Parliamentary questions
Elaine Murray
2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the impact on fisheries of leasing out parts of the national forest estate in Dumfries and Galloway and whether it will publish any such assessment.
Answer · Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation …
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of the impact on black grouse in Dumfries and Galloway of leasing out parts of the national forest estate and whether it will publish any such assessment.
Answer · Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation …
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have benefited from the Zero Waste Fund in 2008-09.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: A number of projects designed to help meet zero waste policy aims and objectives have benefited. For example, delivery bodies including the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Envirowise, Community Recycling Network for Scotland (CRNS) and the Scot…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £41.1 million Zero Waste Fund for 2008-09 has been allocated.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I can advise that all of the 2008-09 Zero Waste Fund (£41.1 million) has been allocated to a range of projects and initiatives designed to meet zero waste policy aims and objectives.</p>
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which community recycling projects have received support since the announcement on 24 January 2008 of £2.5 million of government funding over three years for community recycling.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The community recycling projects that have received funding since January 2008 are set out in the following table. The actual funding being made available by the Scottish Government under the INCREASE III Programme for community recycling projects is in fact …
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is considering implementing to encourage a reduction in the use of plastic packaging.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), on behalf of the Scottish Government, are working with retailers, manufacturers and leading supermarkets through the Courtauld Commitment to reduce the amount of packaging used and sold. Earlier in 2008 the sig…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be penalised for not achieving their agreed outcomes on recycling.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of loc…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will be penalised for not achieving their agreed outcomes on waste management.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA has established a new way of working based on mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of l…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many single outcome agreements with local authorities include outcomes relating to recycling.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Twenty-nine of the 32 local authorities in Scotland have single outcome agreements that include outcomes on recycling. The three who do not are Shetland, Western Isles and Clackmannanshire.</p>
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many single outcome agreements with local authorities include outcomes relating to waste management.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: All 32 local authorities in Scotland have single outcome agreements that include an outcome on waste management.</p>
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many unfair dismissal claims arising from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s pay settlement for 2008-09 have been (a) submitted and (b) resolved.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: None. The 2008-09 pay settlement is still in negotiation with the trade union. As this is an operational matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, I have asked its Chief Executive, Campbell Gemmell, to write to the member.</p>
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that individuals and businesses that cause pollution should be required to pay to clean up that pollution.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes, the Scottish Government fully embraces the polluter pays principle. Furthermore, in the current economic climate it is appropriate for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to assist business wherever possible where this can be done without impactin…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency consulted its staff before its announcement on 25 November 2008 that it would waive and restrict fees charged to businesses.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The waiving and restriction of some fees charged to business for the remainder of 2008-09 was a business decision taken by Scottish Environment Protection Agency staff in the senior management team.</p>
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the proposals to waive and restrict fees charged to businesses by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, announced on 25 November 2008, will cost.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) estimates that the waiving of licence application fees will cost SEPA £600,000 in 2008-09.</p>
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposals to waive and restrict fees charged to businesses by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), announced on 25 November 2008, will impact on SEPA staff.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The decision to waive certain licence application fees and charges from businesses for the remainder of 2008-09 will not adversely impact on SEPA staff. The same level of regulatory activity and support will continue to be available to businesses.</p>
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposals to waive and restrict fees charged to businesses by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, announced on 25 November 2008, will be funded.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Any loss of income in 2008-09 from the decision to waive certain licence application fees payable by businesses will be funded from reprioritisation of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency''s existing budget provision.</p>
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the promotion of a path around the coast that would link existing paths and create opportunities for the development of new ones.
Answer · Michael Russell: We remain committed to the development and promotion of a network of paths throughout Scotland, including paths around the coast. Access authorities have been provided with powers under the land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 to prepare Core Paths Plans sufficien…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether examples of good practice from other European countries regarding coastal protection will be considered when the Scottish Marine Bill is being drafted.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The new EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive and international examples from Canada, New Zealand and Australia were considered in the development of proposals for a Scottish Marine Bill. <i>Sustainable Seas for All - a consultation on Scotland''s First Mari…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the coastal landscape and seascape are protected during the planning process when new coastal developments are under consideration.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The primary responsibility for determining planning applications lies with local and national park authorities, although Scottish ministers have a general power to intervene.</p> <p >Planning applications must be determined in accordance with the developmen…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated value is to the Scottish economy of outdoor recreation on the coast.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not hold comprehensive information on this subject. However estimates of the value to the economy of some types of outdoor recreation for some areas of Scotland are available from the British Marine Federation, the World Wildlife …
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether VisitScotland has undertaken research into how many visitors from (a) Scotland, (b) the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) overseas visit because of the attractions of the coastline.
Answer · Jim Mather: Scotland''s beautiful and varied coastline and its wide-range of attractions feature as one of the main activities participated in by visitors to Scotland. VisitScotland''s Visitor Experience Survey for 2008 reveals that 52% of UK visitors and 58% of Scots on…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Marine Bill will include provisions for the protection of coastal fringes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: <i>Sustainable Seas for All - a consultation on </i><i>Scotland</i><i>''s first marine bill </i>invited comment on proposals for a Scottish Marine Bill. Proposals include a new statutory marine planning system. It is proposed that Marine Scotland will develop…
25 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will follow the UK Government’s lead in agreeing to procure only buildings that are in the top quartile of energy performance.
Answer · John Swinney: Improving the energy efficiency of its buildings estate is an important objective for the Scottish Government and as part of that it will seek to procure only buildings that are in the top quartile of energy performance.</p>
13 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the establishment of a marine protection area on Loch Sunart and on Loch Etive.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government recognises the important natural features of Loch Sunart and Loch Etive. In order to protect this important natural resource both Loch Sunart and Loch Etive are already subject to varying levels of protection. Loch Sunart has been desi…
13 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the long-term viability of the spurdog population.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government supports the view that there should be no directed fisheries on spurdog and is working with the Commission to devise practicable management measures for 2009 which will prevent such directed fisheries without promoting discarding of un…
13 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the sustainability of tope stocks.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Currently landings of tope from Scottish vessels are at a very low level. Therefore the Scottish Government believes that management of tope is best considered in the wider context of the management of all elasmobranch stocks. We shall be reviewing our approa…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to prevent the contamination of beaches and what funding it is making available for this purpose.
Answer · Michael Russell: Under the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC), bathing waters officially designated by Scottish ministers are monitored during the bathing season (1 June to 15 September) by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for possible contamination by faec…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which beaches failed to meet the minimum legal standard for cleanliness in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006, (e) 2007 and (f) 2008.
Answer · Michael Russell: The following designated bathing waters failed to meet the minimum microbiological standards under the EC Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC):</p> <p >(a) 2003 - Brighouse Bay (Dumfries and Galloway), Ettrick Bay (Argyll and Bute), Rockcliffe (Dumfries and …
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is consulting on the replacement of the Pet Animals Act 1951.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is our intention to issue a consultation paper on proposals to replace the Pet Animals Act 1951. This was planned for late this year, but has been delayed due to other work. We now anticipate that the consultation paper will be issued next year.</p>
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Water about its recent pay offer to staff.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water, along with all other public sector bodies in Scotland, is subject to the Scottish Government''s policy on public sector pay. Following discussions with ministers and officials, Scottish Water has agreed with the government the parameters of i…