Parliamentary questions
Alex Johnstone
582 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase the range of options within, and the funding of, the land management contract.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We are currently considering the responses to the consultation on the Land Management Contract (LMC) Menu Scheme, paying particular regard to the range of measures suitable for inclusion in the scheme. Funding issues are being considered as part of this proce…
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm applications have been the subject of appeals to it since 1999 and, of these, how many have been (a) approved and (b) refused.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Since 1999, the Scottish Executive Inquiry Unit has received 12 planning appeals concerning proposed windfarms. Of these, one has been approved (appeal allowed), two have been refused (appeal dismissed), one appeal was withdrawn and the other eight are awaiti…
6 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1O-6514 and S2W-9578 by Malcolm Chisholm on 27 February 2003 and 29 July 2004 respectively, whether it will outline details of the audit process that the NHS Scottish Consortium has in place to ensure that clinical waste handled on its behalf by STI g…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Responsibility for providing details of the audit process rests with the NHS Scottish Consortia. I can confirm, however, that each member of the consortium has a schedule of annual visits in place, the purpose of these visits being to ensure that transport or…
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-6514 by Malcolm Chisholm on 27 February 2003, whether Eurocare Environmental Services Ltd still holds contracts for the disposal of clinical waste from the NHS.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Eurocare Environmental Services Ltd was sold to STI Group in January 2004. The NHS Scottish Consortium is continuing the existing contract for the disposal of clinical waste on the same terms and conditions.</p>
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what sentencing guidelines there are in respect of environmental crime.
Answer · Hugh Henry: There are no sentencingguidelines issued in Scotland. The matter of sentencing, within the parameters setby Parliament, is entirely one for the judiciary who hear all the circumstancesof the offence and the offender, plus any mitigating factors put forward by…
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the time taken to assess whether to award a licence to protect stock from bird predators available through derogations in the European Union's Birds Directive is reduced as much as possible.
Answer · Allan Wilson: All applications for licences will be dealt with as quickly as possible consistent with the need for proper consideration of all the relevant issues raised.</p>
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much experience in wildlife management, horticulture, animal husbandry and predation is required of persons assessing whether to award a licence to protect stock from bird predators available through derogations in the European Union's Birds Directive.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is legally bound to consult with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on all licence applications. SNH has experience and expertise in habitats and species management and in advising the Executive on a wide range of matters involving land us…
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it awards compensation to applicants who later suffer financial loss as a result of a decision not to award a licence to protect stock from bird predators available through derogations in the European Union's Birds Directive.
Answer · Allan Wilson: No.</p>
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment is made of financial losses to a stock owner in assessing whether to award a licence to protect stock from bird predators available through derogations in the European Union's Birds Directive.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive considers a licence application on the basis of the information supplied by the licence applicant, which may or may not include a financial assessment of losses.</p>
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for the award of a licence to protect stock from bird predators available through derogations in the European Union's Birds Directive.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Article 9 of the Council Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) “the Birds Directive” is transposed into UK legislation by Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. In accordance with the Birds Directive, licences can be granted f…
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive answers to the questions raised in the letter of 9 June 2004 from the Minister for Environment and Rural Development to the chairman of the Deer Commission for Scotland regarding the events involving deer at Glenfeshie and Strathglass.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Chairman of the Deer Commission for Scotland wrote to me with the commission’s response on 16 July. A copy of the letter has been placed on the commission’s website for public perusal.</p>
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the relevant minister will meet the Scottish Gamekeepers' Association to discuss the way forward following its representations on the events involving deer at Glenfeshie and Strathglass.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9554 answered on 10 August 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliam…
29 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what forecasts it has of the cost to (a) it and (b) local authorities of an effective containment programme of hydrofluorocarbons leakage.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The costs of containment are expected to fall largely on users. Assessment of additional costs associated with the implementation of the proposed EC Regulation on certain fluorinated gases, including enforcement, will be undertaken once EU deliberations on th…
29 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments it has made of the policy of replacing chlorofluorocarbons with hydrofluorocarbons in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and whether a ministerial statement will be made on this issue.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Unlike chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) have zero ozone depleting potential. In light of constraints introduced by the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, HFCs have been promoted by industry and others as a suita…
29 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was to it and local authorities of recovering, recycling or destroying chlorofluorocarbons from refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in each year for which figures are available and what the estimates are for future expenditure.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive awarded specific grant of £1.69 million in 2001-02 and £3.3 million in 2002-03 to local authorities towards the overall costs of storing, transporting and disposing of discarded domestic refrigeration equipment containing ozone-depleting substan…
29 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of chlorofluorocarbons have been converted into inert substances in 2003 and what estimates, or targets, it has for 2004 and subsequent years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Under EC Regulation No 2037/2000, used chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) must be recovered for destruction or for recycling or reclamation during the servicing and maintenance of equipment or before the dismantling or disposal of equipment. The obligation for report…
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of concerns that unnecessary burdens are being placed on Scottish agriculture by the interpretation of EU directives by (a) government and (b) commercial consultants.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive’s policy is to implement EU legislation in a way which minimises the burdens on Scottish agriculture consistent with the requirements of proper financial control and compliance with the law. As to interpretations by commercial consultants, the E…
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of egg production is registered as free range.
