Parliamentary questions

Bill Wilson

101 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was claimed under the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007, broken down by landholding.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information requestedis not available broken down by landholding. In total, the amount claimed by thoseeligible for Less Favoured Area Support (LFASS) was:(a) LFASS 2006, £99.568million.(b) LFASS 2007,this information is not available becaus…

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information requestedis not available broken down by parish. In total, the number of hectares claimedunder Less Favoured Area Support (LFASS) was:(a) LFASS 2005, 3,485,078hectares.(b) LFASS 2006, 3,433,382hectares.(c) LFASS 2007,this …

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information requestedis not available broken down by parish. In total, the amount claimed by those eligibleunder the Less Favoured Area Support (LFASS) was:(a) LFASS 2005, £60.925million.(b) LFASS 2006, £99.568million.(c) LFASS 2007, …

13 Nov 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information requestedis not available broken down by parish. In total, the number of claimants eligiblefor Less Favoured Area Support (LFASS) was:(a) LFASS 2005, 12,846claimants.(b) LFASS 2006, 13,045claimants.(c) LFASS 2007, thisinfo…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether hazardous waste dumped into the cells designated for non-hazardous waste in the proposed Bishopton landraise, either because inadequate testing has failed to identify hazardous substances or through other error, would compromise the safety of the landraise.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am advisedby the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that theoretically there isan element of risk that certain hazardous wastes disposed of in the proposed landfillor landraise sites designated for non-hazardous wastes could compromise the propos…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, when a planning application for the development of contaminated land is being considered, which specialist organisation assesses the potential impact on the health of the local population, analogous to the way that Scottish Natural Heritage assesses the impact on wildlife and the Scottis…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Developers shouldtake professional and expert advice in support of planning applications toconsider the health impacts on the local population of developing contaminatedland. Additionally, it is for the planning authority to decide whichorganisations to consu…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if approval is given for the proposed development of Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory to proceed, how the work will be monitored to ensure that approved standards and agreed requirements will be met and what actions will be taken, and by whom, if any deviations are found.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Monitoring ofdevelopment for which planning permission has been granted is theresponsibility of the relevant planning authority. It is for the planningauthority to determine the level of monitoring they deem appropriate for anyindividual development.Pl…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether risk assessments of the waste transfer process at the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory site have been carried out, taking full account of the total length of time involved in such transfer.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Healthand Safety at Work Act 1974 places a legal duty on every employer to conduct hisundertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, thatpersons who may be affected by this undertaking are not exposed to risks to theirhealth …

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of risk to the general public would be incurred by transferring waste from the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory site to landfill or landraise, compared with the risk associated with leaving the site undisturbed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am advisedby the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) that any transference of wastescan carry a certain degree of risk, however, providing that the transfer is carriedout strictly in accordance with best practice and the relevant health and safety…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the technology exists to make safe, from a public health perspective, the contaminated material present on the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory site.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is a matterfor the planning authority to satisfy itself that applications to developcontaminated land include suitable and appropriate remediation measures. Thereare a number of different technologies and treatment methods currentlyavailable and with conti…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory is expected to appear in the Public Register of Contaminated Land and what the legal penalty is for failure to register.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Decisions aboutentering contaminated sites on a public register of contaminated land are amatter for the relevant local authority, in this case Renfrewshire Council.Only sites formally identified by a local authority as contaminated land underthe provisions o…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that further research into an association between the incidence of congenital defects and proximity to landfill sites should be undertaken and, if so, what steps it will take to promote such research, in light of a significant association found by the Nant-Y-Gwyddon s…

Answer · Shona Robison: Since thepublication of these studies, the UK Government has commissioned the Small Area Health Statistics Unit(SAHSU) at Imperial College to carry out a national study of congenital anomalies in populationsliving near to landfill sites (Elliott et al,…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will be held legally responsible for any health problems arising as a result of the construction or the operation of the landfill site at Bishopton if any link is established in future between the construction or operation of landfill sites and health problems in those living in proxi…

Answer · Shona Robison: Section 3 of theHealth and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a legal duty on every employer to conduct his undertaking insuch a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons whomay be affected by it are not thereby exposed to risks to their…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if the proposed development of Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory proceeds, what extra measures will be put in place on site to ensure that the health of the population of Bishopton will be completely protected, given that the proposed landraise facility will be open to the elements for th…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Public HealthDepartment of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board is aware of the concernsof those living near the Royal Ordnance Site, and will assess the need forspecific local health protection measures if and when the proposed landfill facilityis gran…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if the proposed development of Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory proceeds, what guarantees it can give that there will be regular health checks of the incidence of illness in the population of Bishopton to ensure that no specific problems go undetected.

