Chamber and committees

In allocating this accelerated funding we will prioritise bringing forward new construction but will also spend on off the shelf units and land acquisitions where this is strategically sensible and offers good value for money. Allocations will be made to projects rather than to specific local authority areas. This re-profiling of spend will have a neutral affect on total unit approvals for the three year spending review period.

There is no provision within planning or health and safety legislation to restrict development at one site because of a conviction for a health and safety offence at another site. Planning permission, if granted, does not remove the need to comply with other statutory regimes. This includes the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and other general health and safety legislation covering workers in the opencast industry. Specific regulations, the Quarries Regulations 1999, also apply. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for enforcing this legislation and has powers to take action to secure compliance when necessary. HSE can also apply lessons from one investigation to other sites.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk./webapp/wa.search.

There is currently no requirement in UK or EU law for goods to bear marks indicating their origin, nor is there anything to prevent voluntary origin marking where traders wish to do so. However, Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) came into force on 26 May 2008 and require traders not to mislead consumers in respect of where goods are made. This includes tartan. The CPRs are enforced by Trading Standards Services and the Office of Fair Trading. Possible breaches of the CPRs are a matter for the local authorities'' Trading Standards Services.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15672 on 2 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Following publication in November 2007 of the Report of the Review of Community Penalties work has been taken forward in partnership between the Scottish Government and local authorities to delivery improvements to the immediacy and speed of completion of community service orders.

Local authority criminal justice social work teams operate against the framework of national standards, which are currently being reviewed. We seek to issue jointly agreed guidance by the end of the year to ensure that offenders do not leave court without being given a copy of their order and reporting instructions and that most work placements commence within seven days of imposition of the order.

We will build on this work in our publication of the Scottish Government''s plans for a coherent penal policy, which will issue before the end of 2008.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7746 on 19 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7746 on 19 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

We are delivering a more effective penal policy, with accelerated justice for offenders and a better targeted and more robust range of sentences for the courts. We are also addressing the underlying causes of offending through our early intervention strategy, including support for young parents, more constructive activities for young people and tackling the three D''s of drink, drugs and deprivation.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15672 on 2 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.