Brian Adam

Answer · Richard Lochhead · 12 Dec 2012

The Scottish Government encourages recycling in Aberdeen in the same way that we encourage recycling across the whole of Scotland.
Whether you’re a business or householder, the biggest encouragement to recycle is the availability of a high quality recycling service. This is why we introduced regulations earlier this year to stimulate the roll out of new recycling services to businesses and households across Scotland.
In support of these regulations, a broad program of technical and financial assistance is being provided to businesses and local authorities by Zero Waste Scotland, including the further £1.2 million that I recently announced to support improvements to household waste recycling centres and for improving glass collections.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon · 27 Jan 2011

The UK Government''s proposal would create a range of minimum prices, typically in the region of 20 to 25 pence per unit of alcohol depending on the product. This means the retail price of drinks will not change and the policy will have little or no impact on deaths, chronic and acute illness and violent crime.</p> <p >By contrast, a 45p minimum price would save 225 lives per year, reduce chronic and acute illnesses by 2,600 per year, reduce crimes by the same amount, and would generate a harm reduction value of £721 million over the first 10 years.</p>

Answer · Keith Brown · 3 Feb 2011

The following table shows the number of reported road accidents where oil or diesel was present at the site. It is not possible to list these liquids separately.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=151 > <tr > <td width=45 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Year</p> </td> <td width=107 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Oil or Diesel</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=45 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >2005</p> </td> <td width=107 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >72</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=45 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >2006</p> </td> <td width=107 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >81</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=45 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >2007</p> </td> <td width=107 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >82</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=45 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >2008</p> </td> <td width=107 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >88</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td width=45 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >2009</p> </td> <td width=107 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=right >90</p> </td> </tr> </table> <p >Note: Data prior to 2005 is unreliable due to changes which were made to the STATS 19 data collection system.</p>

Answer · Keith Brown · 26 Jan 2011

I am pleased to announce today that, following our review, the Scottish Government is now seeking the agreement of the European Commission for continuation of the Air Discount Scheme (ADS) from 1 April 2011 for a further four years.</b></p> <p >The ADS provides residents of Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, Islay, Jura, Caithness and North West Sutherland with a 40% discount on the price of their core air fares.</p> <p >Our analysis concluded that:</p> <p >Over three quarters of the population in the eligible areas are ADS members with around two thirds of those having taken advantage of discounted flights;</p> <p >Over 40% of member users fly more than before the scheme was introduced, nearly 50% fly with the same frequency and 3% are new flyers, and</p> <p >Those on higher incomes tend to use the scheme more frequently than those on lower incomes. </p> <p >Over the next four years, we believe that the scheme can and will make further progress. Whilst the tendency for those on higher incomes to use the scheme reflects a wider pattern in air travel, we will consider ways to improve take-up amongst those in the lower income bands in the interests of fully achieving the scheme''s social aims.</p> <p >With more general improvements in mind, our approach to the commission is also requesting the extension of the scheme to the people of Colonsay in recognition of the transport challenges they face. The Island now has an improved indirect link to Glasgow through the Colonsay/Islay air service and I am sure residents will warmly welcome this development.</p> <p >As a scheme designed to facilitate a better level of social inclusion for individuals in the eligible areas, it is not intended to extend to business-related claims. Ministers have decided that these claims will not attract the discount in future and will shortly be writing to the main public bodies and private sector organisations in the eligible areas to confirm this decision.</p>

Answer · Richard Lochhead · 21 Feb 2011

The agency responsibility for this policy started from 2000 and therefore we do not hold all of the data requested for each year since 1980.</p> <p >However, the data which is available to the Food Standards Agency suggests that the numbers of cases of foodborne disease associated with the consumption of milk and cream have decreased significantly since the ban was introduced in 1983.</p> <p >Published studies carried out in Scotland between 1980 and 1985 (Sharp JCM., Milk and dairy products, PHLS Microbiological Digest, 1986; 3: 28-9.) indicated that, in 1981, there were 782 cases of food-borne disease associated with all milk and cream, including three deaths, and in 1982, there were 539 cases, including one death. From 1983 (when the ban on the sale of raw milk was introduced), the number of cases decreased, with 29 cases recorded in 1983, 27 in 1984 and 74 in 1985. The majority of cases recorded during 1983 to 1985 occurred in the farming community. Please see the following table with data from 1980 to 1995.</p> <p >Outbreaks of Foodborne Diseases In Scotland Associated With Raw Milk 1980 to 1995</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >Year</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=center >Numbers of Outbreaks</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=center >Numbers Affected By Illness (Deaths)</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1980</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >3</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >98 (4)</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1981</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >8</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >782 (3)</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1982</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >14</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >539 (1)</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1983</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >7</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >29</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1984</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >5</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >27</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1985</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >8</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >74</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1986</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >2</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >10</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1987</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >5</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >30</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1988</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >1</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >4</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1989</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >0</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >0</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1990</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >2</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >6</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1991</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >4</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >17</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >1992</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >2</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=top > <p align=right >6</p> </td> </tr> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <p alig

Answer · Richard Lochhead · 21 Feb 2011

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland is responsible for food safety and standards and for the legislation controlling the sale of raw milk.</p> <p >The agency is a non-ministerial UK government department operating at arm''s length from ministers. It is governed by a board appointed to act in the public interest. Its policy remit relates to food and feed safety and is wholly devolved. In this context, for the delivery of its functions the agency has responsibilities to the Westminster and devolved administrations.</p> <p >The FSA board considered the position with respect to the sale of raw milk in the four UK countries in 2005 during its wider consideration of the implementation of the consolidated EU food hygiene legislation, which allows member states to introduce or maintain national rules restricting the placing on the market of raw milk for direct human consumption.</p> <p >The FSA board agreed that while there was no risk basis for different approaches in the four UK countries with regards to raw drinking milk, it recognised the different historical patterns of consumption and consumer preference across the UK which was reflected in the differing views of stakeholders received during formal consultations, and noted the recommendations for each country.</p> <p >The recommendation for Scotland reflected the wish of Scottish Ministers, reconfirmed to the agency in 2004, to maintain and extend the ban so that all raw drinking milk sales in Scotland would be prohibited.</p>

Answer · Richard Lochhead · 21 Feb 2011

The Food Standards Agency in Scotland is responsible for food safety and standards and for the legislation controlling the sale of raw milk.</p> <p >In 2004 and 2005, three public consultations were carried out on the EU proposals and on the draft Food Hygiene Regulations and included a restriction on the placing on the market of raw cow''s drinking milk intended for direct human consumption. Scottish Government colleagues within the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Executive Development Department and the Scottish Executive Health Department and the Scottish Parliament were consulted. No adverse comments were received.</b></p>