Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24972 on 13 July 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Health Directorate have lead responsibility for coordinating responses on a range of issues related to unintentional childhood injury and has established a pilot, through Information Services Division (ISD), to look at data that is collected from accident and emergency departments (A&E) in order to establish the main causes of accidents, although other parts of government have a responsibility for taking forward specific strands of work, for example in relation to road accidents.

The pilot is expected to report back later this autumn. Once this information is available the Scottish Government will consider the data available and whether further work may be necessary in collating and analysing accident data before taking targeted action in order to reduce the number of unintentional injury (if appropriate).

The SMR (Scottish Mortality Record) national database holds data on children admitted to Scottish hospitals. SMR records data on unintentional injuries, defined by admission code and/or international classification of disease (ICD10) diagnosis codes. Validated SMR data is collected via hospital patient management systems and submitted electronically across a secure network to Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland, where it is stored in the national database.

Data relating to unintentional injuries in children is published as part of ISD''s annual unintentional injuries national statistics publication: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3066.html.

Data is also disseminated on an ad-hoc basis in accordance with ISD''s information request protocol.

The Scottish Government provides funding from the Health and Justice Directorates to support national child injury prevention and safety programmes, which promote the Scottish Government''s overarching objectives of keeping the people of Scotland healthier, safer, and stronger.

The Scottish Government has not carried out any research into this matter.

The changes to the notification procedure in no way diminish the opportunity for the public or communities to be involved in the planning process. This administrative change was therefore not subject to consultation.

There are no appeal procedures in planning legislation which allow for communities to challenge decisions that have been made by planning authorities. However, objections and representations from consultees and the public are an essential part of the decision-making process on planning applications. It is for planning authorities to give due consideration to such views when reaching a decision on planning applications. Forthcoming changes to the planning system will provide the public with greater opportunities to influence proposals through pre-applications consultation and decision making through pre-determination hearings on larger scale developments. Changes will also involve more information being available on applications and on decisions and how they were reached.

Individuals can challenge planning decisions made by local authorities through the courts.

Figures supplied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency suggest burning one tonne of coal would produce a range of between 2.5 to 2.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Coal used in power stations in Scotland comes from various geographical locations. Due to the differing composition and moisture content of coal types, it is not possible to provide a more precise figure.

Carbon Capture and Storage Technology (CCS) has the potential to reduce emissions from power stations by up to 90 per cent. The Scottish Government supports CCS as a critical new technology that would make a significant contribution towards carbon emission reductions.

Planning applications are required by law to be decided in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Should issues related to climate change be raised in relation to a planning application, these will need to be taken in to account by the decision maker.

The Scottish Government has been notified of six opencast coal operations during that period all of which were cleared back to the respective planning authorities to determine.