Dr Sylvia Jackson

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14686 by Nicol Stephen on 4 May 2001, what progress is being made on how the e-Learning Foundation initiative on the provision of computer equipment for young people might apply in Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Executive remains very interested in models of private sector involvement to improve investment in and provision of e-learning. We are continuing to explore with the foundation how an extension of its activities into Scotland might bring about a step-chan…

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of its consultation paper Regulation of Skin Piercing.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: An analysis of responses to the Scottish Executive’s consultation document on skin piercing is being published today and is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre and on the Executive’s websites.

19 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in improving educational provision for looked-after children.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We have set a target that all our young people leaving local authority care will have achieved at least English and Maths Standard Grades. We are measuring attainment against this and gathering information about how local authorities are addressing the <I>Lea…

12 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of secondary schools exceeded their targets for attainment in school examinations in the most recent period for which information is available.

Answer · Jack McConnell: <FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=4>Targets under the <I>Raising Standards: Setting Targets</I> initiative were set for 2001. The percentages of schools who had already exceeded these targets, as at 1999, the most recent year for which information is available, was as …

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce "adopt-a-road" type schemes involving voluntary organisations to combat problems with litter.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce such schemes in Scotland.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">It is for roads authorities to decide how roadside cleaning should be carried out, taking into account a number of factors such as traffic management and the health a…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any cases of cement being produced in kilns which have been used to burn ha'ardous waste.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Controls over the burning of waste in industrial processes, including the production of cement, is the responsibility of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). There is one cement kiln in Scotland, operated by Blue Circle near Dunbar. In law, the …

20 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make any legislative or administrative changes in order to improve the implementation of EC Directive 92/43/EEC, the Habitats Directive, in cases where European protected species are present on development sites.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We recognise that current arrangements are complex and are keen to ensure the appropriate level of safeguard for European protected species which might be present on a development site. We have therefore decided to make adjustments to the land-use planning re…

13 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to minimise public exposure to endocrine disrupters and other dioxins.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive recognises the seriousness of the impact of endocrine disrupters and dioxins on human health. The risk of direct exposure through air, water and soil is very limited, and the majority of human exposures to dioxins arise through the cons…

13 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that (a) fly ash and (b) bottom ash from waste burning incinerators are disposed of safely.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Ash from incinerators is defined as controlled waste and therefore subject to Part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. As a result, the storage, treatment, disposal and transportation of both bottom ash and fly ash are strictly controlled to ensure t…

13 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate whether any material contaminated with fly ash from waste burning incinerators has been used in building or construction materials in Scotland.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans to investigate whether ash from incinerators has been used in building or construction materials in Scotland.

3 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that bus and rail timetables are integrated and easily available.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: <I><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>Making it work together - A programme for government</I>, published in September 1999, stated that we would establish the framework for a national transport timetable system by end 1999, and implement it by end 2000. Traveline (Sc…

3 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken research, or will consider undertaking research, into any relationship between social exclusion and mental health.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Executive Health Department is currently funding three research projects relevant to the relationship between social exclusion and mental health. Details of these are available from the National Research Regist…

3 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in promoting social inclusion in rural areas.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Through our Social Justice Strategy, we are already delivering a range of polices and programmes which will build strong and inclusive communities throughout Scotland, in both rural and urban settings. We have acknowledged that we need to improve our understa…

3 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it has received to Regulation of Skin Piercing: A Consultation Paper and how it intends to progress this issue.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: 111 responses were received to this Consultation Paper. Analysis and consideration of the responses are now proceeding, in the light of which our proposals will be announced.

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to attract more manufacturing jobs to Scotland in the renewable energy sector.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, we have recently secured a significant inward investment from the Danish wind turbine company Vestas in a new manufacturing facility near Campbeltown which will provide over 150 jobs in the area. In addition, alo…

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that there is an adequate supply of affordable housing in rural areas.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing in rural areas and in the three years since 1999 will have invested £136 million in rural housing through Scottish Homes, now Communities Scotland. This investment has allowed …

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting research into, and development of, fuel cell technology.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Responsibility for policy and funding of research and development into new and renewable energy technologies is a reserved matter. The development and demonstration of fuel cells as a source of heating, in power generation and in transport is included in DTI'…

