total increases	23.9	25.9	36.9	86.7

The Environmental Protection provision includes extra grant-in-aid to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency of £16.5 million over the three years (£5.3 million/£5.3 million/£5.9 million); and increased provision for waste initiatives.

The Natural Heritage provision will give Scottish Natural Heritage £22.7 million extra over the three years (£7.0 million/£7.3 million/£8.4 million), with a further £10.6 million extra (£2.1 million/£3.3 million/£5.2 million) going to the establishment of National Parks.

The allocation for water represents the public expenditure support to the three Scottish Water Authorities to help finance their investment programmes to meet environmental and public health standards. The public expenditure treatment of the water authorities, which are public corporations, has changed substantially as a result of the move to resource budgeting. The figures in the table show total capital spending less profits, and do not take account of the cost of capital charge on net assets. No decisions have yet been made on the allocation of this provision between the three water authorities, and a further announcement will be made in due course. For the rest of the environment programme, there will be an increase from £61 million to £76 million - an overall percentage increase is 25% in real terms compared to 2000-01.

In addition to these increases, we have provided almost £50 million extra across the three years of the review period for environmental improvements within the overall increased expenditure by local authorities. This should enable local authorities to increase expenditure on flood prevention, coastal protection, access to the countryside and air quality and on dealing with waste and contaminated land.

In addition to the general funding for local authorities on the environment, I shall be proposing special arrangements specifically on waste for the distribution of a further £50 million extra over the review period to help local authorities to take forward implementation of the National Waste Strategy.

Taken together with the spending increase of £86.7 million set out in the table, this provides a total increase of almost £190 million.

I have today published for consultation the following documents:Draft codes of practice for Attorneys appointed under Part 2Withdrawers authorised under Part 3Local authoritiesDraft regulations on Certificates in relation to powers of attorney under sections 15(3)(c) and 16(3)(c)Countersignatories of applications for authority to intromit under section 26(1)(c).Local authority supervision under section 10(3)Guidance note on completion of certificates under section 15(3)(c) or 16(3)(c).Copies are being circulated to all the organisations on our consultation list in relation to Adults with Incapacity. The documents can also be read and downloaded from our website: www.scotland.gov.uk/justice/incapacity.The consultation period will last for three months.We will shortly publish a draft code of practice for interveners and guardians, draft regulations related to aspects of guardianship, a draft code of practice on medical treatment and draft regulations prescribing certificates of incapacity. Draft regulations for the medical treatments which require safeguards and proposals for those safeguards will be published once the views of the Millan Committee are published later this year. We will allow the full three months for consultation responses on these documents also.

There are no plans for such charges. We remain committed to a National Health Service which is free at the point of delivery.

We are currently reviewing throughcare and aftercare arrangements for careleavers, including the best use of resources to be transferred from DSS. I have sent up a working group with representatives from local authorities, relevant public agencies and voluntary bodies who can speak for young people themselves to give me advice on how to improve current arrangements.

I am pleased to announce that the fourth progress report of action to implement our wide-ranging and extensive Land Reform Action Plan is published today. All MSPs are receiving copies.

From this, members should note that we now plan to launch our draft Land Reform Bill in February 2001. Our strong commitment to this original and groundbreaking legislation means that we want to take the necessary preparation time to produce legislation that is effective in delivering our proposals for a community right to buy, a crofting community right to buy and a right of responsible access to land and inland water. There are many complex issues involved, and matters were raised with us during consultations which require consideration. I cannot promise that we shall please all consultees, but our aim is to strike the right balance and commitment of time at this preparatory stage is time well spent. We shall, of course, consult on the draft Bill.

I am pleased to say that, since the May progress report, the National Parks (Scotland) Bill has completed its parliamentary passage and we have undertaken to consult on the principle and detail of possible legislative proposals to assist the Carbeth hutters.

We have set the National Archives of Scotland the following key targets for 2000-01:

• To maintain administration costs at 18% of total current expenditure and direct service provision at 82%.
• To increase the number of new catalogue entries available for public scrutiny on the electronic system by 25,000.
• To produce material for readers in 92.5% of cases in 30 minutes or less for material from the same building, and in two days or less for material from elsewhere.
• To issue replies to 60% of correspondence within 15 days and 90% within 25 days.

To process 90% of extracts for legal customers in four working days; and to process 92.5% of rapid copies within 24 hours.

Local response teams have been established across Scotland and are currently working on contingency plans for improving their dealings with companies. On Tuesday 25 July, I launched the PACE website, (www.scotland.gov.uk/pace) which will make available a range of reference material and other information, including recent publications and contact details that will assist the public sector approach to companies in difficulty. The website will permit local agencies and all interested parties (including businesses themselves) to access information and advice on dealing with company difficulties and to identify key local contacts. The site also offers the opportunity to share experience and good practice via a discussion forum, where views, information and examples of best practice can be easily exchanged.

The Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People reported to the UK Government just before Easter.

Copies of the report have today been placed in the libraries of the United Kingdom Parliament. The report will also be available on the Home Office website, with printed copies to be provided on application to that department.

A copy of the report has today been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 7182). In addition, the report is available on the Internet through a link in the Scottish Executive website.

A copy of the Interception of Communications Commissioner, Lord Nolan's annual report for 1999, together with copies of the Intelligence Services and Security Service Commissioner, Lord Justice Stuart-Smith's annual reports, were laid before Parliament on 4 July in accordance with the relevant legislation. With the agreement of the Prime Minister, the confidential annexes to these reports, which contain sensitive information, have been excluded from the published reports.

The main part of the study into the costs of answering parliamentary questions has now been completed. However, the data collected over the survey period is still being analysed and it will not be possible to complete the study before the summer recess. Rather than publish the report during recess, we now plan to make this available when Parliament reconvenes.