Parliamentary questions
Fiona McLeod
516 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the National Waste Strategy, what the deadline is for production of local area plans on waste development and what penalties will be imposed if such plans are not produced on time.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Eleven draft Area Waste Plans have now been prepared and are publicly available on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency website:<P>(<A HREF="http://www.sepa.org.uk/nws/guidance/dawp.htm">http://www.sepa.org.uk/nws/guidance/dawp.htm</A>).<P>These draft p…
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the National Waste Strategy, whether local authorities will be allowed to take waste from outside Scotland and how the costs of dealing with any such imported waste will be funded.
Answer · Ross Finnie: It is generally illegal to import waste, for disposal, from outside the UK. However, waste operators, including local authorities which operate waste facilities, may accept waste from anywhere within the UK if they choose to do so, provided they remain within…
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the National Waste Strategy, what plans there are for best practice in waste management to be adopted nationwide.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has allocated £50.4 million, over three years, to the Strategic Waste Fund to assist local authorities in implementing the National Waste Strategy and ensuring that the Best Practicable Environmental Option is used for waste in Scotland. The Exe…
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the National Waste Strategy, whether waste may be moved from an area of poor recycling to an area of high recycling.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There is no restriction on movement of waste from one area to another within the UK although the National Waste Strategy aims to establish the overall Best Practicable Environmental Option for dealing with waste.
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it plans to set in respect of the reduction, composting and reuse of waste.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive intends to set overall targets for waste reduction, recycling etc. as part of the National Waste Plan later this year. The levels of the targets will be informed by integration of the 11 draft Area Waste Plans that have been developed as part of…
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to Scottish Environment Link's 10 point action plan in its steering group's review on the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive does not plan a specific response to the 10 point action plan published by Link's steering group on the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Work is already progressing. Many of these action points and these areas are covered by other report…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve flood management.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The term flood management covers a broad range of activities, involving private and public interests. For the Executive's part, increased investment in measures to reduce flood risk in flood prone areas and commissioning of flood-related research continues. T…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve wetland conservation.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive will continue to improve wetland conservation, including the protection of Scotland's network of nationally and internationally important sites. There are some 1,447 Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Scotland, many of which offer …
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce legislation to protect biodiversity.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive plans to publish a draft Nature Conservation Bill by Easter 2003. The Executive is currently considering the detailed aspects of the bill in line with the proposals set out in the Nature of Scotland.
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it encourages teaching about sustainable development in the school curriculum.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Guidance to education authorities and schools and the framework of national qualifications provide ample opportunities for teaching Sustainable Development at every level of the school curriculum. Under the School Improvement Framework, which monitors the del…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to modify its sustainable development policies in the light of the conclusions of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We are attending the World Summit on Sustainable Development to share experience and expertise on sustainable development, and intend to learn from the experience of others across the globe.<P>We will consider any implications of the outcomes of the Summit fo…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the United Nations' initiatives (a) 101 ways to sustainable development, (b) sustainable development visions for the 21st century, (c) children's Agenda 21 posters and (d) national progression targets.
Answer · Ross Finnie: In common with most other countries, the United Kingdom is not participating in these initiatives and at the formation of the Scottish Executive was not advised of these initiatives.
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what preparatory meetings for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development it has attended; on what dates it attended any such meetings; of whom its delegation to such meetings was composed; on what criteria delegates were chosen, and, for any civil servants involved, what e…
Answer · Ross Finnie: No Minister or official has attended a preparatory committee meeting for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.<P>Kevin Dunion of Friends of the Earth Scotland attended the third preparatory committee in New York as a representative of th…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been arranged for the Scottish delegation and individual members of the delegation during its stay in South Africa for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The programme for the Scottish Executive delegation is not yet finalised as the full programme for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development has not been announced.<P>The response to question S1W-27506 explains that the civic delegates will o…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total estimated cost will be of the attendance of the Scottish delegation at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development and, in particular, whether it will give the costs of (a) accommodation, (b) travel from accommodation to the summit, (c) travel to South Africa…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The answer to question S1W-27593 explains that the programme for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development has not yet been finalised. Therefore we cannot estimate costs for some of the categories requested. The costs we can estimate at prese…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish delegation at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development will pursue its own objectives separately or act as part of the UK delegation.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive delegation is part of the official UK delegation and the Scottish Executive will fully support the work of the UK delegation. However, the programme for the Scottish delegation will be based on the objectives outlined in the response to…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish delegation to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development will be (a) travelling to and (b) accommodated in Johannesburg.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive delegation will take a scheduled flight to Johannesburg for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.<P>The Scottish Executive delegation will stay in hotel rooms allocated to the UK delegation.
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) EU bodies regarding its objectives for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive makes representations to EU bodies through the UK government, ensuring that the UK line takes full account of the Scottish position. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, includin…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make any formal submission to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development and, if so, when such a submission will be published.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27505.
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its objectives are with regard to its attendance at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive's objectives in attending the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development are:<UL><LI>to show that Scotland takes sustainable development seriously. Whilst the focus of the summit is the sustainable development of poorer coun…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what preparatory work it has carried out or commissioned in respect of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Much of the preparatory work, which included two comprehensive public consultations, is described in a report which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22146).<P>In addition to the work summarised in that report, we have outlined ou…
15 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive of whom the Scottish delegation to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development will be composed; on what criteria the delegates were chosen, and, for any civil servants involved, what the grade and department is of each delegate.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive delegation will consist of the First Minister and three officials. The First Minister chose to attend personally to represent Scotland at the highest possible level and to show the importance that the Executive places on sustainable dev…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what report the First Minister will make to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development on Scotland's progress in respect of (a) the International Climate Change Convention, (b) the Convention on Biological Diversity, (c) the Statement of Forest Principles and (d) Local Age…
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27505.
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any delegation representing civic society in Scotland will attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive believes that civic society has an important role to play in furthering sustainable development in Scotland. A delegation representing civic society in Scotland will attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and will consist o…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the First Minister will report on Scotland's progress on sustainable development since the Earth Summit in 1992 to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive makes representations to the United Nations through the UK Government. The Executive has prepared a report describing the work in Scotland on sustainable development since the Rio Summit in 1992 and the main points made in the stakehold…
10 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will report to (a) the Parliament and (b) the public on the First Minister's visit to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is considering possible options for reporting on the First Minister's attendance at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development, and will ensure that both the Parliament and the public are informed in the most appropriate way.
9 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the announcement of the outcome of Argyll and Bute Council's application for revenue funding for schools, initially anticipated in April 2002, will be made.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We announced our decisions on local authority bids for revenue support for school Public Private Partnership projects on 25 June 2002. I refer the member to the answer given on that day to question S1W-27026.
5 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has given to the Scottish European Resource Centre in match funding in each of the last three financial years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does not contribute directly to the Scottish European Resource Centre's funding. It was, however, content that Community Learning Scotland and currently YouthLink Scotland use some of the Executive's grant for match funding of the centr…
5 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider fully funding the Scottish European Resource Centre, which it currently match funds, in light of the proposed cessation of funding by the European Commission office in London in December 2002.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is in the process of establishing the reasons for this proposed withdrawal of funding.
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Minister for Finance and Public Services on 26 June 2002, on what environmental initiatives it will spend the extra #5 million and, in particular, what recycling initiatives will be included.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The £5 million for environment initiatives announced by my colleague Andy Kerr, on 26 June has to be seen in the wider context of the total end year flexibility allocation of £76 million for the Environment and Rural Development portfolio, which includes £30.…