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At present, the SPCB doesnot maintain records of the percentage of companies providing this type ofinformation. However, tenderers’ submissions for SPCB contracts are assessedagainst relevant environmental and equalities criteria.

For example, companies are askedto provide evidence of independently accredited environmental managementsystems, e.g. ISO 14000 certification. Also, for items containing a significanttimber component (e.g. furniture), companies are asked to submit evidence thattimber is obtained from responsibly managed forests.

Even for low value/riskrequirements, tenderers are asked to provide a copy of their environmental policystatement, together with any environmental initiatives the company hasundertaken that would directly benefit the SPCB.

To support the SPCB’sEqualities in Procurement Policy, tenderers are also commonly asked to providedetails of their equal opportunities policy and detail what steps are taken toensure the delivery of equality of opportunity and treatment as both anemployer and service provider.

In addition, the SPCB iscurrently developing a set of policies and procedures to underpin itsresponsible purchasing initiative, encompassing professionalism and ethics,environment and sustainability and equalities and social justice.

The Executive does not routinely require such reports of its suppliers. Where appropriate and relevant to the nature of the contract, suppliers may be required to demonstrate that they have a recognised environmental management system, such as EMAS or ISO14001. In other cases, where appropriate, suppliers may be required to demonstrate that they, or their products, comply with recognised independently verified schemes, for example, Forestry Stewardship Council certificates and fair trade labels. Pre-qualification procedures for Executive contracts generally require the bidder to disclose any convictions for failure to comply with legislation, including social and environmental legislation.

The Executive is committed in the long term to delivering improved services over the lifetime of the new franchise. In addition to Airdrie to Bathgate, the redevelopment of Waverley Station will provide additional capacity, for example, to accommodate new Fife services following the opening of the Stirling to Alloa to Kincardine line. It will also improve the reliability of the existing timetabled services.

We will continue to core-fund Cycling Scotland which was set up in October last year to promote cycling as a healthy, sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transport. We will also maintain cycling, walking and safer streets funding to local authorities.

Interest in the SCHRI continuesto grow as a result of the promotional activities being undertaken by our networkof project officers throughout Scotland. A national media campaign is also being planned whichwill further promote the support available to individual householders through thescheme.

The Energy Saving Trust is currentlyin contact with a number of builders who have expressed interest and the firstseven applications are expected shortly.

New marketing initiatives, uniqueto Scotland, are being targeted specifically at builders. These,together with the publicising of case studies of the first grants, are aimed atproducing a gradual increase in take-up of this element of the SCHRI.

Seventy-fivecommunity projects have been awarded funding of around £1.9 million under the Scottish Community and Householder Initiative, of which 25 have been completed,and 60 awards amounting in total to £76,000 have been made to householders.

The recently published UKForesight Report on Future Flooding is supported by a Future Flooding ActionPlan to which the Executive contributed. In line with this plan, we will take intoaccount the outcome of the Foresight report in planning our flood risk managementresearch and in the ongoing development of the Executive’s own National FloodingFramework and associated action plan.

Output from the National TechnicalAdvisory Group, which we established last year, will be integral to the furtherdevelopment of the Executive’s Action Plan. The SEPA, SNH, COSLA and other key stakeholdersare represented on the National Technical Advisory Group and are making a valuableinput to the work of this group and, thereby, to the implementation of the Executive’saction plan.

The information requested isnot recorded.