Document 1171

Scottish Parliament: Committees: Transport and the Environment: Minutes: Meeting 22, 2002

Author(s): Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Copyright holder(s): Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body: © Scottish Parliamentary copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Queen's Printer for Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.

TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
22nd Meeting, 2002 (Session 1)
Wednesday 26 June 2002



Present:

Robin Harper
Bristow Muldoon (Convener)
Fiona McLeod
Nora Radcliffe (Deputy Convener)
Angus MacKay
John Scott
Maureen Macmillan



The following member also attended: George Reid.


Apologies were received from Adam Ingram and Des McNulty.



The meeting opened at 10.28 am.



1. Items in Private: The Committee agreed to take agenda items 6 and 7 in private. The Committee also agreed to consider areas of questioning for witnesses giving evidence as part of its consideration of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill in private at future meetings.

2. Subordinate Legislation: The Committee considered the following negative instruments—

The Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2002, (SSI 2002/276)

The New Water and Sewerage Authorities Dissolution (Scotland) Order 2002, (SSI 2002/277)

The Bus Service Operators Grant (Scotland) Regulations 2002, (SSI 2002/289)

The Travel Concessions (Eligible Services) (Scotland) Order 2002, (SSI 2002/290)

The Home Zones (Scotland) (No.2) Regulations 2002, (SSI 2002/292)

The Committee had nothing to report on the instruments.

3. Organic Waste Spread on Land: The Committee considered the response of the Scottish Executive to the Committee’s report on Petition PE 327 by the Blairingone and Saline Action Group on Organic Waste Spread on Land.

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Environment and Rural Development to recommend that the application of untreated blood and gut content to land be prohibited in advance of the implementation of the EU Animal By-Products Regulation.

The Committee also agreed to write to, firstly, the chairman of the Environmental Hazard Investigation Team which is considering the health concerns of the residents of Blairingone and, secondly, SEPA on matters relating to the work of the Investigating Team. Furthermore, the Committee agreed that the Convener would consult with the Convener of the Health and Community Care Committee on how to further address those elements of the petition relating to health matters.


Finally, the Committee agreed to seek a debate in the Parliament on its report.


4. Polluting Activities in Built-Up Areas: The Committee considered a reporter’s paper on Petition PE 377 by Michael Kayes on polluting activities in built-up areas. The Committee agreed terms of reference and the course of action for the Reporter.

5. Parliamentary Debate: The Committee agreed to seek a debate in the Parliament on its report on the rail industry in Scotland in due course.

6. Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Bill (in private): The Committee considered and agreed arrangements for its consideration of the Bill at Stage 1.

7. Rail Inquiry (in private): The Committee considered the evidence it has taken and agreed to consider a draft report after summer recess.



The meeting closed at 12.18 pm.


Callum Thomson
Clerk to the Committee

Information about Document 1171

Scottish Parliament: Committees: Transport and the Environment: Minutes: Meeting 22, 2002