Revealed: how Scotland flouts European environment laws

Scotland has been accused by the European Union (EU) of 65 violations of laws meant to prevent pollution, protect wildlife and control waste, according to a secret government database released to the Sunday Herald. The number of alleged breaches of European legal directives over the past six years is twice as high as previously admitted, prompting accusations yesterday that Scotland's record was "shocking" and had been "covered up". The range of environmental crimes investigated by the EU is broad. They include breaking rules on overfishing, hazardous waste, water pollution, sewage, radiation protection, plant imports, pesticides, birds of prey and pigs. Among the most serious cases were loopholes in the law allowing farmers and the Crown to avoid the need for statutory environmental assessments. The government has also failed to introduce new controls on animal health - including foot-and-mouth - in time.