Sarah Boyack

19 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of the Water of Leith flood prevention scheme, there are any additional factors that Scottish Ministers will take into account, given the time that has elapsed since the public local inquiry took place.

19 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30024 by Rhona Brankin on 4 December 2006, whether a target date has been set to announce the Scottish Ministers’ decision on the Water of Leith flood prevention scheme.

13 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30040 by Rhona Brankin on 4 December 2006, what directions it has given to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest under section 21(5) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 or section 12(4) of the Natural Heritage (Sco…

8 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its energy efficiency and micro-generation strategy.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: It is anticipated that theEnergy Efficiency and Microgeneration Strategy will be published early in 2007.</p>

6 Dec 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the redevelopment of Haymarket Station to enable improved access for all passengers.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We are working with EdinburghCity Council on a feasibility study to look at options for the redevelopment ofHaymarket into a major transport interchange. This is due to be completed in summer2007. The preferred option, which emerges from the study, will then …

4 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of respondents to the consultation on Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 supported a 20% or greater target for on-site renewable energy generation in new developments.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Five hundred and fifty-two of the 1,020 responses focussed solely on microgeneration. These all supported a 20%target. A further 120 respondents raised the issue in the context of wider comments.Around half of them proposed targets between 15% and 50%, with 2…

4 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses were received to the consultation on Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 and when the finalised document will be published.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: 1020 responses were receivedon the Executive’s draft proposals. The intention is to publish finalised guidancebefore the end of February 2007.</p>

21 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest considers only objections to SSSI notification and denotification.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The statutory role of the AdvisoryCommittee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest is set out in the Natural Heritage(Scotland) Act 1991 as amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act2004.</p>

21 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases have been referred to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest in each of the last five years and, in each case, whether the committee’s advice was in favour of (a) Scottish Natural Heritage, (b) objectors or (c) neither and whether Scottish Natural He…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Advisory Committee on Sitesof Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) has reported on the following numbers ofcases since 1 August 2001:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td valign=top> <p>2001</p> </td> <td valign=top> <p align=righ…

21 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest may invite external advice and, if so, in what circumstances, how often it has done so and what steps are taken to ensure that those advising the committee have appropriate and relevant scientific qualifications and ex…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Advisory Committee on Sitesof Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) has invited external advice from specialistadvisers on eight of the 10 cases it has considered since August 2001. Specialistadvice is sought when the committee feels that it needs addition…

21 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what directions have been given to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest in respect of the committee’s procedures.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Procedures are set out in theNatural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 as amended by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act2004.</p>

21 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the selection process is by which it ensures that the convener and other members of the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest have appropriate and relevant scientific qualifications and experience in relation to flora or fauna or the geological or geomorphologica…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Appointments to the AdvisoryCommittee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest are made by Scottishministers in open competition and are regulated by the Office of the Commissionerfor Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS).</p><p>Ministers appoint committee m…

16 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29350 by Ross Finnie on 10 November 2006, how many of the 65 detected incidents of pesticides exceeding the maximum residue level in 2005 were in produce originating or processed in Scotland and whether any enforcement action was taken.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The pesticide residues monitoringprogramme is UK-wide and it is not possible to determine origin within the UK from the informationavailable. Of the 65 incidents in 2005 where pesticide residues exceeded the maximumresidue level, seven involved produce labell…

27 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reported cases of and (b) successful prosecutions for breaches of maximum pesticide residue levels in food there have been in each of the last five years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Reported breaches of maximumresidue levels (MRLs) in the Pesticides Residues Committee’s UK pesticideresidues monitoring programme were as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=52 valign=top> <p>2001</p> </td> <td width=…

27 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the latest research published by the Pesticide Action Network in respect of pesticide residues in food.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Pesticides SafetyDirectorate is responsible for the regulation of pesticides and monitoring ofpesticides residues in the UK and has considered the report by Pesticides ActionNetwork (PAN). The Pesticides Safety Directorate has access to the most up todate…

