Parliamentary questions

Helen Eadie

919 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

15 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding (a) was received by the Coalfield Regeneration Trust in each year from 2003-04 to 2011-12 and (b) will be provided in each year from 2012-13 to 2015-16.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: (a) Our records management policy requires that our payment files are destroyed after three years and as such we do not have a record of the spend in 2003-04. The following are the payments recorded on our payment system for the years 2004-05 to 2011-12: 200…

15 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask Scottish Government what financial assistance will be available to aid the regeneration of former coalfield areas in each year from 2012-13 to 2015-16.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Local authorities have responsibility for delivering local regeneration and they, and the community planning partnerships, are best placed to identify the priorities and issues in their communities. They also have a key role in identifying suitable local fund…

15 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money from the next round of the Coalfield Regeneration Trust Fund will be allocated to projects in Fife and what the criteria are for bodies that wish to apply for such funding.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) is no longer funded to provide grant awards. We currently provide funding for the CRT to provide the following programmes: Coalfields capacity building programme; Coalfields community futures; and Coalfields community c…

15 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on the future provision of development funding for former coalfield areas.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: We are continuing to fund the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in 2012-13 and 2013-14 to become a self-sustaining organisation so that it can continue to support coalfield communities. In addition, we have given priority status to former coalfield areas in our c…

15 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its strategy is to develop former coalfield sites in the next three years.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government's Regeneration Strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future, sets out our strategic approach to regeneration for all disadvantaged communities across Scotland. Local authorities have responsibility for delivering local regeneration and the…

15 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much financial support it has provided for the regeneration of derelict sites in the former Fife coalfield since 2005.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Whilst the Coalfield Regeneration Trust provides an annual report detailing the projects that they fund, this does not include whether the project is related to a derelict site.

15 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a review of coalfields regeneration to gauge progress and identify issues and priorities for the future.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government's Regeneration Strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future, sets out our strategic approach to regeneration of all disadvantaged communities across Scotland and we will monitor progress and priorities through our work on implementing the …

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which agricultural estates in Scotland received the 10 largest amounts of funding from the EU common agricultural policy in the last year for which information is available.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Common Agricultural Policy classifies all types of business as “holdings”. Consequently, the following table shows the information available for the 10 largest amounts paid in respect of the Single Farm Payment Scheme, the largest single support measure, …

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many victims of human trafficking returned from Scotland to their country of origin were (a) EU, (b) European non-EU and (c) non-European nationals and what the cost was in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held by the Scottish Government. The enforced return of migrants and the assisted return of non-EEA nationals are reserved matters for the UK Government.

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with other administrations regarding transparency in economic matters.

Answer · John Swinney: The primary aim of official economic statistics in Scotland is to provide an accurate up-to-date, comprehensive and meaningful picture of the economy and society to support the formulation and monitoring of economic and social policies by government and other…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to an independent Scotland, whether it has made representations to the European Commission on lifting the restrictions on purchasing credit default swaps on securities issued by European governments and whether it has made an estimate of the cost of this restriction on gilt …

Answer · John Swinney: The EU short selling regulation was introduced to increase transparency and reduce risks to financial stability and market confidence. The regulation allows a National Competent Authority to choose temporarily to suspend restrictions on purchasing credit defa…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the proposals by the European Commission to harmonise EU roadworthiness regulations and their effect on owners of classic and vintage cars in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: Our assessment is that this European Commission proposal would place substantial cost burdens on industry and drivers, including owners of vintage and classic cars. We would advocate a more balanced approach.

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding from the (a) European Social Fund and (b) European Regional Development Fund was (i) available to and (ii) drawn down in Scotland in each of the last 10 years, and how much will be available to Scotland in (A) 2013-14 and (B) 2014-15.

Answer · John Swinney: European Funding is allocated to Scotland on a programme basis. These programmes have an eight year timescale and as such there is no annual allocation and no analysis is available for yearly allocation and draw down. During the last 10 years there were two …

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) EU and (b) non-EU students started studying at Scottish universities, colleges and language schools in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and are expected to start in 2013.

