Parliamentary questions
Bruce Crawford
999 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a licence is required under regulation 44 of the EU habitats regulations in relation to ship-to-ship oil transfer activity and, if so, whether there are circumstances in which it would refuse to grant a licence for such activity.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28748 on 26 October 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
28 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that ship-to-ship oil transfer activity in the Firth of Forth requires a licence under regulation 44 of the habitats regulations.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28748 on 26 October 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
28 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to providing a licence under regulation 44 of the habitats regulations in relation to ship-to-ship oil transfer activity in the Firth of Forth as proposed by Melbourne Marine Services.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is incontact with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on whether the proposed ship-to-shiptransfers of crude oil in the Firth of Forth would be likely to disturb a EuropeanProtected Species, or damage or destroy its breeding sites or restin…
27 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with the governments of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Catalonia and Tuscany and what matters were discussed.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive holdsfrequent meetings at a Ministerial and official level with governmental counterpartsin Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Catalonia and Tuscany. Discussions focus on furthering specific activity under the action plans that underpinth…
27 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to respond to the European Commission’s Green Paper on a Maritime Policy and what plans it has to seek the views of stakeholders.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive iscurrently considering how it shall respond to the European Green Paper onMaritime Policy and is doing so in close co-operation with the UK Government. Engagingwith stakeholders is vital in allowing the Scottish Executive to take aninf…
27 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any EU directives in relation to which it is currently facing infringement proceedings.
Answer · Tom McCabe: A list of those EU directivesin respect of which infraction proceedings are in progress against the ScottishExecutive for which European Commission has issued a reasoned opinion, has beenplaced in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 40708)…
27 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific contacts and discussion it has had with the UK Government about the European Commission’s marine strategy and the draft directive on marine services, in particular about devolving responsibility to the Executive for an extended area of UK territorial waters.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has avery close working relationship with the UK Government on the European marine strategyand the associated proposed Directive, with frequent contacts and discussions betweenofficials and ministers as appropriate. Officials from the S…
27 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has been, or will be, consulted about the impact of dredging operations in the Firth of Forth and what advice SNH has given on the impact of these operations on European wildlife sites in the area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)is not required under legislation to be consulted on routine dredging operationsin the Firth of Forth. However, SNH is consulted annually on the routine disposalof dredged material from operations which require a Sea Disposal Li…
27 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultation is required in relation to (a) dredging operations in the Firth of Forth and (b) the disposal of dredging resulting from such operations.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27599 on 24 August 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
27 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether dredging operations in the Firth of Forth are subject to review under regulation 50 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994 and, if not, what regulation requires the assessment of the impact of these operations on European wildlife sites in the area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Dredging operationsin the Firth of Forth are not subject to review under the Conservation (NaturalHabitats &c) Regulations 1994. As a matter of law, only plans or projects coveredby regulations 53 – 85 of the Regulations are subject to the specific obliga…
27 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what routine and non-routine dredging operations take place in the Firth of Forth; which public authority is responsible for consenting to these operations, and how proposals for such operations are made available for public comment.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Forth Ports plc, as statutoryharbour authority under the Forth Ports Authority Order Confirmation Act 1969, isthe main organisation carrying out dredging operations in the Firth of Forth. Incertain cases, e.g. when dredging within 50 yards of a bridge, pipe, …
7 Jun 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scottish Natural Heritage plays in promoting sustainable development.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Natural Heritage promotessustainable development through its formal and informal advice to public authorities,to land managers and the wider public. More specifically, it is able to promotesustainable development through its grant programmes, researc…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates that the total sum of European Structural Fund spending will be in Scotland in financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07, broken down by programme.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Commission’s financial yearruns calendar yearly. The information available is the amount in pound sterlingallocated under European Structural Funds for the year 2005, broken down by programme, which totals £161,513,246.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 c…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total sum of European Structural Fund spending was in Scotland in each financial year since 1999, broken down by programme.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Current Programmes for EuropeanStructural Funds in Scotland run from 2000-06 and are allocated in line with the EuropeanCommission’s financial year which runs on a calendar year.</p><p>The following information isthe amount in pound sterling allocated under E…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what tonnage of high-level radio active waste has been produced in Scotland each year since 1999 and what locations were the source of this waste.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24351 on 24 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what tonnage of intermediate-level radioactive waste has been produced in Scotland each year since 1999 and what locations were the source of this waste.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24351 on. All answers to written parliamentary questionsare available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search">http:…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what tonnage of low-level radioactive waste has been produced in Scotland each year since 1999 and what locations were the source of this waste.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24351 on 24 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific instructions or guidance it will issue to Transport Scotland with regard to the planning of a potential new crossing across the River Forth.
Answer · Tavish Scott: As I announced in Parliamenton 1 March 2006, I have asked Transport Scotland to takeforward, as part of the Strategic Projects Review, consideration of the role ofany replacement crossing of the Forth. Transport Scotland will assess the possible scope, form a…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with EWS about it giving up guaranteed space on the Forth Rail Bridge as a result of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link.
Answer · Tavish Scott: TheStirling-Alloa-Kincardine project will make possible the diversion of many of theEWS trains currently using the Forth Bridge onto a more direct and efficient route.A number of discussions have been held with EWS throughout the development periodof this pro…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific reports it has commissioned into the future of the Forth Road Bridge; what the remit was of each report; when each report was commissioned, and when the results will be made public.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24370 on 28 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what capacity is available for the storage of (a) high-level, (b) intermediate-level and (c) low-level radioactive waste, broken down by location.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24351 on 24 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what tonnage of (a) high-level, (b) intermediate-level and (c) low-level radioactive waste is stored in Scotland, broken down by location.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24351 on 24 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what tonnage of radioactive waste was stored in Scotland at 31 December 2005, broken down into (a) high-level, (b) intermediate-level and (c) low-level waste.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24351 on 24 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what tonnage of radioactive waste was stored in Scotland at 31 December (a) 2005 and (b) 1955.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for all producersof radioactive waste. The information requested is not held centrally. The 2004UK Radioactive Waste Inventory which provides comprehensive and up-to-date informationon the radioactive wastes that exist and are predicted to be…
15 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will provide the public with the opportunity to object to proposals contained in the National Planning Framework, as referred to in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Scottish ministers are keen toencourage people to engage positively with the National Planning Framework. Thepublic will have the opportunity to make representations on a consultative draftof the second National Planning Framework.</p>
15 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider including, as part of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill, a statutory requirement on the Executive to consult the public on the content of the proposed national planning framework.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <i>The Planning etc. (</i><i>Scotland</i><i>) Bill</i> already contains a provisionrequiring the Scottish ministers to consult on the National Planning Framework.Ministers are committed to ensuring that the public are given opportunities to expresstheir views…
15 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the proposed national planning framework has a robust, transparent and accountable approval mechanism.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Planning etc. (Scotland) Billprovides for the final version of the national planning framework to be submittedto Parliament for scrutiny and debate. On publication of the framework, a reportwill be produced detailing the changes which ministers have made …
15 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it will undertake in respect of the proposed national planning framework.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Scottish ministers are committedto consulting widely on the national planning framework. The Executive will ensurethat all those with an interest are given opportunities to express their views onits scope and content. Consultative mechanisms will include them…
9 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the safety record of Melbourne Marine Services, the company which has applied for permission to carry out ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has nosuch information.</p>
28 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23329 regarding ship-to-ship oil transfers by Rhona Brankin on 27 February 2006, what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government in respect of the consultation process regarding ship-to-ship oil transfers and, in particular, consultation wi…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23650 on 13 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…