Parliamentary questions

Elaine Murray

2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

2 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) plans and (b) projects have been subject to appropriate assessment in the marine extensions to seabird breeding colony special protection areas around the coast, and how many were consented or subject to change as a result.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Blue Seas, Green Energy – A Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind in Scottish Territorial Waters was subject to Appropriate Assessment and included consideration of the seabird SPA colony extensions. The plan assessment provides some generic mitigation measu…

2 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that any (a) change of use or (b) development in a marine special protection area is compatible with management objectives for the features for which the area is designated.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Member states are obligated under the EU Birds Directive to take appropriate steps to avoid deterioration of habitats and disturbance of species within special protection areas that have been classified for migratory birds and those listed on Annex 1 of the D…

2 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many and which sites of special scientific interest have been damaged in each of the last five years; what the cause of the damage was; what area was damaged; whether the damage was due to illegal activities and, if so, whether these were subject to investigation and prosecution; what…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested has been supplied by Scottish Natural Heritage and placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 53500).

2 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the statement in Scottish Agricultural College technical note TN629 that 40% of species-rich grassland was lost in the period 1983 to 2005 and what monitoring is being undertaken by it or its agencies to avoid further loss of this habitat.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is aware of the 40% estimate quoted in the technical note, however as there is no reference cited for the figure its basis is unclear. We acknowledge that changes in land management in recent decades have resulted in a decrease in spec…

2 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers have undertaken an environmental impact assessment before ploughing species-rich grassland and how many possible breaches have been investigated, in each of the last three years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Details of Environmental Impact Assessments under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 are available on the Scottish Government’s website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/Environment/1680…

30 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding the number of hen harriers that have been satellite tagged as part of the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project and what is known about the whereabouts of those birds.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In 2010, three hen harriers were satellite tagged as part of the Langholm Moor Demonstration Project. All three have now stopped transmitting. One tag was recovered at Langholm, with no trace of the bird. The other two birds were tracked through southern Scot…

30 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances a 20 mph speed limit will be introduced on a trunk road.

Answer · Keith Brown: There are no towns or villages through which the Scottish trunk road network passes with a permanent 20mph zone in place. In September 2003, a ministerial announcement confirmed measures to assist roads authorities in implementing 20mph speed limits at schoo…

10 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to extending the powers of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in relation to the investigation of wildlife crime and whether it will consult on the introduction of relevant legislation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As the then Minister for Environment and Climate Change made clear at Stage 3 of the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill on 2 March 2011, we intend to consult on extending the powers of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in relati…

10 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what secondary legislation it is planning to introduce under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are no immediate plans to introduce any secondary legislation under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Resources are currently concentrated on developing new legislation on the welfare of animals at slaughter that will implement EU legis…

10 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the campaign by Animal Aid and Scotland for Animals to make the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses compulsory.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is no clear legal method to make the use of CCTV cameras in slaughterhouses compulsory in the foreseeable future. However, the Scottish Government and FSA will continue to promote their voluntary use as good practice to aid monitoring of welfare at slau…

10 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when staff at the Scottish Agricultural College's disease surveillance centres will be advised whether the number of centres will be reduced.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Review of Veterinary Surveillance, chaired by former NFUS president John Kinnaird, reported on 9 November 2011. I immediately accepted a key recommendation of the review, to establish a Strategic Management Board (SMB) chaired by the Chief Veterinary Offi…

10 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to The Review of Veterinary Surveillance - Final Report.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I immediately accepted a key recommendation of the Review of Veterinary Surveillance, to establish a Strategic Management Board (SMB) chaired by the Chief Veterinary Officer (Scotland), and I will shortly write to stakeholders seeking suggestions on who shoul…

9 Nov 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it assessed the future demand for agri-environment schemes when developing the current draft budget and spending review.

3 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes are scheduled for the A76 from Dumfries to New Cumnock and when they will take place.

Answer · Keith Brown: There are currently no improvement schemes scheduled for the A76 from Dumfries to New Cumnock. Transport Scotland are however currently undertaking a road safety action plan which will propose measures aimed at further improving road safety on the A76.

3 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to continue with the improvement scheme to the A76 at Ellisland Farm.

Answer · Keith Brown: As part of the normal development of the design of the Ellisland Improvement, Transport Scotland carried out a review of costs and benefits. This showed that the cost of the proposed scheme had increased and the scheme was no longer economically feasible in t…

3 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes are scheduled for the A75 from Dumfries to Gretna and when they will take place.

Answer · Keith Brown: At present the two schemes scheduled for the A75 are Dunragit Bypass and Hardgrove to Kinmount. The schemes have completed their statutory process and will be prepared so that they are ready to be taken forward at the earliest possible opportunity when funds …

3 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it would expect to be taken by a public body, under section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, that gives consent for an activity, project or plan that damages or destroys a natural feature for which a site of special scientific interest has been notified and w…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 applies to the exercise by a public body or office holder of any function on, or so far as affecting, any land which is or forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Action taken in accordanc…

3 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it would calculate the extent of compensation required if it, or another public body, gave consent for an activity, project or plan that damaged or destroyed a natural feature for which a site of special scientific interest had been notified.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03804 on 10 November 2011. 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/parliamenta…

3 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it would be possible for a public body to give consent for an activity, project or plan that would damage or destroy a natural feature for which a site of special scientific interest has been notified.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Planning Policy provides that development that affects a SSSI should only be permitted where it will not adversely affect the integrity of the area or the qualities for which it has been designated, or when any such adverse effects are clearly outwei…