Seòmar agus comataidhean

Consideration is being given to funding a range of initiatives as part of the spending review, the outcome of which will be announced later this year.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27702.

The Executive recognises the valuable contribution made by voluntary sector organisations, including Local Councils on Alcohol, in providing services and in other action in the plan. The Executive is providing core funding of £175,000 in 2002-03 for Alcohol Focus Scotland, the national umbrella body for local councils. The provision of local services, however, is a matter for local funding bodies to determine, in the light of local needs and available resources.

All applications for training grants under section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 for funding in the financial year 2003-04 are to be received by 30 September 2002. Alcohol Focus Scotland will be advised of the outcome by 31 December 2002.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27699.

We are providing new resources centrally to implement the Plan for Action's early priorities. This includes £1.5 million for a national alcohol problems communications strategy, increased funding to Alcohol Action Teams (AATs) of £1 million and £250,000 to develop a national alcohol information resource. AATs are currently examining how existing spending on alcohol problems can be redesigned to help implement the plan locally.

The European Commission has announced that it intends to revise the Bathing Waters Directive (76/160/EEC) but the proposals have not yet been published. Until the potential impact of the new directive can be assessed, it would be unwise to identify more bathing waters.

The total number of incidents of illness caused by bathing at waters where there is poor water quality is not identifiable from centrally collected information. ISD Scotland (the Information and Statistics Division of the NHS) can identify cases where illness is caused by certain related factors, but do not routinely monitor these detailed statistics. It appears, however, that such incidents are extremely uncommon.The Environment Agency has carried out theoretical risk calculations for all UK bathing waters, based on a methodology developed by the World Health Organisation, and reported data for the presence of faecal indicator organisms. If the World Health Organisation methodology is correct, this work would give estimates of the occurrence of illness given particular levels of water quality and use. No systematic record of the use of Scottish bathing waters is, however, kept.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27702.

During the period 1996-2002, the Scottish water authorities spent £407.5 million on coastal sewerage and wastewater treatment. Over the period 2002-06 Scottish Water is planning to spend £427.4 million on sewerage and sewage treatment, of which £50.9 million will be used to make improvements at bathing and other, non-identified, recreational and coastal waters.On 10 July 2002 the Scottish Executive announced £3 million investment to facilitate improvements in bathing waters standards where agricultural practices are a major contributor to pollution. £550,000 to be spent on litter initiatives through Keep Scotland Beautiful was announced on the same day, which will also benefit Scotland's beaches.