Parliamentary questions
Shiona Baird
294 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been carried out to examine the energy content of residual waste once all cyclables have been removed.
Answer · Ross Finnie: A number of studies have been carriedout on energy and waste. Recent examples include:</p><p>A study by Oakdene Hollins, on the<i>Quantification of the Potential Energy from Residuals (EfR) in the </i><i>UK</i>.Table 11 is about the calorific value (energy co…
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in which local authority areas there are outline proposals to site thermal waste treatment facilities.
Answer · Ross Finnie: A number of groups of local authoritiessubmitted <i>Strategic Outline Cases</i> which included suggested infrastructurefor treating residual municipal waste. A copy of these <i>Strategic Outline Case</i>,with certain commercially sensitive information removed…
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much waste went to landfill in each year from 1999 to 2006, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Environment Protection Agencydata for the amount of waste sent to landfill by local authorities from 2000-01to 2005-06 is shown in the following table. Figures for 1999 are not available.</p><p>Total Tonnes of Waste Landfilled by Scottish LocalAuthor…
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) plastic, (b) glass, (c) metal, (d) paper and (e) compostable material was recycled by each local authority in the most recent year for which information is available.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information on materials recycledand composted by individual local authorities is given in tables 15 and 18 of the<i>Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s Waste Data Digest 6</i>. A copy is availableon the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s website a…
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of waste, including waste recycled, was handled by each local authority in each year from 1999 to 2006.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Environment Protection Agencydata for the amount of waste handled by each local authority is detailed in thefollowing table. Figures for 1999 are not available</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Loc…
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of household waste was recycled by each local authority in the most recent period for which information is available.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32365 on 26March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when its decisions on each of the strategic outline cases on National Waste Plan funding, published in May 2006, will be made public.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I announced the way forward for implementationof phase 2 of the National Waste Plan on 14 March 2007. This announcement outlined the position for local authorities in terms of recycling/compostingrates which should be achieved, new treatment capacity for resi…
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the outline business cases of the (a) Lothians and Borders and (b) North and South Lanarkshire strategic options review groups on National Waste Plan funding will be published and whether there will be any public consultation before decisions are reached.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We have requested that Outline BusinessCases from both groups of local authorities are submitted by 30 September 2007. They will be published shortly after that with commercially confidential informationremoved.</p><p>The indicative funding awards to the grou…
14 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it received in respect of the Lewis Wind Power application for a wind farm on Lewis (a) during the formal consultation period and (b) in total and, of these, how many were (i) in support of and (ii) opposed to the application.
Answer · Allan Wilson: In addition to the Lewis WindPower application, there were two addenda submitted by the developer. These attracted10,234 representations in total, up to the last consultation date of 5 February2007</p><p>An overall total of 11,456 representationshave been rec…
14 Mar 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that small businesses are not disproportionately penalised by the full cost recovery charging schemes of non-departmental public bodies.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: In charging for services it isdesirable to avoid unnecessary public expenditure and, where possible, eliminateinappropriate hidden subsidies. Small businesses should not, however, be disproportionatelypenalised through these charging arrangements.</p>
2 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-31789 by Tavish Scott on 1 March 2007, of the 987 members of the public who corresponded with the Executive on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route between 1 February 2006 and 31 January 2007, how many were in favour and how many were opposed.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The nature of the correspondenceis such that an exact breakdown as requested cannot be provided. Approximately 3%of the correspondents were in favour and 43% opposed with the remaining 54% expressingno opinion. Some of the correspondents also wrote in on a nu…
21 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to replace the discontinued Local Capital Grants Scheme with a new scheme of grant assistance for the upgrading of village and community facilities.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive plans to promotesocial and economic development in rural communities in future through the ScotlandRural Development Programme for 2007-13. The programme will provide support for the provision and enhancement of facilitiesthat contribute to the …
14 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what five subjects were raised most often by members of the public in written correspondence with the Minister for Transport in the last 12 months and how many representations were received in respect of each such subject.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The top five subjectsbetween 1 February 2006 and 31 January 2007 were:</p><p>1. Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (987)</p><p>2. Concessionary Fares onPublic Transport (463)</p><p>3. A77 Maybole Bypass (189)</p><p>4. Bus Policy (134)</p><p>5. Calmac Ferries …
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential for deep geothermal energy production in Scotland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: While the Executive has notcarried out any formal assessment of the potential for deep geothermal energyproduction in Scotland, we are committed to developing a Renewable HeatStrategy by the end of 2007. The potential for geothermal energy will beconsidered a…
