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The Environmental Advisory Forum for Renewable Energy is considering the need for research into the operation and effectiveness of existing renewable energy policies.

There are some complex issues to be resolved prior to the introduction of a revised Code of Practice and I cannot be any more specific than the answer given to question S2W-13508.

The Water Services etc. (Scotland) Bill will require the Water Industry Commission to have regard to any guidance issued to Scottish Water.  The Executive is currently revising the guidance on sustainable development to incorporate changes in legislation proposed under the Bill. Scottish Water, the Water Industry Commissioner and the Water Customer Consultation Panels are being consulted.

The Executive has commissioned a national needs assessment to look at possible options for redesign of the NHS wheelchair service. The aim of the review, which will report in the spring of 2006, is to provide a plan for improved NHS wheelchair service provision across the whole of Scotland. The review will identify the needs of people using the service and make recommendations in consultation with stakeholders on how the service might be improved.

We also plan to take interim measures to reduce waiting times. Work on this is now being progressed in consultation with the five Scottish Wheelchair Centres and NHS boards and we will announce these measures shortly.

We expect to introduce a revised code of practice later in the year.

The Executive has received little formal correspondence where the supplier wanted to register concern over the Supermarket Code of Practice, but was reluctant to make an official complaint under the code. However, informal and anecdotal views have been expressed over the lack of effectiveness of the Code. The Executive in all cases has invited complainants to contact the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), and also, early in 2003, made representation to the OFT about these views.

The Executive made representation to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), early in 2003, to the effect that there was a very strong view from suppliers in Scotland that the Supermarket Code of Practice was not working. The representation made it clear that fear of de-listing was preventing suppliers making complaints under the code, together with concerns about lack of substantive penalties for non-compliance. The outcome of this representation, and other similar representations, was the OFT’s announcement of an audit of the code, aimed at establishing the effectiveness of the code. The report of the audit is nearing completion and is likely to be published early in 2005. The Executive will make further representation once the outcome of the audit is known.

The question of the effectiveness of the Supermarket Code of Practice is the subject of an audit being carried out by the Office of Fair Trading. The issue of change to the code will be considered in light of the results of that audit, which are due to be published early in 2005. The Executive will make representation once the outcome of the audit is known.

The question of the effectiveness of the operation of the Supermarket Code of Practice is currently the subject of an audit by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The Executive made representation to the OFT about the effectiveness of the Code which, along with other representations, led to the audit being conducted. The results are likely to be published early in 2005. The Executive will make further representation once the outcome of the audit is known.

By summer of 2006 all police forces in Scotland will be fully operational in the use of Airwave.