Answer · Michael Russell: Data on entrants to Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Colleges is not yet available for academic years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. The latest data for entrants to Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and Colleges is for the academic…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government with which regions of the EU that receive structural funding it has partnership agreements for sharing knowledge and experience and how the per capita income of these regions compares with that of Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Government has no such formal bi-lateral partnership agreements. Scotland does however actively participate in a number of European Territorial Cooperation Innovation and Environment Regions of Europe Sharing Solutions (INTERREG) Programmes which giv…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the possibility of increased fishmeal usage in organic animal feeds as a result of the reclassification of fish as a non-agricultural ingredient.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Fishmeal is a restricted protein which can only be fed to non-ruminants such as pigs, poultry and farmed fish. It can also be included in milk replacers for feeding to unweaned ruminants. There are strict separation requirements to prevent contamination with…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the effects on the economy of a ban on fishmeal in organic animal feeds.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In 2001, the feed ban was tightened by EU legislation preventing fishmeal use in ruminant animal feed. However, it was still allowed to be used in animal feed for non-ruminants under certain conditions. The feed ban is viewed as a key control in preventing ne…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the carbon dioxide emissions of the Scottish fishing fleet.

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many non-European Economic Area citizens have been employed on fishing vessels registered in Scotland in each of the last five years and on what type of employment visa.

Answer · John Swinney: We do not hold the information requested. As a matter reserved to the UK Government, the UK Border Agency are responsible for the handling of visa applications.

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funds to Scottish Canals to restore to good condition its assets assessed as (a) defective and (b) at risk of becoming defective.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has allocated grant-in-aid support to Scottish Canals of £10 million per year during the current Spending Review Period. The grant to Scottish Canals supports the maintenance of Scotland’s canals and their contribution to economic rege…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment Scottish Canals has made of the (a) waterways network infrastructure and (b) elements of the waterways network infrastructure not categorised as principal assets.

Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Canals categorises the condition of its principal and most significant non-principal assets using a five-point condition grading system of A (very good) through to E (bad) in order to establish priorities for maintenance work. The latest information …

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its definition is of sustainable fishing resources.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Sustainable fishing resources is defined as fish stocks being fished according to long term management plans leading to year-on-year fishing effort which exploits stocks at maximum sustainable yield, Fishing mortality sustainable yield (Fmsy), taking into acc…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what marketing initiatives it has organised for the salmon industry in each of the last five years and what role Marine Scotland has played in this.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Council Regulation (EC) No. 1198/2006 on the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) defines the framework for community support for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector, fisheries areas and inland fishing (this includes all activities of production,…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it has done since May 2011 to promote the salmon industry and what role Marine Scotland has played in this.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Development International (SDI), as the trade and investment arm of Scottish Government, has played a major role in promoting Scottish salmon in key international markets. This includes supporting and promoting the Scottish salmon industry at annual …

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the quality standards of food to be imported into Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Assessment of imported food (where imported food is food that originates outside of the European Union) (EU) takes place on an ongoing basis. A proportion of imported food is subject to documentary, identity and physical checks on entry to the EU with additio…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent steps it has taken to encourage recycling in Fife.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is supporting local authorities across Scotland to further increase recycling performance. On funding, for example, we are making £5 million available to local authorities over the 2012-13 period to help establish household food waste …

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent steps it has taken to protect (a) woodland and (b) wildlife in Fife.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: 26 November 2012 (S4W-11093) Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government works with a wide range of partners to deliver the protection of woodlands and wildlife, and enables land managers to deliver environmental improvements through measures in the Scotland R…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the system of reporting incidents of Schmallenberg disease in cattle and sheep by (a) farmers to vets, (b) vets to the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) and (c) the AHVLA to the Scottish Government is recorded and resourced.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is no requirement for either producers or veterinary practitioners to report suspected cases of Schmallenberg disease. However, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has written to all Scottish veterinary practices inviting them to identify and report potenti…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that, under Project Surveillance 2014, the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratory Agency will assess the usefulness of new tests in relation to both (a) quality and (b) value for money and how it will work with vets and incineration centres to ensure the (i) long-term…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) is responsible for veterinary surveillance in England and Wales only. In Scotland, veterinary surveillance services are mostly provided by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), with some services supplie…

9 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many accident and emergency departments have had their status changed to minor injuries centres since 2007 and what assessment it has made of this.

Answer · Alex Neil: Since 2007, there have been three changes in designation which have been part of service modernisation and improvement initiatives to improve services for patients. Each change has been part of wider strategies which have involved extensive public consultatio…