Elaine Murray

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-7020 and supplementary questions by Adam Ingram on 21 May 2009, (Official Report c.17756) whether area support teams will receive clerical or professional support from their local authority.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24372 on 9 June 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/Apps2/Bu…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-7020 and supplementary questions by Adam Ingram on 21 May 2009, (Official Report c.17756) what responsibilities area support teams will have.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24372 on 9 June 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/Apps2/Bu…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-7020 and supplementary questions by Adam Ingram on 21 May 2009, (Official Report c.17756) what form area support teams will take.

Answer · Adam Ingram: As my colleague, Fiona Hyslop, told Parliament on 30 April 2009, we are bringing forward proposals for a new body, the Scottish Children''s Hearings Tribunal, which will be responsible for all functions associated with the Children''s Panel, including recruit…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been developed on the welfare of seals by it and members of the Scottish Seals Forum.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A code of practice was developed to support the Moray Firth Seal Management Plan with input from Scottish Government and stakeholders, including the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.</p> <p >It is intended that this code will provide…

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes are under consideration for the provision of legal representation in the forthcoming Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Adam Ingram: It is our intention that the Children''s Hearings (Scotland) Bill will propose a permanent scheme to manage the provision of state-funded legal representation in Children''s Hearings. </p>

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase the fees for legal representatives at Children’s Hearings.

Answer · Adam Ingram: There are currently no plans to increase the fees for state-funded legal representatives at Children''s Hearings.</p>

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when fees for legal representatives at Children’s Hearings were last (a) increased and (b) reviewed.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The fees for legal representatives at Children''s Hearings were set at the introduction of the scheme in 2002. These have not been reviewed or increased since that time.</p>

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the right of pedestrian access to a property includes right of access for the user of a mobility scooter.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is not clear from the question whether the access referred to is to public or private property.</p> <p >If Elaine Murray is referring to access to a public building then section 19 of the Disability Discrimination Act does not allow service providers to …

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the right of pedestrian access to a property includes right of access for a wheelchair user.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: If the member is referring to access to a public building then section 19 of the Disability Discrimination Act does not allow service providers to discriminate against disabled people in terms of access.</p> <p >If the reference concerns access to private p…

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a mobility scooter is regarded in law as a mobility aid or a vehicle.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is currently a lack of clarity around the legal definition. At present, a mobility scooter is regarded as a mobility aid, however this has not yet been challenged in law. It currently must meet Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) standa…

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations apply to falconers from outwith Scotland when taking part in events in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Schedule 4 birds which are not kept in Scotland require an exemption from registration whilst taking part in events in Scotland. The Scottish Government is intending to bring forward legislation which will remove the need for such exemptions.</p>

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23457 by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 May 2009, whether it considers that breeders of hawks in Scotland will be at a disadvantage compared with breeders in England, who are required to pay only for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Breeders of hawks in England and Wales currently only pay for permits required for the purposes of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) whereas breeders in Scotland currently also have to pay for registration as required by Sche…

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering introducing regulations on the welfare of greyhounds.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government have no plans to introduce regulations on the welfare of greyhounds. The provisions of section 24 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which requires those responsible for animals to take steps to ensure that the needs…

20 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it makes funding available to groups such as inshore rescue for the purchase of equipment, for example lifeboats that adhere to the new regulations to be introduced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No specific Scottish Government funding available to groups for the purchase of inshore rescue equipment. However, Scottish Government has spent £262,000 over the past six years on water related equipment, including rescue boats, to enhance the response from …

14 May 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration ministers have given to the conclusions of The Audit of Best Value and Community Planning - Dumfries and Galloway Council report, published by Audit Scotland in March 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: I wrote to the leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council on 1 April 2009 setting out my comments, and to urge that the council take the necessary remedial action to address the shortcomings highlighted in their Best Value report.</p>

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the responses to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s consultation on the application by Dumfries and Galloway Council in 2008 to dredge and remove gravel beds in the River Nith at Dumfries town centre are publicly available.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23834 on 27 May 2009. All answers on 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/Apps2/Bu…

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what agencies were consulted regarding Dumfries and Galloway Council’s application in 2008 to dredge and remove gravel beds in the River Nith at Dumfries town centre.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23834 on 27 May 2009. All answers on 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/Apps2/Bu…

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons Dumfries and Galloway Council’s application in 2008 to dredge and remove gravel beds in the River Nith at Dumfries town centre was refused.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The application CAR/L/103362 made by Dumfries and Galloway Council under the Controlled Activities Regulations (2005) was advertised by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as required by the Regulations. The application, together with the responses …

11 May 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 Central Science Laboratory’s assessment of the effectiveness of using falcons to deter gulls in Dumfries town centre will include the effect on gull populations outwith Dumfries town centre, suc…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Regular monitoring of all known nest sites both within the town centre and the surrounding areas, such as the Georgetown and Lochside areas, will be undertaken throughout the trial period and immediately after the trial has ended. The data collected on number…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if the Conservation of Seals Act (1970) is repealed under the provisions of the Marine (Scotland) Bill, whether the National Environment Research Council will still have a statutory responsibility to provide information on the number and distribution of seals in the waters around Scotlan…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals in the Marine (Scotland) Bill do not remove the current statutory responsibility of the Natural Environment Research Council to provide scientific advice on matters related to the management of seal populations.</p>

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that people issued with a seal licence, as proposed in the Marine (Scotland) Bill, will be expected to ensure that whenever a seal is shot it is actually killed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23458 on 12 May 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/Apps2/Bu…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conditions imposed by a seal license, alluded to in section 100(2) of the Marine (Scotland) Bill, will require an assessment of the shooting competence of the person issued with the licence.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23458 on 12 May 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/Apps2/Bu…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conditions imposed by a seal licence, alluded to in section 100(2) of the Marine (Scotland) Bill, will include a prohibition on the shooting of seals from boats or other unstable platforms.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23458 on 12 May 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/Apps2/Bu…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conditions imposed by a seal licence, alluded to in section 100(2) of the Marine (Scotland) Bill, will include a prohibition on the shooting of seals in water.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23458 on 12 May 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/Apps2/Bu…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that seal licences, as introduced in the Marine (Scotland) Bill, should not be issued during the breeding season of common and grey seals.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As the accompanying documentation for the Marine (Scotland) Bill explains, the detailed arrangements for implementing the proposals in the Bill will be developed in consultation with interested parties and will be the subject of further research. Existing gui…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether breeders of peregrine falcons will be required to pay for both the registration of young birds and the new Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species charges.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Breeders of peregrine falcons which are subject to both Schedule 4 registration and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) controls will be required to pay both charges.</p>

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether breeders of peregrine falcons will be required to register any young produced in 2009.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The legislation under the Wildlife and Countryside Act will continue to apply to all species currently listed under Schedule 4 of that act until an amending Order is brought forward for consideration by Parliament. There are no plans to make any Order amendin…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to amend the legislation requiring all birds currently listed in Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to be registered and, if so, when it will lay the requisite legislation before the Parliament.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I can confirm the Scottish Government intends to amend Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act to reduce the number of bird species that require to be registered. We will retain seven birds of prey on the Schedule, (golden eagle, goshawk, honey buzzard…

22 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the removal of dead livestock from agricultural land.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The disposal of fallen stock is controlled by the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003, which require those who possess or control animal by-products, including fallen stock, to dispose of such material in an approved manner and without undue delay.…

14 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19918 by Michael Russell on 20 January 2009, whether it will make funding available to other local authorities for the use of a falcon to deter gulls from town centres if the trial in Dumfries is successful.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22989 on 7 May 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/Apps2/Bus…