Parliamentary questions
Elaine Murray
2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what artificial turf football pitches received funding from sportscotland in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and what type of surface each pitch has.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested on funding provided by sportscotland for artificial pitches is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The member may wish to contact sportscotland for this detailed operational information.</p>
31 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projects in Dumfries and Galloway have been funded under the Cashback for Communities scheme.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The following projects specific to Dumfries and Galloway have been awarded funding totalling £61,000 from the CashBack for Communities scheme.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=348 valign=top > <p align=cen…
24 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available for students over the age of 55 wishing to study Higher National Diploma courses.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Information relating to financial assistance available to students over the age of 55 wishing to study Higher National courses is available from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. Please refer to their website <a href="http://www.saas.gov.uk/">http://www…
24 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers a police authority has to force a former police officer in receipt of a police injury pension to disclose information regarding benefits paid by the UK Government as a result of an injury sustained at work.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the regulations requires police authorities to reduce an injury award by the amount of any entitlement to defined benefits payable by the UK Government. Given that former police officers benefit from these provisions there is a cl…
24 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Police (Injury Benefit) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 require a police authority to demand information regarding benefits paid by the UK Government to a former police officer in receipt of a police injury pension.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In determining the entitlement to an injury award in any given week, the regulations require police authorities to take into account entitlement to any additional benefits payable in that same week, including those paid by the UK Government. Consequently, pol…
24 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Police (Injury Benefit) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 require a former police officer in receipt of a police injury pension to make periodic declarations regarding the level of benefits paid by the UK Government as a result of an injury sustained at work.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As police authorities are required to reduce the amount of an injury award in line with the former police officer''s entitlement to any additional benefits, they may require the beneficiaries to update them with information in order that the authority may ful…
4 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the further delay in the anticipated completion date for the A75 Hardgrove to Kinmount Improvement scheme.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Draft Orders were published in June 2008 and 2 Statutory Objections were received. Negotiations to remove these have been on-going, and I can confirm both objections were withdrawn at the start of August 2009. Made Orders will be published shortly.</p>
4 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how deer stalkers from outwith Scotland might demonstrate skills and knowledge in public safety, deer welfare and food safety as proposed in its consultation on the proposed Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26283 on 19 August 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.parliamen…
4 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether deer stalkers from outwith Scotland could be included on the register of persons competent to shoot deer proposed in its consultation on the proposed Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Yes. The intention of the proposal is that the same requirements would apply to deer stalkers regardless of residence. The skills required would be based on the current voluntary system operated by a variety of providers based in England and Scotland. The int…
4 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S3W-24834 by Richard Lochhead on 25 June 2009, whether it will ensure that an inshore fisheries group is established for the Solway Firth prior to any site-specific impact assessment being undertaken for offshore wind developments on Crown Estate sites in the Sol…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to full consultation with relevant interests prior to decisions to licence wind farm developments. An in-shore fisheries group could provide a focal point for local engagement with fishing interests on renewable developmen…
4 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S3W-24834 by Richard Lochhead on 25 June 2009, how fishing interests will be consulted during any site-specific environmental impact assessment of potential offshore wind developments in the Solway Firth if an inshore fisheries group has not yet been established.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Site-specific offshore wind energy developments will be subject to Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations and consultation will be taken forward with relevant interests as required by the legislation and in accordance with best practice regardless of wh…
4 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how fishing, processing and leisure interests are being consulted during the strategic environmental assessment for offshore wind developments in Scottish territorial waters.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: To take forward environmental and marine planning aspects of marine offshore energy developments, the Scottish Government has established a project group “ the Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group (MESPG) and a wider stakeholders group - the Marine Strategic …
4 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the strategic environmental assessment for offshore wind developments in Scottish territorial waters to be complete.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the plan for offshore wind developments in Scottish territorial waters is currently being taken forward with a target delivery date for the report of early 2010.</p>
28 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20016 by Richard Lochhead on 5 February 2009, when it expects its economic report into the value of sea angling to be published.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The <i >Report into the Economic Impact of Recreational Sea Angling in Scotland</i> was published on 29 July 2009. The report is available online at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/seaanglingstudy">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/seaanglingstudy</a>.…
28 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methods permitted for deterring breeding and nesting by urban gulls will be affected in areas of mixed colonies of gulls awarded red status, such as herring gulls, by the RSPB, and gulls awarded amber status, such as lesser blacked gulls.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26175 on 19 August 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.parliamen…
