Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-969 by Ross Finnie on 17 July 2003, when it intends to announce the members of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I am pleased to confirm,along with the Secretary of State for the Environment and the EnvironmentMinisters for Northern Ireland and Wales, the appointment of the 12 remaining members to theCommittee on Radioactive Waste Management.</p><p>With the help of the …
22 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will implement Article 6 of Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the energy performance of buildings, relating to improving the energy performance of existing buildings over 1000 sq m when they are renovated.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The implementation group setup by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and on which the Scottish Executive is represented, is presently considering these and other mattersassociated with the implementation of the directive.</p>
22 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that, for all new buildings over 1000 sq m, formal consideration is given to alternative systems of heating, including CHP, district heating, heat pumps and systems based upon renewable energy, as required by Article 5 of Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament…
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We intend that these matterswill form part of the first amendment to the new system of functional buildingstandards which is to be introduced in 2005.</p>
22 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what model(s) of energy rating it will use to produce energy certificates in (a) the domestic buildings sector and (b) the commercial buildings sector, as required by Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the energy performance of buildings.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Office of the Deputy PrimeMinister (ODPM) implementation group is presently considering energyperformance calculation methods. It is possible that the present standard assessmentprocedure can be modified for the domestic sector. The paper on <i>Methodolog…
22 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will introduce energy performance certificates in the commercial buildings sector, as required by Article 7 of Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the energy performance of buildings.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We are liaising with theOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister implementation group on how best toimplement the requirements of Article 7 of the directive. However, we alsorecognise the need to take account of distinctive Scottish circumstances.</p>
22 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will introduce energy performance certificates in the social housing sector, as required by Article 7 of Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the energy performance of buildings.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We are liaising with theOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister implementation group on how best toimplement the requirements of Article 7 of the directive. However, we alsorecognise the need to take account of distinctive Scottish circumstances.</p>
22 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will introduce energy performance certificates in the private rented housing sector, as required by Article 7 of Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the energy performance of buildings.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We are liaising with theOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister implementation group on how best toimplement the requirements of Article 7 of the directive. However, we alsorecognise the need to take account of distinctive Scottish circumstances.</p>
22 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will introduce energy performance certificates in the owner-occupied housing sector, as required by Article 7 of Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the energy performance of buildings.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We are liaising with theOffice of the Deputy Prime Minister implementation group on how best toimplement the requirements of Article 7 of the directive. However, we alsorecognise the need to take account of distinctive Scottish circumstances.</p>
22 Oct 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to implement Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council on the energy performance of buildings.
Answer · Margaret Curran: TheExecutive is working with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and theDepartment for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on the implementation of theDirective, and is represented on an Office of the Deputy Prime Ministerimplementation group.</p>
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in carbon dioxide emissions would be achieved by meeting the UK Biodiversity Action Plan target to restore 75% of recoverable blanket peat bog within the next 10 years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3385 on 27 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what carbon dioxide reduction targets it has set and how many of these targets are to be met through (a) transport policy, (b) energy policy, (c) land use policy, and (d) peatland restoration.
Answer · Ross Finnie: TheExecutive has agreed to make an equitable contribution to the UK Kyoto targetand to work in partnership with the UK Government in moving towards thedomestic goal to reduce 1990 levels of UK carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2010. The Scottish response toc…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of carbon dioxide have been emitted from degrading peatlands in each year since 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Irefer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3377 on 5 November 2003. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions if degraded peatlands were restored.
Answer · Ross Finnie: An estimate of the naturerequested has not been made by the Executive.</p><p>There are many uncertaintiesassociated with emissions from organic soils and the Executive is undertakingresearch to better understand the role of agricultural and other land uses on…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what area of Scotland is covered by peatland and what percentage may be categorised as degraded.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There is no definitiveestimate of Scottish peatland coverage but Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) hasproduced estimates for two of the three main types of peatland, namely blanketbog and raised bog.</p><p><u>Blanket Bog</u></p><p>SNH’s recently developedScotti…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on peatland restoration through grants for environmental work under agriculture and forestry schemes in each of the last five years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: It is not possible to identify specific amounts spent on peatland restoration through Scottish Executive agri-environment schemes.</p><p>Complete restoration of whole woodlands to peatland is not provided for in forestry grant schemes, but Forestry Commission…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on peat bog restoration through Scottish National Heritage management schemes in each of the last five years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Natural Heritage(SNH) operates a number of management schemes which include prescriptions toensure the sympathetic management and restoration of peat bogs. These includethe Caithness and Sutherland Peatland Management Scheme, the LewisPeatlands Manag…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made towards the UK Biodiversity Action Plan target to restore 75% of recoverable blanket peat bog within the next 10 years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: TheUK Blanket Bog Habitat Action Plan target is to restore 75% of the total extentof restorable blanket bog in the UK by 2015. Scotland’s contribution to this target is being monitoredthrough a series of interim targets, the first of which is to bring the tot…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support peatland restoration as a significant contribution to meeting UK targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050.
