Alex Johnstone

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses the capacity of, and future demand for, waste disposal provision for industrial waste.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Provision of disposal capacity for industrial waste is a matter for the waste industry and local authorities. The role of the Executive is to provide the regulatory and policy framework to secure sustainable management of waste. Our approach to that is set ou…

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has in assisting local authorities assess planning applications by providing information on capacity and future demand, locally and nationally, for waste disposal provision such as landfill sites.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Planning authorities are required by statute to consult the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in relation to planning applications for the deposit of waste. In responding, SEPA can make any point it considers relevant, including the relationship o…

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to minimise the amount of waste from one local authority area going to landfill sites in another local authority area.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Key aims of the National Waste Plan are to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and more generally to implement the best practicable environmental option for sustainable management of Scotland’s waste. Avoiding unnecessary transport of waste is one of …

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding the establishment of new landfill sites across Scotland and what role landfill sites will play in its long-term waste strategy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The National Waste Plan sets out how we will achieve more sustainable management of Scotland’s waste, including our aim to reduce the proportion of municipal waste sent to landfill from around 90% to 30% by 2020. New landfill sites are subject to strict envir…

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal protection exists to secure the future of fossil sites.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The conservation of fossil sites in Scotland is the responsibility of Scottish Natural Heritage. Of the sites identified by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee Geological Conservation Review, 98% of those categorised as of national or international import…

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect fossils.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The conservation of fossil sites in Scotland is the responsibility of Scottish Natural Heritage. I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8779 on 17 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's webs…

2 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) statutory sites have been designated under international conventions and directives, (b) non-statutory sites have been designated as sites of national importance, (c) statutory sites have been designated under national statutes and (d) other non-statutory site designations ha…

Answer · Allan Wilson: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) publishes detailed information on statutory and non-statutory natural heritage designations annually in <i>Facts & Figures</i>. Reports for the last seven years can be accessed through Scottish Parliament Reference Centre or th…

14 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions need to be observed by a landowner who wishes to erect a fence on open land along a boundary, defined by legal ownership, for the purpose of controlling the movement of wildlife, in order to avoid contravening the access provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 an…

Answer · Allan Wilson: Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act2003 establishes rights of responsible access to land in Scotland. Underthe act, land owners have a duty to managetheir land responsibly with respect to access rights. Guidance on responsible managementof land will be i…

6 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to port and harbour authorities to assist in meeting the costs of dredging ports or harbours.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive does not,in general, subsidise harbour operations or fund associated capital investment.Public money spent on ports infrastructure or operational costs could distort competitionbetween ports. The policy is set out in <i>Modern Ports: A …

25 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it plans to have with the Scottish Gamekeepers Association prior to Stage 3 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The bill has been widelyconsulted on and the views of a diverse range of interested parties have beentaken into account. If the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, or any other groupor individual, has new information or concerns which it wishes to present inrel…

23 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it made to HM Treasury prior to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget 2004 announcement with regard to whisky strip stamps, detailing each such representation.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including whisky strip stamps. Representations both written and oral questions havebeen made on a number of occasions. Representations to Whitehall departmentsby Sco…

23 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what help it plans to give to whisky producers and others in related sectors who may be affected by the introduction of whisky strip stamps.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Whisky strip stamps are a reservedmatter. Nevertheless, Scottish ministers will continue to work closely with boththe industry and the UK Government to try to arrive at a satisfactory outcome.</p>

23 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted any studies into the economic impact on the Scotch whisky industry of the imposition of whisky strip stamps.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. Whisky strip stamps are areserved matter. Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise published a regulatory impactassessment “Tackling Spirits Fraud” on 8 April 2004.Link attached <ahref="http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/graphics/excise-tackling-spirits-fraud-ria.pdf">…

9 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage local authorities to develop green solutions, such as composting, for the disposal of all animal waste and former foodstuffs.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has made £230 millionof funding available through the Strategic Waste Fund to assist local authoritiesin implementing their area waste plan. In particular the fund is designed tohelp local authorities increase recycling rates and divert biodegra…

9 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to introduce regulations so that all sectors that currently dispose of raw meat waste and bones by landfill are covered by regulations similar to the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has no plansto introduce further legislative measures on the disposal of raw meat waste andbones.</p>

