Parliamentary questions
Elaine Murray
2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to respond to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) Consultation on Proposals for a new Border Rivers Order for the River Esk.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Following the current public consultation the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will approach Scottish Ministers for approval before proceeding with the Order.</p>
15 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31224 by Richard Lochhead on 10 February 2010, whether it will make a statement to the Parliament when the proposed amendment to the Scottish farmed salmon protected geographical indication status is finalised.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It would not be normal procedure for me to make a statement in Parliament about the launch of a consultation on a Protected Food Name; however, I will notify you when the consultation is launched which will happen once the application is finalised by the appl…
15 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31224 by Richard Lochhead on 10 February 2010, how and when the amendment to the Scottish farmed salmon protected geographical indication status will be finalised.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I expect the amendment to the Scottish Farmed Salmon Protected Geographical Indication to be finalised shortly and issued for public consultation. The applicant, the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, finalise the wording of the amendment application, wh…
11 Feb 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes with a band E energy performance rating have been accepted for the Energy Assistance Package since the eligibility criteria were changed in November 2009.
Answer · Alex Neil: The change to eligibility criteria for Stage 4, announced in November, came into effect on 21 December 2009, following an amendment to the regulations.</p> <p >By the end of January, 549 homes with a Band E energy performance rating had been accepted for me…
9 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date its central heating boiler scrappage scheme will (a) open for applications and (b) make its first awards.
Answer · Jim Mather: In his Budget Bill speech of 3 February 2010, John Swinney announced £2 million in 2010-11 for a Scottish boiler scrappage scheme. This will support the forthcoming Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland, which will be published in late spring.</p> <p >…
29 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on the proposed amendment to the protected geographical indication status for Scottish farmed salmon; what the timescale for the consultation will be, and who it will consult.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government will consult on the amendment to the Scottish Farmed Salmon PGI once the details of the amendment application are finalised. It will be a 12 week consultation and a wide range of industry and consumers stakeholders will be consulted. T…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many horses that may have been exposed to equine infectious anaemia are awaiting testing for the disease.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: None.</p>
25 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, given the recent study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies suggesting that having a laptop at home could lead to a two-grade improvement in one subject at GCSE, whether it will introduce a scheme similar to the £300 million Home Access scheme that will benefit 270,000 families in England.
Answer · Michael Russell: We recognise the important role of technology in addressing some of the barriers to engagement and attainment in education.</p> <p >The Scottish Government is adopting a comprehensive approach to the delivery of sustainable educational benefits and change fo…
25 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30390 by Jim Mather on 18 January 2010, on what date it will publish its final energy efficiency action plan.
Answer · Jim Mather: We have appointed consultants to independently analyse the 492 responses we received to our recent consultation on an Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland. We expect the consultants to submit a summary of responses to the Scottish Government in March.</…
21 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of each measure, including central heating installations, has been accessed at Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Alex Neil: The following table provides an analysis of physical measures completed as a result of referrals to Stage 4, to end November 2009. </p> <p >To the end of November the Energy Assistance Package has delivered 5,138 heating system measures.</p> <p >Four thou…
21 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) applications, (b) householders assessed for eligibility and (c) acceptances there have been for Stage Four measures of the Energy Assistance Package in each month, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Alex Neil: Callers to the Energy Assistance Package helpline do not make an application for Stage Four measures as such. Their local energy advisor takes them through an assessment of their potential eligibility for Stages Three and Four, while also offering energy savi…
16 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Environment Protection Agency files and subsequently accesses copies of special waste landfill consignment notes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30118 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
16 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Environment Protection Agency monitors the accuracy of special waste landfill consignment notes, specifically in relation to insulation containing ozone-depleting substances.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30118 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
16 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the amount of ozone-depleting substances dumped in landfill.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30118 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
16 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of ozone-depleting substances were dumped in landfill in each of the last three years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30118 on 15 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
16 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many landfill consignments in 2008 contained ozone-depleting substances, including chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: This question, and your other related questions (S3W-30119, S3W-30120, S3W-30142 and S3W-30143), are operational issues for SEPA and I have asked the Chief Executive, Campbell Gemmell, to reply to you in each case.</p> <p >All answers to written parliamentar…
20 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that making a ministerial visit to the opening of a new PPP school is consistent with the Scottish Government’s objection to the funding model.
