Questions · Elaine Murray

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a meeting with organisations from the demolition industry would be beneficial in raising awareness of the safe disposal of plastic foam insulation containing ozone depleting substances (ODS) from steel-clad buildings and, if so, which organisations would be invit…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22922 on 13 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…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to hold a meeting with organisations from the demolition industry in order to increase awareness of the safe disposal of demolition waste such as plastic foam insulation containing ozone depleting substances (ODS) from steel-clad buildings.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A Scottish Government official will attend a meeting in the summer with the UK Government and representatives of the building and demolition industries from across the UK.

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it shares the Marine Conservation Society’s goal of reducing beach litter by 50% by 2015.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22873 on 11 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…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with the UK Government and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales to develop a coordinated marine litter strategy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22873 on 11 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…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the control of marine litter with the UK Government and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22873 on 11 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…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to identify an agency to deal with marine litter.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No separate agency is proposed. Co-ordinated work with other parts of the UK on achieving Good Environmental Status, which includes ensuring marine litter does not harm coastal and marine environments, will be taken forward in implementing the Marine Strategy…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment read the final version of Natural Resource Productivity - Optimising the sustainable use of our natural resources to deliver the maximum economic and public benefit before it was published.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22869 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 <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of drafting Natural Resource Productivity - Optimising the sustainable use of our natural resources to deliver the maximum economic and public benefit.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22869 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 <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff were involved in the drafting of Natural Resource Productivity - Optimising the sustainable use of our natural resources to deliver the maximum economic and public benefit.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer given to question S3W-22869 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 <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it has published Natural Resource Productivity - Optimising the sustainable use of our natural resources to deliver the maximum economic and public benefit.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In my speeches to the Oxford Farming Conference on 6 January 2009 and the NFU Scotland National Council on 20 February 2009, I set out the Scottish Government''s vision for a future agriculture and rural policy based on the concept of Natural Resource Product…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Marine Scotland will monitor the regeneration of the biodiversity of our inshore waters.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland, in partnership with statutory nature conservation advisers, will continue to monitor biodiversity in Scotland''s inshore waters through existing and new strategies, involving wider science institutes and other partner organisations.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Marine Scotland will have a duty to promote the regeneration of the biodiversity of our inshore waters.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Section 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 requires every public body, in exercising its functions, to further the conservation of biodiversity so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions. This duty applies equally to Mar…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set targets for the recovery of the marine ecosystem and, if so, what these will be.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals in the Marine (Scotland) Bill include provisions for marine plans with marine ecosystem objectives. These will need to be developed to meet the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and in the context of any agreed Marine Polic…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Marine Scotland will have a duty to promote the recovery of the marine ecosystem.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Bill does not include a specific duty to promote the recovery of the marine ecosystem. The marine ecosystem is dynamic and marine management needs to recognise that. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires measures to be taken t…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made for possible changes to the responsibilities of Marine Scotland should such changes be made through the marine Bill.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland was created as part of the Scottish Government and specific legislative provision is not included in the Marine (Scotland) Bill. Marine Scotland will carry out the functions created through the Scottish Marine Bill whatever they may b…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made for possible changes to the role of Marine Scotland should such changes be made through the marine Bill.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22780 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 <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made for possible changes to the structure of Marine Scotland should such changes be made through the marine Bill.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The proposals in the Marine (Scotland) Bill do not provide for the structure of Marine Scotland.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses in total to the Sustainable Seas For All consultation, not discriminating between those that were part of a campaign and those that were not, expressed the view that Marine Scotland should be independent of the Scottish Government.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In total, 9135 respondents replied to the consultation. Of the 113 who responded to the question seeking comment on Marine Scotland as part of Scottish Government, 27 felt that Marine Scotland should be independent.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the first meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board of Marine Scotland will be.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The first meeting of the Science Advisory Board will be arranged as soon as the membership has been established.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any appointments already made to the Scientific Advisory Board of Marine Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No appointments to the Science Advisory Board have yet been made.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been allocated for the Scottish marine regions over the next two years.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Bill proposes order making powers for ministers to create Scottish Marine Regions. The Financial Memorandum accompanying the Bill provides an estimate of the cost but no specific allocation has been made over the next two years.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will be employed by the Scottish marine regions.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Financial Memorandum accompanying the Marine (Scotland) Bill sets out the financial and staffing implications of the proposals to create Scottish Marine Regions. We envisage that Scottish Marine Regions would not necessarily employ staff directly.

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been allocated to Marine Scotland for the next two years.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland''s budget is based on the resources for Marine and Fisheries announced in the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007 and subsequent Budget Bills. Provision for this in 2009-10 is currently set at £77.9 million (net): details can be found at: </p…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will be employed by Marine Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The staff of Marine Scotland are employees of the Scottish Government. We estimate around 700 full time equivalents will be required to deliver the full range of planned Marine Scotland functions, although this depends on Parliamentary decisions on the Marine…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will carry out Marine Scotland’s functions of (a) policy development, (b) marine planning, (c) marine licensing and consenting, (d) scientific research and (e) compliance monitoring and enforcement.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is wide support for the establishment of Marine Scotland because of the improved marine management arrangements it will deliver. Establishing Marine Scotland on 1 April means it can begin to integrate existing functions and resources of the constituent …

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been made available for Marine Scotland to carry out its functions of (a) policy development, (b) marine planning, (c) marine licensing and consenting, (d) scientific research and (e) compliance monitoring and enforcement.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22772 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 <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the first meeting will be of the Marine Strategy Board.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am aiming to set up the Marine Strategy Forum by July 2009 with the first meeting taking place a few weeks later. The forum will bring together delivery partners and stakeholders with a marine interest to work across boundaries ensuring an integrated approa…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the aims and objectives will be of the Marine Strategy Board.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine Strategy Forum is to be established to help ensure that Marine Scotland, its delivery partners and stakeholders work together on an integrated basis towards our overall purpose and our vision for our marine and coastal environments. More detailed a…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any appointments already made to the Marine Strategy Board.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22764, 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 <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…

7 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations will be represented on the Marine Strategy Board.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22764, 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 <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…