Answer · Shona Robison: Responsibility for public health in this area lies jointly with Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board and Renfrewshire Council. The Public Health Department of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board has already reviewed data on the current health status of t…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if the proposed development of Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory proceeds and the health of the Bishopton population is to be monitored during the consequent transfer of toxic materials, what baseline data will be gathered to enable such monitoring and when these data will be collected.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Public HealthDepartment of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board has already reviewed dataon the current health status of the local population, including mortalitystatistics and cancer registrations. The statistics gave no indication of anincreased healt…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if the proposed development of Bishopton Royal Ordnance Factory proceeds, when procedures will be put in place to monitor the health of the population of Bishopton potentially affected by such development.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Public HealthDepartment of Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board is aware of the localconcerns regarding the redevelopment of this site and, in consultation with theEnvironmental Health Department of Renfrewshire Council, has reviewed availablestatistics…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes to monitor the mental health of deaf people.

Answer · Shona Robison: We understand theneed to monitor and respond to the mental health needs of deaf people and thecommunication and access difficulties that can arise in accessing appropriatecare and support.We are working with all partners, including theRoyal College of …

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-994 by Fergus Ewing on 25 October 2007, whether the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is sufficiently staffed to enable both the efficient registration of bodies applying for charitable status and the adequate monitoring of those already regis…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is an operationalmatter for the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). The OSCR as an independent, non-ministerialdepartment, is responsible for determining the level of staffing it requires toenable it to carry out its core functions.

17 Oct 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of allegations that KKL Scotland is funding discriminatory land-purchase policies in Israel which, if true, would make KKL Scotland ineligible for charitable status.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Decisions as to whethera body is eligible for entry onto the Scottish Charity Register and, therefore eligiblefor charitable status, are operational matters for the Office of the Scottish CharityRegulator (OSCR). Any concerns related to specific Scottish char…

25 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol stations supply biofuel.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-4549 on 8 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:<ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…

25 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to boost the production, use and availability of biodiesel.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Renewable TransportFuels Obligation (RTFO) provides the key stimulus for obligated transport fuel suppliersto invest in biodiesel and bioethanol production to meet the 5% biofuel target by2010. The Chancellor of the Exchequer extended the period of RTFO f…

18 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any members of the public have suffered ill health attributable to living in proximity to licensed hazardous waste disposal sites and, if so, how many people have been affected and in what ways.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Separate statisticson health outcomes in those living close to landfill sites are not routinely gathered.There has, however,been research. In May 2004, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published its report Review of Environmentala…

18 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what processes are in place to monitor public health in the vicinity of licensed hazardous waste disposal sites.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The monitoring ofindividual sites must be carried out in accordance with the Landfill (Scotland) Regulations 2003 and the Pollution Prevention and Control(Scotland) Regulations 2000. Local health boards mustbe notified of a proposal to permit any landfill, bu…

18 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many licensed hazardous waste disposal sites there are.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Landfill site operatorsare required to obtain a suitable permit for their site from the Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency.At present the onlyhazardous waste landfill permitted by the agency is the Avondale Quarry site nearPolmont.Under Commu…

17 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2123 by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2007, who is responsible for monitoring the compliance of the design of new dwellings with the liveability standard and how consistently the reference to “where it is reasonably practicable to do so” is interprete…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) to answer.His response is as follows:It is the responsibilityof the local authority to verify compliance with the building regulations and foraccepting a com…

5 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any long-stay hospital places for people with learning difficulties remain available and, if so, where these places are located.

Answer · Shona Robison: The same as you? acknowledged that some people with learningdisabilities have specific additional and complex health needs which may requireassessment and treatment in a hospital setting. A small number of assessment andtreatment beds are available acr…

5 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the hospitals providing long-stay services for those with learning difficulties that were open in 2006 have now closed, as forecast in NHS Quality Improvement Scotland: National Overview Learning Disability Services.

Answer · Shona Robison: Same as you? review of learning disability services, published in 2000, made clear that people''s homes should not be in hospital. One of its key recommendations was that at all long-stay learning disability hospitals should be closed by 2005. In 2006…

3 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average hours of overtime were worked by staff employed to care for looked-after children in (a) day units and (b) residential settings, including secure accommodation, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This is a matter foremployers. The information requested is not held centrally.

13 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any local authorities that have used the planning process to ensure that a proportion of privately developed new builds are wheelchair-accessible and barrier-free and what action the Executive is taking to promote such an approach.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Although this informationisn’t collated, the Executive is aware that, as examples, both City of Glasgow andCity of Edinburgh Councils have prepared supplementary planning guidance whichrequires developers to demonstrate that developments are suitable or readi…