Chamber and committees

This information is not heldcentrally.

We will give this suggestionconsideration in the development of our research programme.

This information is not collectedcentrally.

The 2001 Census recorded thefollowing proportions in relation to caravans or other mobile or temporary structures:

(a) owned outright: 56.0%, (b)privately rented: 32.7% and (c) social rented: 11.3%.

This information is not held centrally.

Caravans and mobile homes arenot identified separately in statistics collected centrally on households in temporaryaccommodation.

There has been significant and continuing improvement in the environmental record of the Carntyne incinerator since the committees submitted their reports in 2003. Specific measures to upgrade odour abatement systems have been installed, and improved monitoring equipment and systems introduced. The incinerator now complies fully with all relevant environmental standards. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), which regulates the incinerator, has been asked to submit regular reports to the Executive confirming details of any complaint received by the agency concerning the plant’s operations, togetherwith the action SEPA and the company are taking to address the complaint. We expect SEPA to take robust enforcement action in the event of any future breaches of the incinerator’s authorisation.

The Executive has also commissioned research on the interaction between land use planning and environmental regulation, which was published in October 2004. This report makes a number of detailed recommendations which are being carefully considered by ministers. The report can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/planning/iblu-00.asp.

Scottish ministers are considering the detailed recommendations of the Working Group on Hate Crime and expect to respond to it in due course.

The Scottish Executive is marking LGBT history month in a number of ways.

I will be hosting a reception for LGBT communities later in the month. This will be an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution that LGBT people have made to Scottish society.

Communities Scotland have announced funding of £9,995 for the charity group “OurStory Scotland” to support a project researching the history of Scotland’s LGBT communities.

And in addition, as an employer, the Scottish Executive, in conjunction with its LGBT staff network and the “Remember When” project, will mark LGBT History Month with a variety of events, including a lunchtime seminar for Executive staff. This will focus on the contribution of LGBT staff members to the Executive and the wider civil service.

The Scottish Executive is investing around £100,000 in the Year of the Volunteer 2005. This is being administered by the Scottish Executive. We expect to fund a small number of organisations to deliver the Scottish aims of the Year and funding has already commenced.