27 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) incidence and (b) level has been of pesticide residue in food in each of the last five years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The results of the UK pesticidesmonitoring programme overseen by the independent Pesticides Residues Committeehave shown over the last five years that around 70% of food tested contained nodetectable residues among those sought, around 29% contained residues …

27 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the survey published by the Pesticide Action Network that found unsafe levels of pesticides in various foods and what plans it has to take action on the matter.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Pesticides SafetyDirectorate is responsible for the regulation of pesticides and monitoring ofpesticides residues in the UK and has considered the report by the PesticidesAction Network. The issues raised are not new and many are specificallyaddressed in …

27 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions are being taken to address unsafe levels of pesticides in food.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executiveparticipates in a UK pesticides residues monitoring programme which isoverseen by the independent Pesticides Residues Committee and costs around £2million annually. The results indicate a high level of compliance withstatutory maximum re…

27 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent research it has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the effect of exposure to unsafe levels of pesticide residues in food.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Nationally, a £2 millionprogramme of pesticide residue testing in food and drink is undertaken everyyear in the UK. This work is administered by the Pesticides SafetyDirectorate and overseen by the independent Pesticides Residues Committee whosemembers are ap…

11 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the same amount of money was allocated to each of the six pathfinder Business Improvement Districts, given that the scale of their locations vary substantially.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The decision on the amount offunding given to each Business Improvement District (BID) pilot project was madeon the basis of recommendations from a Steering Group comprising representativesfrom across the private and public sectors. The funding provided is to…

11 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the pathfinder Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Edinburgh and Glasgow have the potential to raise a higher business levy than the other pathfinder BIDs and given that they have secured in-kind support, whether it will grant their requests for additional funding.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Applications for additionalfunding received from individual Business Improvement District (BID) pilotprojects will be considered by the BIDs Steering Group. The Steering Group willthen make recommendations to ministers.</p>

11 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 19 March 2006 that the six pathfinder Business Improvement Districts would each receive £50,000 to develop business plans over the course of one year, whether a decision been made to allocate additional funding over a longer timescale.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Business ImprovementDistricts (BIDs) Steering Group, comprising representatives from across theprivate and public sectors, will make recommendations to ministers on theallocation of uncommitted funds for 2006-07. </p><p>In addition to the initial£50,000 p…

25 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have mechanisms in place to monitor the effectiveness of the provision of aids and adaptations.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>

25 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time is to implement applications for grant assistance for aids and adaptations for householders.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>

25 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken to assess applications for grant assistance for aids and adaptations for householders is in each local authority.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>

25 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on aids and adaptations for householders in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The amount of private sectorgrant approved by local authorities for carrying out improvements for people withdisabilities is shown in the following table.</p><p>Amount of Private SectorGrant Approved for Improvements for People with Disabilities: 2005-06</p><…

13 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require, as part of its current review of section 6 of building regulations, compulsory random air-tightness testing of all new buildings to ascertain on-site compliance with energy standards in building regulations and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>There are no proposals for compulsorytesting. The recent Scottish building regulations consultation did not involve ar…

13 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission research into on-site compliance with energy standards in building regulations.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>No. There is a recent reporton the English and Welsh energy regulations, carried out by Future Energy Solutionsentitle…

13 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any research into on-site compliance with energy standards in building regulations in Scotland and whether it is aware of the Building Research Establishment report, Assessment of energy efficiency impact of Building Regulations compliance, which surveyed new buildi…

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>I am not aware of any recentresearch that indicates non-compliance with the current energy standards in Scottishbuildi…

26 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients without traceable medical records are entitled to the same level of access to NHS treatment as those with full records.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Patients are entitled to thesame level of access to NHS treatment whether or not their medical records are complete.For example, in an emergency situation, or in the case of a visitor from overseas,where records are not likely to be available, the NHS will pr…