Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has in place for waiting times for installations under the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25584 on 27 July 2009. 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.uk/Apps2/B…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing for work to help ensure that rivers and lakes adapt to the effects of climate change and how many jobs that funding supports.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government currently funds strategic research into enhancing water quality through the Scottish Rural Development Programme, to deliver the objectives of the Water Framework Directive river basin management plans. This research includes aspects o…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to help ensure that rivers and lakes adapt to the effects of climate change.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to control all impacts on the water environment with the aim of achieving good ecological status for water bodies by 2015. The directive introduced river basin management plans (RBMPs) to manage our water environmen…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing for work to trace pollution from urban sources and how many jobs that funding supports.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) resources and functions are not assigned specifically to either urban or non-urban sources of pollution, therefore the following estimate of costs is very crude. </p> <p >Approximately two thirds of SEPA''s a…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to trace pollution from urban sources.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has statutory responsibility for controlling potential sources of pollution from sites it regulates in urban areas. These include emissions from industrial facilities, sewage treatment works and surface water …
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing for work to remove invasive non-native species and how many jobs that funding supports.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is money available to applicants through the Scottish Rural Development Programme to control a number of invasive non-native species including Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, Himalayan balsam, Rhododendron ponticum and grey squirrels. Further details …
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to remove invasive non-native species.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Natural Heritage Species Action Framework sets out a framework for clear targeted action against six invasive non-native species (American mink, grey squirrel (with regard to red squirrel conservation), North American signal crayfish, New Zealand…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing for work to improve river routes to help fish migrate and how many jobs that funding supports.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government currently funds improvements to rivers through a number of funding streams, to deliver the objectives of the river basin management plans. These funding streams include the Scottish Rural Development Programme, a restoration fund manag…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve river routes to help fish migrate.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to control all impacts on the water environment with the aim of achieving good ecological status for water bodies by 2015. The directive introduced river basin management plans (RBMPs) to manage our water environmen…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing for work to research the causes of river pollution and how many jobs that funding supports.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government currently funds strategic research into enhancing water quality through the Scottish Rural Development Programme, to deliver the objectives of the Water Framework Directive river basin management plans. This research includes aspects o…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to research the causes of river pollution.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to control all impacts on the water environment with the aim of achieving good ecological status for water bodies by 2015. The directive introduced river basin management plans (RBMPs) to manage our water environmen…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing for work to restore and protect wetlands and how many jobs that funding supports.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government currently funds improvements to wetlands through a number of funding streams, to deliver the objectives of the river basin management plans. These funding streams include the Scottish Rural Development Programme, a restoration fund man…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to restore and protect wetlands.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to control all impacts on the water environment with the aim of achieving good ecological status for water bodies by 2015. The directive introduced river basin management plans (RBMPs) to manage our water environmen…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing for work to restore wildlife habitats in rivers and how many jobs that funding supports.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government currently funds improvements to water quality and river habitats through a number of funding streams, to deliver the objectives of the river basin management plans. These funding streams include the Scottish Rural Development Programme…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to restore wildlife habitats in rivers.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to control all impacts on the water environment with the aim of achieving good ecological status for water bodies by 2015. The directive introduced river basin management plans (RBMPs) to manage our water environmen…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend the duration of government-funded projects to support carers beyond a maximum of three years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Support to local carers'' projects is a matter for local authorities and health boards to determine on the basis of their local priorities. The Scottish Government supports national carers'' organisations through grants made under section 10 of the Social Wor…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to monitor the development and delivery of carers’ respite services in each local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities have responsibility for the planning, development and delivery of carers'' respite services in their areas. In doing so, they are able to take account of the <i >Guidance on Short Breaks (Respite)</i> issued jointly by the Scottish Governmen…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a need for carers’ advocacy services in each local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is a matter for each local authority, working in partnership with NHS health boards and the voluntary sector, to consider the need for carers'' advocacy services in local authority areas. Decisions should be made within the context of local carers'' strate…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make it easier for carers to access all available support.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25515 on 27 March 2009. 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.uk/Apps2/…
2 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to signpost sources of help and support for carers who are unsure where to turn for help.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is important that carers know what support is available to them and that they can easily access that support through good signposting. Carers'' assessments are vital in identifying carers'' needs for support and in helping to access this support. The provi…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what agency or directorate of the Scottish Government is responsible for ensuring the delivery of compensatory measures should any special protection areas or special areas of conservation around the coast be adversely affected by a rise in sea level, coastal erosion or changes in coastal…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, on behalf of Scottish ministers, monitor the condition of all protected sites in Scotland. This monitoring would provide an early indication of any adverse affects on sites, should they ar…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken, or is aware of, any assessment of the carbon emissions from commercial peat extraction in Scotland and what steps it is taking to ensure that the impact of peat extraction is considered in its reports against targets in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory includes estimates of greenhouse gas emissions due to commercial peat extraction. These relate to peat extracted for horticultural use, which is the main reason for commercial extraction in Scotland. Annual emissions …
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any sites where commercial peat extraction takes place or has been approved for extraction are classified as a special protection area or special area of conservation and, if so, whether it will list these sites and the arrangements in place to deliver compensatory measures.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage has only identified one such site, that being the Slamannan Plateau special protection area.</p> <p >The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc) regulations 1994 (as amended) make provision for the review of existing decisions and cons…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the extent is of current and approved commercial peat extraction and whether it will list the name and area of each site, also showing the approved afteruse.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Control of commercial peat extraction lies with local authorities who will hold current information on extent, site location, and after use.</p> <p >In 2003, Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned a review of commercial peat extraction in Scotland which lis…
10 Jun 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland framework will contribute to resolving repeated instances of antisocial behaviour by users of holiday flats.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0618-01.htm">http://www.scot…
13 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what water saving measures it intends to include in its energy efficiency programme.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Energy Saving Trust are currently finalising a pilot through one of the Energy Saving Scotland advice centres to integrate water advice with the existing advice on energy efficiency, microgeneration and low carbon personal transport. This project, which i…
13 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what water saving advice will be included in its energy efficiency programme.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Energy Saving Trust are currently finalising a pilot through one of the Energy Saving Scotland advice centres to integrate water advice with the existing advice on energy efficiency, microgeneration and low carbon personal transport. This project, which i…
13 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial engagements have been undertaken by the Minister for Environment since May 2007, broken down by parliamentary constituency.
Answer · John Swinney: I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the response will be available from Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48199).</p>
13 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial engagements have been undertaken by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment since May 2007, broken down by parliamentary constituency.
Answer · John Swinney: I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the response will be available from Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48199).</p>
27 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the energy efficiency action plan will contribute to its target for reducing emissions by 2010.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Energy Efficiency Action Plan is due to be published before the end of 2009. A number of actions which will be included in the plan are already in operation, or due for launch during the course of this year. These actions are expected to contribute to the…