Answer · Michael Russell: This government has honoured the previous administration''s commitments to the school building programme since May 2007, to ensure that pupils, staff and communities continued to benefit and indeed provided additional resources to meet the financial shortfall…
20 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the commissioning date was for each (a) primary and (b) secondary school in Dumfries and Galloway that (i) has been completed since May 2007 and (ii) is currently being built.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not collect details regarding the commissioning of individual school projects. That is a matter for local authorities.</p>
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal accidents, (b) fatal and serious accidents and (c) accidents of all severities have occurred at junctions of the M74 since May 2007, broken down by junction.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The number of (a) fatal accidents, (b) fatal and serious accidents and (c) accidents of all severities have occurred at junctions of the M74 since May 2007 until 31 July 2009, broken down by junction is shown in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cell…
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents of all severities have been recorded on roads in Dumfries and Galloway in each month since May 2007, broken down by road.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following tables show the total number of injury road accidents in Dumfries and Galloway, by month and road.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=573 > <thead> <tr > <td width=82 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=left > </…
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal and serious accidents on roads in Dumfries and Galloway have been recorded in each month since May 2007, broken down by road.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following tables show the number of fatal and serious road accidents in Dumfries and Galloway, by month and road.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=82 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=left > </p> </td> <td …
18 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of (a) fatal accidents and (b) people killed in accidents on roads in Dumfries and Galloway has been in each month since May 2007, broken down by road.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following tables show the number of fatal road accidents and people killed in Dumfries and Galloway each month by road.</p> <p >Fatal Accidents on Roads in Dumfries and Galloway, by Month and Road</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <th…
13 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Timings and Scheme Year Rules for Annual Recurrent Payment Claims page was (a) included and (b) last updated on the Scotland Rural Development Programme section of the Scottish Government’s website.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Timings and Scheme Year Rules for Annual Recurrent Payment Claims page in the Claims section of Rural Priorities web guidance was first included on the website on 10 July 2008 and was last updated 25 September 2009.</p> <p >As has been publicised, the i…
9 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances planning permission must be sought by a person conducting a business from home.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The main issue is whether conducting a business from a dwellinghouse, flat or other residence would amount to a material change of use which would then require planning permission. Whether a material change of use is involved depends on the circumstances of t…
6 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the budget for the Energy Assistance Package will have to be increased in order to widen the eligibility for Stage Four of the package to include homes with a band E energy performance rating.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28761 on 19 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it projects that it will cost to widen the eligibility for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package to include homes with a band E energy performance rating.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package is a demand-led programme supported by a budget worth over £60 million in 2009-10.</p> <p >In itself, widening the eligibility criteria for Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package has no cost implications. The effect of includ…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the managing agent will handle any increase in demand resulting from wider eligibility for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package to ensure that waiting periods do not increase beyond the current average of 77 days.
Answer · Alex Neil: The managing agent will increase field and office resources, where required, to meet the expected increase in demand resulting from the wider eligibility criteria for Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package. The Scottish Government will continue to press the…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, the Energy Saving Trust or managing agent will contact applicants rejected for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package since April 2009 because of a band E energy performance rating to inform them that they are now eligible.
Answer · Alex Neil: The managing agent has confirmed it will contact those EAP applicants already surveyed whose homes achieved a SAP rating of between 39 and 54.</p> <p >Additionally, the Energy Saving Trust will identify to the managing agent those applicants that it conside…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has changed the eligibility criteria for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package on the basis that the programme has been too restrictive.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package was introduced further to the recommendations of the independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum. The forum is responsible for monitoring the EAP. Further to their meeting on 27 October 2009 at which a six month progress report was c…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has changed the eligibility criteria for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package to include homes with a band E energy performance rating.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28731 on 19 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…