Parliamentary questions

Rhona Brankin

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

4 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children with additional support needs have co-ordinated support plans.

Answer · Adam Ingram: A co-ordinated support plan is an educational plan which involves, and notes the commitments by, other agencies in providing significant additional support to enable a child or young person to benefit from education. In September 2009, out of a t…

4 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training will be made available to care home and hospital staff following the publication of Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS National Education Scotland and the Scottish Social Service Council have been commissioned to produce the first skills and training framework for all staff working with people with dementia and their families and carers, to be completed in 2011. This work…

4 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new care standards for dementia will include a requirement for consultation with family and carers before the prescription of psychoactive medication.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Mental Welfare Commission has been commissioned to lead on developing the new care standards for dementia, for completion in 2011. Their work is informed by the Scottish Parliament''s Cross Party Group on Dementia''s Charter of Rights for People with …

29 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a precedent in which parties involved in local planning decisions have been found liable under the law of delict where a third party has been adversely affected.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are not aware of such a precedent. Where an individual wishes to establish the legal position on such an issue, they should seek legal advice.

15 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Midlothian Council concerning the future of the Midlothian Snowsports Centre

Answer · Shona Robison: Although there have been no direct discussions between the Scottish Government and Midlothian Council, the chief executive and his staff within sportscotland have been working closely with the council to identify ways of strengthening the management and opera…

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been undertaken on the Borders Railway in 2010 and when the line will open to passenger train services.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A number of very significant items of work have been undertaken on the Borders Railway in 2010, the most notable being procurement and utilities work. Transport Scotland commenced formal procurement with the publication of a Contract Notice in the <…

10 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fires in private rented properties were the result of faults in electrical installations and products in 2009.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally. The latest national statistics are contained in the Scottish Government Statistical Bulletin, Fire Statistics Scotland, 2007, which was published in August 2009. I refer the member to the answ…

17 Jun 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of the 35 new schools announced on 2 June 2010 will be directly funded by the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have been absolutely clear since we first announced the new school building programme a year ago that the Scottish Government will be directly funding the school building programme. The Scottish Futures Trust is co-ordinating, facilitating and managing the…

9 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether construction work on the new Dalkeith Medical Centre has started and when it will open for patients.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Work is expected to start on the new Dalkeith Medical Centre towards the end of June 2010 with completion planned for June 2011. The operational date for the new centre will be July 2011.

9 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it announced funding for a new Dalkeith Medical Centre.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Funding for the Dalkeith Health Centre replacement was announced on 29 March 2006. Capital for the project was made available over two financial years with £2.4 million allocated to NHS Lothian in 2006-07 and £0.5 million allocated in 2007-08. This funding h…

7 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers (a) biodiversity and (b) the natural heritage to have intrinsic value.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government considers that there are two important ways in which the Scottish people derive benefit from biodiversity and the natural heritage. In the first place, significant value is derived from user benefits, ranging from ecosystem services su…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33201 by Richard Lochhead on 30 April 2010, what particular species of pheasant it considers to be naturally occurring in Scotland and what the taxonomic basis is for this view.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The common pheasant (phasianus colchicus) has been breeding in the wild in Scotland for hundreds of years.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that techniques for the release of non-native pheasants into the wild for shooting that were developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries are capable of meeting modern environmental standards.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is not aware of any evidence that techniques for release of pheasants in the wild for shooting do not meet current environmental standards.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that the consequences of any licences that may be issued to kill protected birds of prey are not incompatible with European Directive 2009/147/EC.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Any guidance would have to be compatible with the relevant European law.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how serious economic damage will be assessed when considering an application to kill protected birds of prey to prevent such damage to non-native game birds released to be shot.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The licensable purpose under Section 16 (1)(k) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act is to prevent serious damage to livestock. The detail of any further guidelines is yet to be finalised.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it is aware of regarding the contribution made to the Scottish economy by (a) tourism based on the natural heritage generally, (b) wildlife tourism and (c) the viewing of birds of prey.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage is finalising a report which will estimate the economic contribution of tourism based on natural heritage. This report is due to be published by end June 2010 and will be available on the Scottish Natural Heritage website. T…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it is aware of regarding the contribution made to the Scottish economy by the shooting of pheasants and red-legged partridges.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A report by PACEC in 2002 estimated that in Scotland there were 58,000 workers paid by the shooting industry, equivalent to 11,000 full-time jobs, and that the 1.5 million gun days in that year were worth £240 million to the Scottish economy.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average income shooting businesses receive per pheasant shot by their clients.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The British Association for Shooting and Conservation estimate that shooting businesses that charge for pheasant shooting would expect anything from £25-40 per bird, plus VAT if applicable, assuming that this would be driven pheasant shooting. A number of the…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value is of a pheasant poult at release age.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The British Association for Shooting and Conservation estimate that the average price in 2010 for a pheasant poult, assuming that release age means the point at which the birds are put into a release pen at around six to eight weeks of age, is £3.25-3.75. </p…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it is aware of regarding the total number of pheasant poults released each year.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. UK figures quoted by the GWCT state that 35 million pheasants are released each year: <a href="http://www.gwct.org.uk/research__surveys/species_research/birds/pheasant/default.asp)">http://www.…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of released pheasant poults survive to such an age that they are shot as part of a commercial operation.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans exist should evidence of illegal killing arise in or near sites subject to applications for licences to kill predatory birds in order to protect game birds released to be shot.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The detail of any further guidelines is yet to be finalised but it should be a condition of any licence that it could be withdrawn if there was evidence of illegal activity.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, should large numbers of licence applications to kill protected predatory birds meet guidance requirements for approval, what contingency plans exist to prevent a reduction in the capacity of the population to continue its expansion to previous natural levels.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34189 on 16 June 2010. 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…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We would not expect a large number of applications to be approved. No application would be approved that threatens the conservation status of the species concerned. The detail of any further guidelines is yet to be finalised.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that buzzards are subject to deliberate ill-treatment in areas where pheasants are released for shooting.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Buzzards are widespread and frequently the victims of wildlife crime. It is likely that at least some of this wildlife crime will be associated with pheasant rearing.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the conservation status of the sparrowhawk is in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The overall conservation status of the Sparrowhawk is favourable. The sparrowhawk is one of the most widespread and common raptors in Scotland, although there has been some suggestion of a decline since the 1980s within conifer forest nesting pai…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the conservation status of the goshawk is in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Overall the species status is unfavourable due to population growth and distribution of birds being limited despite suitable habitat being available. Best current estimates date from 2007 and place the breeding population at a minimum of 130 pairs (B…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes were made, following consultation, to its drafts of guidance on how to apply for licences to kill protected birds for the protection of game birds released in order to be shot; how these changes related to consultees’ comments; what analysis it did in relation to the comments…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The guidance seeks to clarify how the Scottish Government will operate a particular aspect of existing legislation. A wide range of comments from stakeholders have been considered, but ultimately, the content of the guidance will be the responsibility of the …

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that stakeholders were given adequate time to respond to its drafts of guidance on how to apply for licences to kill protected birds for the protection of game birds released in order to be shot and how the relevant timescale complied with its guidance on the manageme…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The guidance is being drafted in accordance with discussions at stakeholder meetings and supporting correspondence. Stakeholders have been given adequate time to contribute to this process. Discussions have been ongoing since October 2009.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines exist for the management of public and stakeholder consultations.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Consultation good practice guidance can be found on the consultations page of Scottish Government website, at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/About">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/About</a>