Answer · Ross Finnie: he Executive recognises thatpeatland also offers the potential to assist delivery of its target for reducedcarbon emissions by 2050. The Scottish Executive supports the maintenance andrestoration of peatlands through its agri-environment schemes and throughSc…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent in the last 10 years on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and what proportion of this expenditure relates to (a) transport policy, (b) energy policy, (c) agriculture or forestry policy and (d) peatland restoration.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive’s actions toreduce greenhouse gas emissions cut across a number of different policy areas.In each of these areas, the main policy driver may not necessarily be climatechange, but the impact on greenhouse gas emissions is an importantconsideratio…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much carbon dioxide per hectare per year is released by peat bogs damaged by ploughing and drainage compared to other land uses and what published scientific sources support these figures.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Datain the format requested are not collected by the Executive. The most recent data on Scottish greenhouse gasemissions are availablein the publication <i>Greenhouse Gas Inventories for </i><i>England</i><i>, </i><i>Scotland</i><i>, </i><i>Wales</i><i> and <…
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions come from peat soils that have been damaged by a change in land use.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There is no data availablespecifically on emissions from peat soils.</p><p>The most recently publisheddata on Scottish greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions from all soilsdue to land use change are available in the publication <i>Greenhouse Gas Invent…
1 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its plans for the designation of river basin districts as required under section 4 of the Water Environment and Water Services Act (Scotland) 2003.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I am publishing today a consultation paper: <i>River Basin Districts - Proposals for Scotland</i>. I am placing copies in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 28995).</p><p>The Executive promised to consult before a final decision was taken on the b…
30 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for the First Minister to have regular audiences with Her Majesty The Queen and how frequently he meets Her Majesty to discuss Scottish Executive business.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I have audiences with Her Majesty The Queen from time to time.
27 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of responses to Proposals for Changes to Agri-Environment Schemes in Scotland supported the continuation of the Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme rather than transferring such schemes to the Rural Stewardship Scheme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Fifty point six percent of respondents to the consultation paper, <I>Proposals for changes to Agri-environment Schemes in Scotland</I> supported the continuation of the Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme, rather than transferring to the Rural Stewardship S…
27 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of rural development spending was on (a) continuing and (b) pilot agri-environment schemes in (i) 2001-02 and (ii) 2002-03 and how this spending compares with the proportion of equivalent spending on such schemes in (1) England and (2) Wales.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish expenditure on agri-environment schemes over the past two years has been:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=264><TR><TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>2001-02</TD><TD WIDTH="54%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>2002-03</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="…
27 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult on any amendments to the Scottish Rural Development Plan following its mid-term evaluation.
Answer · Ross Finnie: It is our normal practice to consult about proposed changes to the Scottish Rural Development Plan. Accordingly if the mid-term evaluation exercise identifies the need for change then any proposals to amend the plan will be subject to consultation.
27 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it consulted on all amendments to the Scottish Rural Development Plan made in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003 to date.
Answer · Ross Finnie: All past amendments to the Scottish Rural Development Plan (SDRP) have been the subject of consultation. We have already consulted on proposed improvements to support for environmentally-friendly and organic farming for intended inclusion in this year's SRDP …
16 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an update on its review of the water environment to meet the requirements of the urban waste water treatment regulations.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has decided to retain all previously designated (14) sensitive areas, and additionally has designated nine rivers and one stretch of marine water. These have been identified as sensitive areas in accordance with the terms of the Urban W…
5 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for relocating the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage from Edinburgh to Inverness.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-664 today. 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/webapp/search_…
5 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative locations were considered when reaching the decision to relocate the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-664 today. 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/webapp/search_…