Parliamentary questions
Elaine Murray
2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s report into the state of contaminated land in 2009 to be published.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The State of Contaminated Land Report was published in May 2009 and is available at <a href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/land/land_publications.aspx">http://www.sepa.org.uk/land/land_publications.aspx</a>.</p>
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to complete its revision of the Prevention of Pollution from Agricultural Activities Code.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The revision of the Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.</p>
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in establishing a soil focus group.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The first meeting of the Soil Focus Group is scheduled to take place on 11 November 2009.</p>
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase reporting of predicted water quality at EC designated bathing water beaches.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: All remaining (non-signage) bathing waters which currently look to be most at risk of not meeting the future EU bathing water standards in 2012 will be the priority ordered by user numbers. Ten to 15 sites are expected to be in this category.</p>
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason daily information on predicted water quality is provided at only 11 out of 80 EC designated bathing water sites, and how these sites were selected.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Electronic signage with daily information has been trialled and is being extended as resources have been made available. Sites for the programme of electronic signage were chosen on the basis of: the number of poor water quality results at the site, the abili…
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the sources of the pollution were that resulted in bathing waters at Irvine beach being assessed as of poor quality during the 2009 bathing season.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Of the season''s 20 samples, one was poor because of mechanical failure at a nearby sewage pumping station, and a second poor result was due to a mix of diffuse agricultural and urban pollution, following heavy rain.</p>
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the sources of the pollution were that resulted in bathing waters at Saltcoats and Ardrossan beaches being assessed as of poor quality during the 2009 bathing season.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A mix of diffuse rural and urban pollution, following heavy rainfall, is suspected. Microbial source tracking samples have been collected for analysis.</p>
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the sources of the pollution were that resulted in bathing waters at Heads of Ayr beach being assessed as of poor quality during the 2009 bathing season.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Significant rainfall, causing diffuse agricultural pollution to be washed from the land.</p>
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the sources of the pollution were that resulted in bathing waters at Ettrick Bay beach being assessed as of poor quality during the 2009 bathing season.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Significant rainfall, causing diffuse agricultural pollution to be washed from the land.</p>
17 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the sources of the pollution were that resulted in bathing waters at Sandyhill beach being assessed as of poor quality during the 2009 bathing season.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A combination of diffuse agricultural pollution and sewage-related pollution is suspected. Microbial source tracking samples have been collected for analysis.</p>
16 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received recommendations from the Scottish Courts Service regarding the future location of the Justice of the Peace courts in the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway and, if so, what those recommendations are.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0924-01.htm">http://www.scott…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24398 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2009, when it will bring forward regulations to govern the use of snares.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27175 on 22 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parlia…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24398 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2009, whether an order changing the regulation of snaring has been laid before the Parliament.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I expect to lay an Order before Parliament very shortly which will make changes to the regulation of snaring in Scotland.</p>
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made, or will make, an estimate of the financial costs to local authorities of achieving zero waste.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27165 on 22 September 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/Ap…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will report on progress towards achieving zero waste.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27165 on 22 September 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/Ap…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will demonstrate best zero waste practice in sustainable procurement.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The forthcoming Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan will give guidance to public sector organisations on how to procure more sustainably. The action plan will include reference to some key points on how to minimise waste, for example by considering h…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will demonstrate best zero waste practice in recycling.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27165 on 22 September 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/Ap…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to demonstrate best zero waste practice in relation to re-use.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27165 on 22 September 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/Ap…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will demonstrate best zero waste practice in relation to waste prevention.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27165 on 22 September 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/Ap…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will monitor the proportion of (a) paper, (b) metal, (c) plastic, (d) glass, (e) food and (f) waste oils that it discards.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Current information on Scottish Government waste arisings is detailed in the <i >Scottish Government Environmental Performance Annual Report for 2007-08</i> which was published in May 2009, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information …
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will regularly publish statistics on the proportion of (a) paper, (b) metal, (c) plastic, (d) glass, (e) food and (f) waste oils discarded by public sector bodies.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27165 on 22 September 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/Ap…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will monitor the proportion of (a) paper, (b) metal, (c) plastic, (d) glass, (e) food and (f) waste oils discarded by public sector bodies.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27165 on 22 September 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/Ap…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an analysis of existing recycling activity undertaken by public sector bodies.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The consultation draft of Scotland''s Zero Waste Plan is clear that all parts of the public, voluntary & private sectors need to demonstrate best Zero Waste practice in areas such as waste prevention, re-use, recycling and sustainable procurement. The con…
10 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will oppose the designation of the Pacific oyster as a non-native invasive species in Scottish waters.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government takes account of all relevant scientific information before coming to a view about the requirements for regulation or management of any species.</p> <p >The UK Alien Species Technical Advisory Group established to inform the implemen…
9 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned about the uptake of school meals.
Answer · Adam Ingram : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0917-01.htm">http://www.scot…
3 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering bringing forward proposals for changes to the eligibility criteria for receipt of legal aid.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0903-01.htm">http://www.scot…
2 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much worse off pupils from families in Scotland with a household income of £25,000 will be compared with their English counterparts due to the differences in Education Maintenance Allowance.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The EMA programme has been fully devolved since 2007-08 and the English and Scottish EMA programmes are not directly comparable.</p> <p >No young people will be made worse off as the changes to the system are only being introduced for new entrants. Young peo…
2 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how reducing the number of pupils eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance by over 6,000 per year is consistent with its desire for a better-educated Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Based on an analysis of recipients of EMA in academic year 2007-08, it is estimated that around 3,700 young people will not qualify for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) due to the removal of £10 and £20 payments.</p> <p >We know from previous researc…
2 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will save by reducing the number of pupils eligible for the Education Maintenance Allowance.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The money generated by the changes we have introduced this year to the Education Maintenance Allowance programme will be reinvested in our pilots of Activity Agreements. We expect this to be around £3.3 million in 2009-10.</p>
2 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how removing the £10 and £20 categories of the Education Maintenance Allowance benefits those families on the lowest incomes.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) programme was designed to encourage young people from low income families to remain in learning. This has been focused on young people who remain in school or go to college.</p> <p >We know that some of our most vuln…