Parliamentary questions

Nora Radcliffe

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

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23582 by Ross Finnie on 28 February 2006, when it will publish the outcome of the review of the policy for management of solid low level radioactive waste.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I am pleased to announce thatthe review by Government (the UK Government and the devolved administrations) of the long-term management of the UK’s solid low level radioactive waste (LLW), has been completedand that the revised policy statement is being publis…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to address the concerns highlighted in the summary report following the recent consultation on proposals to establish Scotland’s first coastal and marine national park.

Answer · Ross Finnie: More than two thirds of thosewho responded to the consultation on Scotland’s first coastal and marine national park support theidea in principle. However, the consultation also revealed significant detailedconcerns which we need to address before decisions ar…

13 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what decisions have been reached on future recycling rates and infrastructure to treat residual waste.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We have considered very carefullythe strategic outline cases and draft outline business cases which have been preparedby local authorities. These various cases outline authorities’ views on the infrastructureneeded to achieve Scotland’s share of targets laid …

9 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote better energy efficiency and encourage a greater uptake of microgeneration.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I am pleased to announce thelaunch today of Achieving a Low Carbon Future, our first Energy Efficiency and MicrogenerationStrategy for Scotland. This draft for consultation sets out the substantialsteps that the Executive is already taking and our proposed wa…

7 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the first annual report on Scotland’s climate change programme will be submitted to the Parliament.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The first annual report, Scotland’s Climate Change Programme: Annual Report 2007 is being laid before the Scottish Parliamenttoday. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.number 42132).

16 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions, since 2000, on which damage has been caused to a site of special scientific interest by (a) a local authority, (b) a non-departmental public body, (c) Scottish Water and (d) any other statutory body or contractors acting on behalf of such bodies, also i…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage hasadvised that there are three Sites of Special Scientific Interest where damage hasoccurred due to the actions of statutory bodies. The details are as follows:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td val…

16 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many sites of special scientific interest on land in its ownership, or in the ownership of any body accountable to Scottish ministers, have been damaged in the last five years for which figures are available, also indicating in each case of damage who owns the land, the agency respons…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)has reported that in the last five years they have recorded one instance of significantdamage to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on land owned by the ScottishExecutive or any body accountable to Scottish ministers.<…

29 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-16149 by Lewis Macdonald on 5 May 2005 and S2W-25945 by Rhona Brankin on 1 June 2006, when it will publish a public consultation on the definition and principles of sustainable flood management.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Flooding Issues AdvisoryCommittee (FIAC) has been advising the Executive on how to define sustainableflood management. A public consultation was planned for summer 2006. Preparationwork on the consultation paper has taken longer than expected with the res…

29 Nov 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that rural areas receive a fair allocation of resources.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Resources are generally allocatedon the basis of need. Arrangements for the allocation of resources are subject,as appropriate, to periodic or regular discussion with those concerned, or to consultation.

24 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the recommendations made by the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is responding todayto the report from the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM). Similarresponses are being made in Westminster and the National Assembly for Wales. I thankthe chair, Gordon MacKerron, and the members of the committee…

30 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alter the species listed in, and operation of, Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 relating to the species of birds which must be registered and ringed if kept in captivity in Scotland and whether any such proposals will be subject to consultation with…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive, togetherwith the other UK administrations, has received recommendations from theJoint Nature Conservation Committee regarding possible amendments to Schedule 4of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. These proposals will be subject to…

30 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects there to be an announcement by the UK Government on the conclusions of the review of Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 relating to the species of birds which must be registered and ringed if kept in captivity in England and Wales and what plans it has for…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive does notexpect an announcement by the UK Government on the conclusions of the review ofSchedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 until there has been an opportunityfor public consultation on the recommendations contained in th…

30 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the review of Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 relating to the species of birds which must be registered and ringed if kept in captivity.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has beeninvolved in discussions with the other UK Administrations following publicationof a report from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee with their recommendationsfor amendments to the list of species included in Schedule 4 of th…

30 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the compulsory registration and ringing of those species of birds listed in Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the use of this mechanism to confirm that individual birds in captivity have been captive-bred, to be useful means to protect Scotland’…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The bird registration schemehas generally been regarded as a means of contributing to conservation objectivesand has operated on this basis for the past 25 years.We propose to issue a consultationpaper on the scheme in the near future which will enable…

