Parliamentary questions

Elaine Murray

2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage maintenance and reinstatement of peatlands as part of its strategy to combat climate change.

Answer · Michael Russell: In principle, restoration and re-instatement of peatlands may be ultimately beneficial in terms of carbon sequestration. However, uncertainty exists on the time taken for such sites to change from initial sources of methane, to become sinks of carbon dioxide.…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural development contracts have been awarded that include financial reward for the maintenance and enhancement of peatlands.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A total of ten applications containing peatland management options have been submitted to the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Eight of these have been approved.

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making with the Scottish soil framework.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Soil Framework is currently in the final stages of drafting and will be released as soon as possible.

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the soil carbon pool is held in peatlands.

Answer · Michael Russell: Our latest estimates suggest that peatlands in Scotland contain approximately 1,620 MtC (58%) of Scotland''s total soil carbon, which is approximately 2,800 MtC. (These figures are approximate due to limitations in the currently available data).

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much land is covered by peatlands.

Answer · Michael Russell: Our latest estimates are that there are approximately 17,269 km2 of peatland in Scotland.

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated average amount of carbon sequestered by one hectare of woodland is (a) one year, (b) five years, (c) 10 years and (d) 25 years after planting.

Answer · Michael Russell: The long-term average rate of carbon accumulation by woodland is estimated to be in the order of two to three tonnes of carbon per hectare per year. On this basis, average amounts of carbon sequestered over one, five, 10 and 25 years by one hectare would be a…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated average amount of carbon sequestered by one hectare of woodland is over one rotation.

Answer · Michael Russell: Woodland has the ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, converting some of it to wood. The maximum potential carbon stock held in the biomass or woody element of mature woodland in this country is estimated to be around 2…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

Answer · Michael Russell: Our current aim is for 10,000 hectares of woodland creation per year. This would result in an additional 50,000 hectares of woodland by 2014, 100,000 hectares by 2019 and 150,000 by 2024.

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the profile will be of the spread of capital received over the suggested 75 year period of management leases and cutting rights, as proposed in its document Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change…

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19546 on 20 January 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/Apps…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional capital it estimates that it will receive in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14 through offering management leases and cutting rights, as proposed in its document Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry p…

Answer · Michael Russell: If a decision is taken, following the consultation, that leasing of forest land and cutting rights should take place, the additional capital received will depend upon such factors as the terms of the lease, costs associated with leasing, and the lesse…

23 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18374 by Richard Lochhead on 9 December 2008, whether it will list the projects that have been awarded funding from the Zero Waste Fund for 2008-09 and how much each project received.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The 2008-09 Zero Waste Fund has been allocated as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=303 valign=top > Zero Waste Fund 2008-09 </td> <td width=107 valign=top > <p align…

23 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions will apply if it does not incorporate the EU waste framework directive of 20 October 2008 into national legislation within two years of its publication.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Immediately, none. In order to apply sanctions the European Commission would have to obtain first a judgment from the European Court of Justice in Article 226 proceedings that the revised Waste Framework Directive had not been properly applied in Scots law, …

23 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as a result of the EU waste framework directive of 20 October 2008, local authorities will be required to report separately on waste that is re-used, recycled or recovered, including energy recovered.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Local authorities currently provide waste data returns to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency that cover waste recycling, composting, other recovery and disposal operations and we would not expect that to change as a result of the revised EU Waste Fram…

23 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as a result of the EU waste framework directive of 20 October 2008, local authorities will be required to differentiate between re-use, recycling and recovery, including energy recovery, in developing waste management policies.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The revised EU Waste Framework Directive does attribute different definitions to these terms, so local authorities will need to take account of these definitions when developing their plans for management of waste. However, it should be noted that these defin…

23 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that local authorities should classify energy recovery from waste as recycling.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government do not believe that energy from waste should be classified as recycling. This view is in line with Article 3 of the revised Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC which defines recycling as meaning: any recovery operation by whi…

23 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to issue guidance to local authorities on the agreements and targets set in the EU waste framework directive of 20 October 2008.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The new National Waste Plan for Scotland will perform this function.

23 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the EU waste framework directive agreed on 20 October 2008 will have on local authorities’ waste management policies.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Local authorities will be obliged to develop waste management policies in accordance with the revised EU Waste Framework Directive. Local authorities will be involved in the development of the new National Waste Plan for Scotland and, within the constraints o…

23 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the EU waste framework directive agreed on 20 October 2008 will have on national waste management policy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The new National Waste Plan for Scotland is currently being prepared for consultation and will take full account of the revised EU Waste Framework Directive.