2 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would consider removing replacement windows from Schedule 3 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 if evidence were presented that this would lead to greater compliance levels and, if so, what its timetable for such a change would be.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>Being in Schedule 3 of the Building(Scotland) Regulations 2004, replacement windows are exempt from requiring a buildi…
2 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the Glass and Glazing Federation to discuss compliance with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 regarding replacement windows and, if not, whether it plans to meet it on the issue.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:</p><p>The SBSA consulted the Glassand Glazing Federation before the introduction of the 2004 Regulations and has keptin cont…
2 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications for financial support from Phase 2 of the Strategic Waste Fund will be expected to be fully compatible with the guiding principles of the National Waste Plan.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Yes. The guiding principles of the National Waste Plan are to reduce waste so far as possible; to recycle and compostas much waste as is practicable and to use other treatment facilities, such as energyfrom waste, only where it is not reasonably practicable t…
1 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for new funding for social enterprises, analogous to the Community Asset Fund announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in December 2006.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There are currently no plansfor an analogous Community Asset Fund in Scotland. However, we are considering future support for socialenterprise. The Futurebuilders Scotland programme has provided financial supportto social enterprises to obtain community-owned…
1 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Highlands and Islands Enterprise has invested in social enterprises in each of the last five years.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
1 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Enterprise has invested in social enterprises in each of the last five years.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
1 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has invested in social enterprises in each of the last five years.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Separate figures are not keptfor investment in social enterprises. However, social enterprises have been eligiblefor support through the Futur…
26 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the 55% recycling and composting target for 2020 as set out in the National Waste Plan published in 2003.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Yes.</p>
11 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholders it has consulted in respect of its forthcoming energy efficiency strategy.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: In developing an EnergyEfficiency and Microgeneration strategy, the Executive has spoken to a range ofstakeholders including: Friends of the Earth Scotland, Scottish Council forDevelopment and Industry, Building Research Establishment, Scottish RenewablesForu…
11 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a public consultation on its forthcoming energy efficiency strategy.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has carried outsignificant consultation with a range of stakeholders during the development of the Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration Strategy. A public consultation will takeplace as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment process. Fu…
11 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that replacement windows comply with building regulations.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), toanswer. His response is as follows:</p><p>A new guidance leaflet, ReplacementWindows to 1 and 2 Storey Houses, is presently being prepared for publicationand is…
11 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Stern report and the Executive’s stated commitment to tackling climate change, whether it will introduce a requirement for a climate change impact assessment to be undertaken in respect of major projects, such as the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and Aberdeen…
Answer · Des McNulty: Where a major project falls tobe determined under planning legislation, it is already a requirement that environmentalconsiderations are taken into account. Planning applications must be determinedin accordance with the relevant development plan – with enviro…
7 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25092 by Nicol Stephen on 5 May 2006, whether it still expects to publish its draft energy efficiency strategy before the end of 2006.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: It is anticipated that the Strategywill be published early in 2007. It is important that energy efficiency and microgenerationare mainstreamed across the range of policy areas. Additional work has been requiredto ensure that the strategy reflects this and tha…
22 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which body is responsible for setting the occupational standards for lecturers in further education colleges and higher education institutions.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under the Teachers (Education,Training and Recommendation for Registration) (Scotland) Regulations 1993, Scottishministers determine the duration and approve the content and nature of the TeachingQualification in Further Education (TQ(FE)). To fulfil the requ…
22 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, lecturing staff in higher education institutions currently hold the Teaching Qualification (Further Education) or equivalent recognised qualification.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
22 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, lecturing staff in further education colleges currently hold the Teaching Qualification (Further Education) or equivalent recognised qualification.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: According to the Scottish FundingCouncil’s staffing statistics, published on the internet at <ahref="http://www.sfc.ac.uk/statistics/fe_information/facts_figures/0405/staffing/table%202.pdf">http://www.sfc.ac.uk/statistics/fe_information/facts_figures/0405/st…