28 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the principal differences are between the methods permissible for deterring breeding and nesting by urban gulls such as herring gulls, which have been awarded red status by the RSPB, and those such as lesser black backed gulls, which have been awarded amber status.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26175 on 19 August 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.parliamen…
28 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the RSPB’s award of red status to herring gulls will affect the methods that local authorities such as Dumfries and Galloway Council are permitted to use to deter herring gulls from breeding and nesting in town centres.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Where actions by local authorities to control or manage gulls require consent, this would normally be available under the terms of Scottish Government general licence (see link below) which allows control of certain birds, including herring gulls, for the pro…
28 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22989 by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 May 2009, when the results of the evaluation by the Central Science Laboratory of the trial of flying falcons over Dumfries town centre to deter nesting and breeding gulls will be available
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Central Science Laboratory now operates as part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA). The agency are currently compiling and analysing the data collected during this first year of the trial and are due to present their findings in a report a…
28 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22989 by Roseanna Cunningham on 7 May 2009, whether the trial of flying falcons over Dumfries town centre to deter nesting and breeding gulls has been completed.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The trial to evaluate the effectiveness of using falcons to deter gulls from nesting and breeding in Dumfries town centre was completed on 22 May 2009.</p>
27 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24397 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2009, when the recommendations of PAW Scotland on the legislation, regulation and guidance on the use of snares will be published.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26152 on 14 August 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 ><u>http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/A…
27 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24397 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2009, whether the recommendations of PAW Scotland on the legislation, regulation and guidance on the use of snares will be published.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The recommendations from the PAW legislation, regulation and guidance sub group on the use of snares will be published on the Scottish Government website shortly.</p>
27 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24397 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2009, when it expects to receive the comments of the wider PAW Scotland partnership on the legislation, regulation and guidance on the use of snares.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government have now received the comments from the wider PAW Scotland partnership on the legislation, regulation and guidance on the use of snares in Scotland.</p>
27 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24922 by Richard Lochhead on 9 July 2009, whether it considers that self-regulation of the greyhound racing industry has been satisfactory.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are not aware of any specific welfare problems associated with greyhound racing in Scotland and have no reason to believe that the self-regulation of the greyhound racing industry is less than satisfactory.</p> <p >In Scotland, all dogs, including greyhou…
27 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24922 by Richard Lochhead on 9th July 2009, whether it is aware that only one greyhound racing track in Scotland stages races under the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s rules of racing.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are aware that the only greyhound racing track in Scotland to stage races under the Greyhound Board of Great Britain''s rules of racing is the greyhound racing track at Shawfield in Glasgow. However, advice on track safety and other matters is available to…
27 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24922 by Richard Lochhead on 9 July 2009, which organisations have been, or will be, consulted on its forthcoming code of practise on the welfare of dogs.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: A list of all organisations consulted was published with the draft code and can be accessed on the Scottish Government web site as follows:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/02/06141322/2">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2…
22 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides funding for the repair and maintenance of the graves of famous Scots, such as John Loudon Macadam who is buried in Moffat Cemetery, and the graveyards in which they are buried.
Answer · Michael Russell: There is no Scottish Government funding stream available that provides directly for such repair and maintenance, with the exception of the grant given annually by Historic Scotland to the War Memorials Trust to assist in the care of memorials to Scotland''s w…
25 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation would permit ministers to introduce selective incineration bans.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As Stewart Stevenson told the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee on 9 June 2009, section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 allows ministers to make regulations which, <i >inter alia</i>,<i > </i>impose conditions to be req…
25 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation would permit ministers to introduce selective landfill bans.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As Stewart Stevenson told the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee on 9 June 2009, section 2 of the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 allows ministers to make regulations which, <i >inter alia</i>,<i > </i>impose conditions to be req…
25 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with UK ministers regarding the designation of the whole of the Solway Firth north and south of the border with England as a single Marine Planning Area and whether this would be possible under the provisions of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill and the Marin…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The possibility of planning for the Solway Firth as a single entity has been discussed with UK Government officials. Under the Bills, marine planning regions are defined by reference to the marine borders applying between the UK Government and the devolved ad…
25 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the inclusion of representatives from fish conservation groups on inshore fisheries groups.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22757 on 8 May 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.parliament.u…