Parliamentary questions
Alex Fergusson
366 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 May 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the latest publication of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy, what action it will take to ensure that numeracy levels improve across Scotland.
30 Apr 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact it considers that Police Scotland has had on policing in Dumfries and Galloway.
8 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish Scottish Natural Heritage's revised guidance on the visual presentation of proposed windfarm developments to aid assessment of the likely impact on the landscape.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: No date has been set for the publication of revised guidance on visual representation of wind farms. Scottish Ministers recognise the importance of this guidance and stakeholders will be advised in due course of a publication date.
21 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use the stage 1(4) guideline set out in The UK SPA network: its scope and content to propose marine protected area status for nationally important populations of seabirds.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20315 on 3 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at; http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
21 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which species are being considered for inclusion in the proposed network of marine protected areas.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20315 on 3 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
21 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that the proposed network of marine protected areas achieves the UK level of biogeographical coherence.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under the EU Wild Birds Directive (WBD) all member states are required to classify the most suitable territories, in number and size, as Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The provisions relating to the creation of SPAs apply to all species listed in Annex 1 of…
26 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to reform the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
19 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage sustainable growth in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting sustainable economic growth across Scotland, including in Dumfries and Galloway, by working closely with a wide range of delivery partners, particularly Scottish Enterprise and Dumfries and Galloway Council a…
12 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Director of Education at Dumfries and Galloway Council and what matters were discussed.
29 Jan 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding the cost of repairing the damage to the coastal defences sustained during the New Year floods.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Government officials contacted Dumfries and Galloway Council in the aftermath of the New Year storms, and the triggering of the Bellwin Scheme, to check whether the council would be submitting a claim for additional funding under the scheme. The coun…
17 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will utilise and release the environmental data collected in relation to the Argyll Array offshore windfarm project to help inform sustainable marine spatial planning and the design of the marine protected area network.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Environmental data collected by a developer for their environmental impact assessment scoping application would not routinely be used by Marine Scotland in the sectoral plan making or marine protected area designation process. However, environmental informati…
15 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NFU Scotland to discuss the implementation of reform of the common agricultural policy.
8 Jan 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway to ensure that strong and effective governance remains in place until new board members are appointed.
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that the change of trial site and altitude will have on the effectiveness of the National List if trialling in Edinburgh is transferred to Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government commissioned an independent scientific review of the proposed site at the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, which concluded that there will be no significant effect on the quality of the data produced.
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the implications of the proposed changes to National List trialling in Aberdeen and Edinburgh for the management and coordination of data for the Scottish Recommended Lists of Grass and Clover Varieties.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government currently provides the Scottish Grass Levy Board (SGLB) with crop data from all of their grass / clover trial sites. This information is used by SGLB to select candidates for their own Recommended List trials. The Scottish Government d…
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who will inspect and report on the National List trials conducted by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture in Edinburgh.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: European rules for official supervision of crop trialling, apply only to external individuals or organisations authorised by a member state to undertake this work. The requirement for supervision, therefore, does not affect the work to be undertaken by Scie…
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment there has been of the financial savings of transferring the National List trialling of grass and clover in Edinburgh to Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government expect significant cost savings in the overall crop trialling budget. However, the actual size of savings will not be known until the completion of the tender exercise for the North East of Scotland’s herbage site, due to close on the …
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it is proposing to (a) put the National List trialling of grass and clover at the Craibstone estate in Aberdeen out to tender and (b) transfer the trialling at the Bush Estate in Edinburgh to Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: With the current contract due to end on 31 March 2014, the Scottish Government undertook an extensive review of the options for the future of National List crop trialling in Scotland. This included commissioning reports and advice from a number of independent…
4 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the decision to end the pilot health board elections.
27 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Police Scotland's Divisional Commander for Dumfries and Galloway and what matters were discussed.
7 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17088 by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2013, whether it will provide the locations of the 230 farms that received sewage sludge in 2012.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In accordance with the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989, a sludge register is prepared and sent annually to SEPA by all sludge producers who recycle sludge to agricultural land. This information is used by SEPA to ensure regulatory compliance. Th…
25 Sep 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to ensure that draff remains available to the agriculture industry as a source of protein.
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for private waste management companies that will need to make changes to their equipment in order to comply with the zero-waste regulations that will be introduced in 2014.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) ran a capital grant programme earlier this year, and in 2012-13, for waste management companies operating a collection service to the commercial and industrial sectors. Total funding available under this programme over the two years …
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) restrictions and (b) criteria apply when a licence is granted for the spreading of human sewage sludge on agricultural land.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17088 on 26 September 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliament…
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a maximum limit applies to the amount of human sewage sludge that can be spread per hectare of agricultural land under licence per (a) application and (b) annum and, if so, how this is monitored.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17088 on 26 September 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many licences for the spreading of human sewage sludge on agricultural land have been issued in the last 18 months and for what locations.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Sewage sludge can be used as soil fertiliser and also for ecological benefit on both agricultural land and on land being restored. The use of sewage sludge on farmland is controlled by the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 which control the build-u…
19 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the findings of the research it commissioned from the University of Glasgow into the incidence of tail injuries in working dogs will be published.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The research commissioned from the University of Glasgow in 2011 has now been completed. Drafts of the two papers intended for submission are currently being considered by the project steering group, which includes representatives from the Scottish Gamekeeper…
5 Jun 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the uptake of the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme in rural areas.
30 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Schedule 1 bird licences were issued by Scottish Natural Heritage in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012 and to what organisations.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) issued Schedule 1 licences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as follows: 2010 - 587 Schedule 1 licences (485 licences and 102 subsequent amendments). 2011 - 548 Schedule 1 licences (487 Licences and 65 subsequent a…
23 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to abattoirs to ensure their continued operation.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: Support for new and existing abattoirs and other meat processing plants is potentially available through the Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme. Projects have to be financially viable and are assessed against criteria established to ensu…