13 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15917 by Rhona Brankin on 5 June 2001, when it expects to have considered the consultation responses to The Nature of Scotland: A Policy Statement and when it expects to announce its legislative plans in respect of the proposals outlined in the state…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Analysis of the consultation responses to <I>The Nature of Scotland: A Policy Statement</I> is currently in progress. The Scottish ministers will consider these consultation responses before announcing proposals for the future legislative programme later this…

13 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses to its consultation on The Nature of Scotland: A Policy Statement were received by 29 May 2001 and how many of these were broadly in favour of the proposals outlined in the statement.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: A total of 159 responses to the consultation on <I>The Nature of Scotland: A Policy Statement</I> were received by 29 May 2001. 114 of these responses, or just under 72%, expressed broad support for the proposals outlined in the statement.

6 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the establishment of the first National Parks will be taken forward following the recent consultations by Scottish Natural Heritage.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The report by SNH, as reporting body under section 3 of the National Parks (Scotland) Act, was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 19 March. We have considered the report carefully. It has been a very thorough piece of work, involving extensive efforts to ensu…

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what duties of care for Sites of Scientific Interest rest with public bodies and statutory undertakers; whether it will introduce new duties of care when progressing legislation arising from its policy statement, The Nature of Scotland, and, if not, what its reasons are for this decision.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is no specific duty of care on public bodies and statutory undertakers in relation to SSSIs, although SSSIs are subject to protection through the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, planning law and policy and certain other provisions. …

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received from Scottish Natural Heritage on whether marine mammals and basking sharks should be protected from harassment or intentional disturbance and whether it will consider such protection when progressing legislation arising from its policy statement, The Nature of…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The issue of harassment or disturbance will be considered in response to the consultation on the policy statement, <I>The Nature of Scotland</I>. SNH have not at this stage been asked to advise and their response to the policy statement has not been received.

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will progress its proposals in its policy statement, The Nature of Scotland, and when any new legislation will be in place.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Ministers will consider the way forward when we have analysed responses to consultation on <I>The Nature of Scotland</I>.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12162 by Sam Galbraith on 4 January 2001, what action it will take to allay public concern over the spreading of blood and gut abattoir waste on land and when it will publish the report by the joint Executive/Food Standards Agency Task Force which is…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The task force on <I>E.coli</I> 0157 advised me recently that its work was almost complete and that it was now preparing the Draft Report in consultation with its 150-strong membership. The task force would then deliver its report at the end of June. Once we …

2 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11206 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 19 February 2001, what discussions have taken place with the private sector owners of the electricity grid in Scotland regarding reviewing the grid's capacity to support more renewable energy generation, in particular fro…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Work on this matter is proceeding. A study group comprising the network owners Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy, the Scottish Renewables Forum, the energy regulator Ofgem, as well as the Scottish Executive and the DTI, is examining in detail th…

2 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a national vetting policy for stewards in night clubs and other establishments in order to ensure that people holding such positions do not have a history of violent crime.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is currently discussing options for regulating the private security industry, including stewards in nightclubs, with representatives of the police, local authorities and the private security industry. Wider public consultation will take…

1 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the responses to its consultation paper published on 8 June 2000, Best Value in Local Government: Next Steps.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We received 69 responses to the consultation paper. I have today provided the Scottish Parliament Information Centre with copies of an analysis of the views and opinions expressed by the organisations who responded to the paper by the extended deadline of 20 …

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most effective course of action is to preserve the "gene pool" of livestock involved in the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, where culling may destroy rare breeds.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The culling policy being applied during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak makes special provision to safeguard rare breeds.

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had since the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak with Her Majesty's Government regarding the regulations controlling the importation of meat and meat products and whether greater control will be put on visitors bringing meat and meat products into Scotland in the ligh…

Answer · Ross Finnie: We are aware of the speculation that our present FMD outbreak originated from meat products brought into the UK from abroad.<P>The Scottish Executive is participating in the interdepartmental discussions which are examining our existing procedures for the ins…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether sheep are being transported from the north east of Scotland through areas infected with foot-and-mouth disease on the journey to licensed slaughter in North Wales.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The movement of healthy sheep and other foot-and-mouth disease susceptible animals to slaughter through Infected Areas by trunk road or motorway is permitted on the grounds that the risk of infection is considered to be low. Some consignments of sheep, I unde…