Bruce Crawford

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Her Majesty's Government on the future of the Longannet deep mine in Fife.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Although matters concerning the coal industry are reserved, the Scottish Executive have been in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry about the future of the Longannet mine. Due to severe flooding which has ended production at Longannet, i…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Scottish Coal on the future of the Longannet deep mine in Fife.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is a reserved matter. We are aware that there have been frequent discussions between Scottish Coal and the Department of Trade and Industry on the future of the Longannet mine. Both the company and the Department of Trade and Industry have kept the Scott…

6 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its targets are for renewable energy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Subject to the approval of this Parliament, we will shortly be placing a new Renewables Obligation (Scotland) on all electricity suppliers. Our target is to raise the proportion of electricity supply accounted for by renewable sources to 18% by 2010.

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought any legal advice or guidance with regard to its powers to veto any proposals to build new nuclear electricity generation stations and, if so, what advice or guidance it received.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: As on all other matters, the Scottish Executive seeks legal advice as and when necessary and acts on it appropriately. Planning matters in Scotland are devolved. In addition, powers conferred by section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 have been executively dev…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21594 by Ross Finnie on 22 January 2002, how it defines "credible evidence" and whether it will give examples of what its definition includes.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Evidence of harm would be considered "credible" if that evidence had the support of the scientific advisers to ministers. Dependent upon the nature of the evidence highlighted, that advice could come from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment,…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21592 by Ross Finnie on 22 January 2002, how it plans to make public any reports it receives from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The advice of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) is in the public domain and, as such, is routinely placed on their website. <P>Following their meeting on 24 January 2002, at which the subject of the presence of transgenic material i…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have in respect of dealing with invasive plant species and whether such species include leylandii.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 provides local authorities with powers to take action in circumstances where the amenity of an area is affected by the presence of invasive plants such as, for example, Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed. In …

27 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for dealing with the issue of rats in sewers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive strategy for dealing with the issue of rats in sewers includes:<P>Each Scottish water authority has a local strategy which responds to the needs of their particular area - this practice will continue after the vesting of Scottish Water;…

27 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes in practice have taken place in dealing with rats in sewers in the last five years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: A key change in practices for dealing with rats in sewers has been the voluntary joint agreement between COSLA and the Scottish Water Authorities introduced in spring 2001. This was overseen by the Scottish Executive and it sets out a strategy to ensure close…

27 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring there is of the number of rats in sewers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Monitoring to identify the exact number of rats in sewers is not undertaken by the Scottish Water Authorities. In the event of a reported rodent infestation outbreak a reactive approach is adopted as this ensures that responses are appropriate to local needs …

27 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are taken by the water authorities to control the number of rats in sewers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish water authorities ensure that measures to control rodents in sewers are effective, pragmatic and appropriate to local needs. <P>The water authorities' employees liase with local authorities at a corporate and at a local level to respond to any report…

30 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement about new GM crop trials.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive announced on Monday 9 September that farm-scale trials at two sites in Scotland could proceed this autumn. This decision was taken after ministers received the strongest assurances possible, from the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency…

22 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from the Department of Trade and Industry about (a) the number of Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres in Scotland and (b) the level of funding for each centre.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres (IMRCs) are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as part of their Innovative Manufacturing Programme. The first 12 IMRCs were announced in November 2001 and were awarded on the basis of…

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what particular skills and competencies are required to be a member of the board of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Members of the board of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are appointed under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. Appointments are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' <I>Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to P…

11 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on water charges will be for the financial year 2001-02 in the (a) East of Scotland Water Authority, (b) North of Scotland Water Authority and (c) West of Scotland Water Authority should (i) 50%, (ii) 30% and (iii) 15% of the anticipated efficiency savings of #135 million…

Answer · Ross Finnie: This information can be derived from the Water Industry Commissioner's Strategic Review of Charges held in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17271).

5 Dec 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it next intends to meet representatives of Fife Health Board.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: My and myself intend to meet with representatives of all NHS Boards in Scotland in January. In addition, the Chief Executive and officials of the Health Department maintain frequent contact with representatives of Fife NHS Board, with the next meeting schedul…

5 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has calculated what length of warning people in Dumfries and Galloway would require to enable a safe public evacuation in the event of a terrorist attack on the nuclear installation at Sellafied.

Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19690.

5 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance it has issued to civil emergency planners and local authorities regarding the length of warning times which should be given to enable the evacuation of the general public from affected areas in the event of a terrorist attack on Sellafied or Dounreay.

Answer · Iain Gray: The licensed operators of all nuclear sites are required to prepare an emergency plan. These plans and those of other key agencies, such as the police and the local authorities, cover a range of scenarios. In the event of a terrorist attack on either Sellafie…

5 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance it has issued to civil emergency planners and local authorities regarding potential terrorist threats to nuclear material stored or used at Sellafield, Torness, Hunterston, Dounreay, Faslane, Chapelcross, Rosyth and Coulport.

Answer · Iain Gray: Security and safety precautions at nuclear sites are kept under regular review and in the light of the recent terrorist attacks in the USA all relevant precautions are presently being scrutinised. It is not our policy to disclose details of security measures …

5 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any material that it has authorised that can be distributed to schools on the use of genetically modified crops.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive has not authorised materials for distribution to schools on the use of genetically modified crops.

5 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what authorisation it has given to companies involved with genetically modified (GM) crops or pro-GM organisations regarding the distribution of information on GM crops to schools.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive has not given authorisation to any such companies regarding the distribution of information on GM crops to schools.

5 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance it has provided to education authorities on how to deal with teaching materials concerning genetically modified crops.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive has not provided any specific guidance to education authorities on how to deal with teaching materials concerning genetically modified crops.

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had into any recent discussions involving EU environment ministers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is fully involved in preparations for Environment Councils and international meetings involving EU environment ministers.

25 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has identified Garlaff Landfill Site in East Ayrshire as a site for the disposal of ash derived from the pyres of foot-and-mouth disease infected cattle carcasses.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The best scientific advice is that ash from pyres across the country should be disposed of at licensed engineered landfill sites. There is material at two sites in Dumfries and Galloway and one in the Scottish Borders which requires disposal but there are no …

25 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with East Ayrshire Council regarding the disposal of ash derived from the pyres of foot-and-mouth disease infected cattle carcasses.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Since the end of August, there have been extensive discussions between Scottish Executive officials and the East Ayrshire Council Director of Community Services about proposals for the disposal of the ash from the three pyre sites in the South of Scotland. Th…

25 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to force the operators of the Garlaff Landfill Site to take ash derived from the pyres of foot-and-mouth disease infected cattle carcasses and whether it intends to use any such powers of enforcement.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish ministers have powers under section 57 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to direct the holder of a waste management licence to accept and keep, or accept and treat or dispose of, controlled waste at specified places on specified terms. Ministe…

25 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what methods of disposal of ash derived from the pyres of foot-and-mouth disease infected carcasses have been explored; what the preferred method of disposal is, and what outstanding tonnage of ash is yet to be disposed of.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are in the region of 2,000 tonnes of pyre ash at three sites in Scotland which require disposal. Disposal routes for the material throughout the UK were considered by the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee, the Department of Health, the Depart…

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance has been provided to North of Scotland Water Authority on how it might utilise any excess surplus funds which it generates.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No specific guidance is issued to Scottish water authorities on the use of surplus funds. Such funds are re-invested in the business, typically in support of major capital investment schemes to modernise the infrastructure.

16 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific advice has been issued to North of Scotland Water Authority, East of Scotland Water Authority and West of Scotland Water Authority on how they should deal with pay negotiations in this financial year.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Guidance on Public Sector Pay for 2001-02 was issued to the Scottish Water Authorities in May 2001. This is approved annually by Scottish ministers and issued to all public sector organisations. The guidance for 2001-02 is available on the Scottish Executive …

8 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the current position regarding the infraction proceedings initiated by the European Commission in respect of (a) 97/2138: Use of hyperchlorinated water in poultry-meat establishments, (b) 2000/0071 & 2000/0066: Implementation of Directives concerning ad…

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question SIW-18942.