9 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns expressed by butchers in respect of sectors, for example the catering sector, that are not covered by the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and currently dispose of raw meat waste and bones by landfill.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive recognisesthese concerns, however the EU Animal By-Products Regulation allows cateringwaste to go to landfill. Catering waste, most of which will have been cooked,presents a lower risk of disease transmission than raw waste.</p>

9 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that have been expressed by butchers in respect of additional costs that they face as a result of the implementation of the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has sought tominimise the impact of these new requirements wherever possible. My officialsinvited local authorities to adopt a proportionate response to enforcement whenthis legislation was introduced. Officials have also worked with various tra…

3 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the accident record on the A90 between Perth and Aberdeen compares with that on other similar roads across Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The accident rate on the A90between Perth and Aberdeen is below the national average for similar allpurpose dual carriageway roads.</p>

25 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of Scottish butchers regarding the implementation of the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: My officials have had regular discussions with representatives of Scottish butchers regarding the implementation of the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003.</p><p>the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders’ Associations was invited to comment duringth…

24 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5144 by Allan Wilson on 21 January 2004, whether small waste oil burners used to heat schools, local halls and any other public or local authority facilities do not require to comply with the Waste Incineration (Scotland) Regulations 2003 on the same…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Waste Incineration (Scotland)Regulations 2003 implement the Waste Incineration Directive through theexisting Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) regime. In the Executive’sview, the PPC regime does not extend to domestic activities and, consequently,sma…

18 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to further encourage the development of broadband telecommunications services in rural areas in north east Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: In rural Grampian, local field marketing under the broadband for scotland initiative has helped with the very recent triggering of the Banff and the Turriff exchanges. Nine other exchanges have recorded significant increases in registrations following recent …

12 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it decides when it is appropriate for it to call a public inquiry into a section 36 application under the Electricity Act 1989 when the relevant planning authority has made no objection.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Schedule 8 of theElectricity Act 1989 directs ministers to consider objections received fromparties other than the planning authority along with all other materialconsiderations in determining whether a public inquiry should be held.</p><p>In dispensing with …

12 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it decides when it is appropriate for it to reject section 36 applications under the Electricity Act 1989 when the relevant planning authority has made no objection.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In determining a section 36application, ministers must consider the characteristics, location andpotential impact of the proposal. Whilst the views of the relevant planningauthority carry considerable weight, ministers must have regard to the all theother rep…

12 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be taken on the section 36 application under the Electricity Act 1989 for the Shieldaig/Slattadale hydro scheme.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The consultation period forthis application has ended. Ministers are considering the application and adecision is expected in the near future.</p>

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to amend the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill to address the issue of fly-tipping.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The AntisocialBehaviour etc. (Scotland) Bill does address fly-tipping. Section49 of the Bill proposes powers for local authorities, the Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency and police officers to issue fixed penalty notices forfly-tipping offences. Section 5…

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities should accept responsibility for dealing with material disposed of illegally on private land and, if so, whether it will make provision for this in future legislation.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There are no plans to amendthe existing legislation regarding responsibility for dealing with materialillegally disposed of on private land. Section 59 of the EnvironmentalProtection Act 1990 provides waste authorities with the power to remove wastefrom priva…

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions have been reached by its fly-tipping forum.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Although the Scottish Executive provides funding to the Scottish Fly-tipping Forum to support its work,it is independent of the Scottish Executive. It is for the Forum, whichis chaired by Keep Scotland Beautiful, to decide when and in what form to makeits con…

18 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address any concerns that research and development into the effective use of small commercial waste oil burners, with particular reference to the use of waste vegetable oil, will cease as a result of the Waste Incineration (Scotland) Regulations 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Experimental plants used forresearch, development and testing to improve the incineration process and whichtreat less than 50 tonnes of waste per year are classified as “excluded plant”under the Waste Incineration (Scotland) Regulations 2003. These excluded p…

18 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what investigation it made into modern small waste oil burner technology before making the Waste Incineration (Scotland) Regulations 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5145 on 22 January 2004.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/we…

18 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4279 by Allan Wilson on 5 December 2003, whether it has undertaken any research into the efficiency and safety of sophisticated small commercial waste oil burners used in the United States of America.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has notundertaken research into the efficiency and safety of small waste oil burners.Primary responsibility for ensuring that incinerators comply with the WasteIncineration (Scotland) Regulations 2003 lies with operators and the Scottish Environ…