Parliamentary questions

Ted Brocklebank

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

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether special protection area and special area of conservation designations prevent economic development in such areas and how it determines whether economic development proposals are compatible with the site conservation objectives.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The principle of sustainable use is promoted by the European Commission for Natura 2000 sites and economic development is not automatically precluded as a result of such designations. However, development must be compatible with the requirements of the EC Hab…

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the closing date is for the consultation on proposed special protection areas for golden eagles and when it expects to make decisions on designation.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32801 on 23 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish population of golden eagles is and how many of them are to be found in (a) classified and (b) proposed special protection areas.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: SNH has advised that there are 442 pairs of breeding golden eagles in Scotland (based on the most recent national survey). Whilst breeding pairs generally remain in their established territories, sub-adults range extensively and there is no reliable estimate …

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much land affected by proposals for new special protection areas for golden eagles is classified as plantable for trees.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland estimates that approximately 100,000 ha of the proposed Special Protection Areas has potential for woodland expansion (either by planting or natural generation).

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much land affected by proposals for new special protection areas for golden eagles is peatland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage estimates that there are 46,656 ha of peatland within the proposed Special Protection Areas.

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information (a) may and (b) may not be taken into account when designating special protection areas and special areas of conservation and in setting their boundaries.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Information on the development and application of the UK SPA Selection Guidelines is available via the following web link <a href="http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1405">http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1405</a>. Information on the SAC selection process…

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what procedure government directorates and agencies and non-departmental public bodies respond to consultations by or on behalf of the Scottish Ministers; whether representations are made in public, in private or both, and, if in private, for what reasons they are not made in public.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: It is a matter for individual public bodies (which include executive agencies and NDPBs) to decide whether to respond to consultations by or on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. As part of government, Scottish Government Directorates do not participate in pub…

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the process is for those with an interest in land within proposed special protection areas to express views about the designation of that land and what issues raised in this way the Scottish Ministers are permitted to take into account in making their decision.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Interested parties were invited to respond to consultation on the proposals as conducted by Scottish Natural Heritage on behalf of Scottish Ministers and which closed on 7 April 2010. Whilst ministers will wish to be aware of all issues raised by con…

25 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) area of land is and (b) land use interests are affected by proposals for new special protection areas for golden eagles.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Information on the extent of each of the proposed Special Protection Areas (pSPA) is available on the Scottish Natural Heritage website via the following web address <a href="http://www.snh.org.uk/strategy/GE_consult05.asp">http://www.snh.org.uk/strategy/GE_c…

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources are available to assist local authorities to carry out work to prevent flooding of burns, rivers and streams.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since 2007 the Scottish Government has made record levels of funding available to local authorities for flood alleviation measures. This is included within the significant levels of funding the Scottish Government gives to local authorities - £35 billion over…

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prevent further flooding of the Kinness Burn in St Andrews.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is a matter for Fife Council which has powers under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 to mitigate the flooding of non-agricultural land in its area. We will be bringing Part 4 of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 into effect later this…

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding dredging and removing silt berms in the Kinness Burn in St Andrews.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has not discussed dredging and removing silt berms in the Kinness Burn in St Andrews with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Fife Council has applied to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for a licence under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 to dredge the Kinness Burn in St Andrews.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency have advised that Fife Council has not submitted an application for a licence under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 to dredge the Kinness Burn in St Andrews.

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the flooding of the Kinness Burn in St Andrews since 2005.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We have not had any discussions with SEPA that specifically concerned the flooding of the Kinness Burn.

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Fife Council regarding the flooding of the Kinness Burn in St Andrews since 2005.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has not formally discussed flooding from the Kinness Burn with the Council. However, the council did provide officials with a copy of the Final Report of the Kinness Burn Flood Study, dated March 2006.

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will intervene if there are proposals to destroy microfilm and microfiche data held by the General Register Office for Scotland once they have been transferred to digital format.

Answer · Jim Mather: There are no such proposals.

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that microfilm and microfiche facilities are to be withdrawn from the General Register Office for Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: I understand that, while the digital images of census and other records give much faster and more convenient access to the records, the paper documents and the microfilm and microfiche will remain available when necessary “ for instance where the digital imag…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the General Register Office for Scotland regarding the transfer of data from microfilm and microfiche to digital format.

Answer · Jim Mather: None: the transfer was completed in 2004.

29 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in a position to guarantee funding for the Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation for the next few years.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Get Ready for Work contracts have been let for this year. The next contracting year process begins towards the end of the year. Information will be available on the Skills Development Scotland website. The Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation can submi…

29 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation is not yet an accredited delivery organisation in Scotland, which would enable young people in the voluntary sector to access the qualifications it offers.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation is responsible for achieving any accreditation and I understand that they are in discussion with Skills Development Scotland about becoming a branded learning centre. This will allow them to gain ILA Scotland ap…

29 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what procedures young people in the voluntary sector can access education funding.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Access to further and higher education funding for young people working in the voluntary sector is no different to that for all other Scottish-domiciled young people. Information relating to meeting the costs of learning and training can be found at: <p …

29 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the trial of broadband-enabling technology will be expanded to include Fife.

Answer · Jim Mather: BT has trialled its new broadband-enabling technology (BET) in sites in Dingwall and Inverness.

16 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with NHS Fife regarding GP practices.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0924-01.htm">http://www.scott…

3 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on advertising in newspapers in each month since June 2007, broken down by (a) campaign and (b) newspaper.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is given in the table, Scottish Government Marketing Unit Press Advertising Spend since June 2007, copies of which are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47933).

5 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of the Early Years Framework, what it is doing to address parenting skills.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0205-01.htm">http://www.scot…

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent on advertising public and statutory notices in local newspapers in each year since 1999.

Answer · John Swinney: There is no regular publication or survey of advertising costs of each council carried out by the Scottish Government. A partial voluntary survey was carried out in 2006 in order to provide an approximate Scotland-level estimate of advertising costs. Data at …

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent on recruitment advertising in local newspapers in each year since 1999.

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent on advertising public and statutory notices in national newspapers in each year since 1999.

Answer · John Swinney: There is no regular publication or survey of advertising costs of each Council carried out by the Scottish Government. A partial voluntary survey was carried out in 2006 in order to provide an approximate Scotland-level estimate of advertising costs. Data at …

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent on recruitment advertising in national newspapers in each year since 1999.

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on advertising public and statutory notices in local newspapers in each year since 1999.

Answer · John Swinney: The following table sets out the spend on recruitment and public notice advertising in local and national newspapers in each year since 2000. No figures are available for 1999. Spend for both Public Notice and recruitment advertising in loca…