31 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects Scottish Natural Heritage to issue site management statements under section 4(2) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 for Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and, if so, what the timetable is for such state…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The SNH programme for producingSite Management Statements (SMS) for Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is now complete with the exceptionof two sites where the SMS is pending the completion of mana…

31 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance or direction it has provided to public bodies in relation to their general duties to protect and enhance Sites of Special Scientific Interest under section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and what steps it is taking to ensure that this section is complied w…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The obligations placed upon publicbodies by section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 are clearlyset out in the act itself. No supplementary guidance in relation to section 12 hasbeen published.

31 May 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident that rurality is given adequate recognition when making funding allocations for public service delivery across Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Within the complex formulae thatare used – and that are overseen and reviewed by professional officers on a yearlybasis – there are a range of indicators that take account of rurality. For example,adjustments are made to the local government funding formula f…

16 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16149 by Lewis Macdonald on 5 May 2005, when it will publish a public consultation on the definition and principles of sustainable flood management.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: A pilot study to evaluate thework on defining sustainable flood management was completed in autumn 2005 and includedinput from a range of stakeholders to represent the wider flooding community. Theoriginal paper What is sustainable flood management?, w…

3 May 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the planned Modern Transport System in north-east Scotland will help tackle congestion, sustain and enable development and improve the quality of life for residents.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The implementation of the ModernTransport System is enabling the north-east to be more competitive by improvingjourney times and reducing congestion, and enhancing and protecting the environmentby making public transport, cycling and walking more attractive a…

26 Apr 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the main functions of Business Gateways and whether, as part of these functions, they will be encouraged towards risk-taking in supporting business start-ups and growth.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Business Gateway offers assistanceto individuals interested in starting their own business.Appropriate risk taking and thecreation of a more entrepreneurial culture in Scotland should be central to thework of Business Gateway.

29 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its new Climate Change Programme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scotland’s new Climate Change Programme, Changing our Ways(Bib. number 39288), will be published today. It brings together new and strengthenedpolicies across all the key sectors and provides a framework for further action.The new programme defines the…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the EU Water Framework Directive.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I am publishing today the thirdannual report outlining our progress in implementing the Water Framework Directive:Implementation of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 – Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament - 2005…

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development expects to launch the updated version of A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I will launch A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture: Next Steps this morning. Copies will be available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39001) and on the Scottish Executive website.

27 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16109 by Ross Finnie on 21 April 2005, what progress has been made on the review of low-level radioactive waste management policy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I previously advised that the initial stages of the review would be overseen by a steering group drawn from the Government’s Radioactive Waste Policy Group (RWPG). I said that the steering group would be organising two national stakeholder workshops during 20…

27 Feb 2006 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Executive and its departments and agencies are working to secure gender equality in Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We are taking a range ofactions to secure greater equality of opportunity in Scotlandincluding:expandingchild care to meet the needs of both children and parents;assistingwomen wanting to work or enter higher or further education; tacklin…

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to cultivate a biomass industry in Scotland.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: As the member may be aware, Iannounced on the 26 January 2006 in my ministerial statement on forestry, that officialswill be working to prepare a Biomass Action Plan, and that the forthcoming ClimateChange Programme will include an ambitious emissions savings…

11 Jan 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it and Careers Scotland are taking to encourage young people with a background of generations of unemployment into work.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The ScottishExecutive invests in a wide range of mainstream policies spanning early years, education,children’s services, regeneration, enterprise and lifelong learning, all of whichcontribute to improving opportunities for young people to participate in the …

14 Dec 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether special equipment and equipment adaptation for school pupils with learning needs are funded through the overall education budget or through a dedicated fund.

Answer · Robert Brown: The main Scottish Executive supportfor local authority expenditure on additional support for learning in schools, includingspecial equipment and equipment adaptations, is provided through Revenue SupportGrant. Specific grant funding is also provided through t…

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it or the Scottish Building Standards Agency can enforce the obligations on local authorities to comply with the provisions of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows: The duty to comply with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 lies with the owner or, in some cases the tenant, w…

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring the progress of the implementation by local authorities of their obligations under the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows: Local authorities, appointed as verifiers under Section 7 of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, are responsible for t…