Answer · Ross Finnie: On the basis of information derived from the 2003 Agricultural Census the breakdown of Scottish registered hen places, by production type and expressed as a percentage, is as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>Free Range…
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many instances of contaminated animal feed have been recorded in each of the last five years.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Food Standards Agency informsme that over the past five years, there have been four recorded cases of contaminated animal feed in Scotland. Therewere two cases in 2002 and two in 2003. These cases include contaminated feed enteringScotland from outside th…
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of concerns that other European Union countries are not ensuring that their animal feed suppliers comply with EU directives.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Food Standards Agency informsme that it is not aware of any concerns in respect of other European Unionmember states’ enforcement of animal feed legislation. The EU Commission Food andVeterinary Office (FVO) is responsible for ensuring that Community legi…
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the influence of the supermarket sector on the animal feed manufacturing and supply sector.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency advise me that no assessment has been made of the influence of the supermarket sector on the animal feed manufacturing and supply sector.</p>
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of concerns that the Agricultural Industries Confederation's Code of Practice for the Manufacture of Safe Compound Animal Feedingstuffs encourages the importation of cheaper animal feed from other European Union countries.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Agricultural Industries Confederation’s(AIC) <i>Code of Practice for the Manufacture of Safe Compound Animal Feedingstuffs</i>is a voluntary code. The question of whether the code encourages the importationof cheaper animal feed from other European Union …
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on which other European Union countries have an identical auditing control to Scotland in respect of animal feed.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Food Standards Agency hasadvised me that a comprehensive source of information on EU member states enforcementsystems is not available. However, I am advised that in contrast to the system inGreat Britain where enforcement for animal feed law is enforced …
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Agricultural Industries Confederation rules preventing members from buying feed materials from non-members will have on supply of prescription-only medicines and specialist supplements within the veterinary sector.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The restraints on the supplyof feed materials under The Agricultural Industries Confederation’s (AIC) UniversalFeed Assurance Scheme do not apply to the use of prescription only medicines aslong as they comply with current legislation. (i.e. as long as the pr…
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated financial impact on Scottish farmers, agricultural merchants and feed suppliers will be of registration with, and obtaining approval from, the Agricultural Industries Confederation in respect of its Code of Practice for the Manufacture of Safe Compound Animal Feedingstu…
Answer · Ross Finnie: None. The Agricultural IndustriesConfederation’s <i>Code of Practice for the Manufacture of Safe Compound AnimalFeedingstuffs</i> is voluntary. The question of the financial impact on Scottishfarmers, agricultural merchants and feed suppliers of registration …
18 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that the Agricultural Industries Confederation's Code of Practice for the Manufacture of Safe Compound Animal Feedingstuffs is contrary to free trade directives.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Agricultural Industries Confederation’s<i>Code of Practice for the Manufacture of Safe Compound Animal Feedingstuffs</i>is a voluntary code. Hence the relationship between the code and free trade is nota matter for the Scottish Executive.</p>
15 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with, or what representations it has made to, the Health and Safety Executive on the impact of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (2002) on business and farming communities.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9034 answered on 28 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.…
15 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with, or what representations it has made to, Her Majesty's Government on the impact of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (2002) on business and farming communities.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including health and safety.</p>
15 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to newly-published scientific advice, for example that by Professor Fred Pooley of Cardiff University, that indicates that white asbestos and artex plaster are not as harmful as blue or brown asbestos.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9032 on 28 June 2004. 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/weba…
15 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether white asbestos is as dangerous as blue or brown asbestos.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Health and safety policy is a reserved matter and the question should be more appropriately addressed to the UK Government or the Health and Safety Executive.</p>