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ILAs are a way of helping people to invest in their own learning with financial support from the Executive. The initial response has been encouraging. Following on from the pilot schemes the initiative has been fully operational in Scotland from 1 September 2000. By the end of November more than 28,000 accounts had been opened, against the target of 100,000 by 2002, and over 7,000 people had already begun learning supported by their ILA. Both learndirect scotland and the Local Enterprise Companies will continue marketing initiatives to maintain this early momentum.

A report on Health Effects of Waste Combustion Products, published in 1997 by the Medical Research Council's Institute for Environment and Health, concluded that "Epidemiological studies of people who work at or live near incinerators have shown no consistent excess incidence of any specific disease."Similarly, a report on Waste Incineration and Public Health, published in 1999 by the US National Research Council, concluded that "Few epidemiological studies have attempted to assess whether adverse health effects have actually occurred near individual incinerators, and most of them have been unable to detect any effects. The studies of which the committee is aware that did report finding health effects had shortcomings and failed to provide convincing evidence."Both reports point out, however, that effects on health cannot be excluded, because (for example) the studies examined small populations, could not adequately make allowance for other factors which might influence disease rates, could not measure exposures accurately, and could not allow for the possibility of a long latency between exposure and development of disease.A study undertaken by the Government-funded Small Area Health Statistics Unit found a small excess of primary liver cancer near the older generation of municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs). The Government's expert advisory Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment has considered these studies and concluded that any potential risk of cancer due to residency near to MSWIs was exceedingly low and probably not measurable by the most modern epidemiological techniques. The committee agreed that, at the present time, there was no need for any further epidemiological investigations of cancer incidence near municipal solid waste incinerators. The committee's statement can be found on the Internet at www.doh.gov.uk/munipwst.htm.The Department of Health in England has recently published guidance, reflecting the advice of the Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, on Investigating the health impact of emissions to air from local industry, which can be found at http://www.doh.gov.uk/comeap/goodpracticeguide.pdf and statements on the applicability of time-series co-efficients to areas affected by emissions of air pollutants from industrial sources, at http://www.doh.gov.uk/comeap/areaemissions.htm.The UK Health Departments will continue to take account of any new evidence in this area, in the light of expert advice.

The Scottish Executive consultation document on skin piercing is being published today and is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre and on the Executive's website.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

The total cost of HMP Kilmarnock over the 25-year period of the contract is approximately £130 million in Net Present Value terms. This equates to an annual cost per prisoner place of around £11,000 in Net Present Value terms.

Using the same methodology, the annual cost per prisoner place for the Scottish Prison Service designing, constructing, financing and operating HMP Kilmarnock over 25 years would be around £21,000 in Net Present Value terms.

Whilst there is no legal entitlement for STG pension scheme members to share in the pension surplus at wind-up Scottish Ministers are keen that they receive treatment that is broadly equitable with that of NBC pension scheme members south of the border. I am therefore pleased to say that we have now agreed with Treasury that when the STG pension schemes are wound up ex-gratia payments will be made to members. A total of around £100 million is expected to be available for distribution.

I am publishing today a consultation paper, Greater Protection for Hutters, which seeks views on the principle and detail of possible legislative proposals to address concerns that have been raised following the dispute at Carbeth. The consultation paper sets out the background to that dispute, summarises the information that is available on hutters and hut sites throughout Scotland and identifies the key issues that would need to be addressed if legislation is to be introduced.

The responses to the consultation will help the Executive to decide whether to proceed with legislation in this area. Copies of the consultation paper will be sent to interested parties and will be available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and on the Scottish Executive website. The closing date for the consultation is 9 March 2001.

Various energy from waste technologies, including incineration of waste, have until now been classified as a form of renewable energy generation, and were included for support under the previous Scottish Renewables Obligation arrangements. Our consultation paper on a new mechanism to promote renewable energy in Scotland, the Renewables Obligation (Scotland), was issued on 30 November. One of issues on which we are seeking views is the question of qualifying renewable technologies, and in particular on the issue of energy from waste. A copy of the consultation paper is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency of course licenses all waste incineration processes for pollution control purposes and these processes are subject to strict regulation.

The Executive, through Scottish Enterprise Energy Group based in Aberdeen, is actively encouraging companies in Scotland to consider diversification into the manufacturing opportunities which are beginning to arise from renewable energy development. Our promotion of these developments will be further strengthened by our Renewables Obligation (Scotland); one of its aims is to assist the renewables industry to become competitive and thus to provide employment. A copy of our consultation paper on the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy may give symptomatic relief to some multiple sclerosis sufferers, there is no clinical evidence to suggest that it is in any way effective in arresting the progress of multiple sclerosis. There is therefore no national policy or national arrangements for the provision of this therapy.

A consultation paper will be issued widely to local authorities, public health interests, representatives of the skin piercing industry and others by the end of 2000.

In the normal way, a 12-week period will be allowed for responses, in the light of which the Executive will consider whether any further action is necessary.