Fergus Ewing

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the comment by the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity at the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 25 January 2022 that the Deposit Return Scheme “will significantly increase the quantity and quality of glass recyclate”, what the precise ev…

Answer · Lorna Slater: The Strategic Environmental Assessment Addendum, published on 14 December 2021, shows that our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will increase the quantity of glass recyclate by more than 1.3 megatonnes over 25 years. It is available here: Supporting documents - A…

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that waste captured by the Deposit Return Scheme could be processed outside Scotland, whether it has fully considered the additional carbon impact of transporting the 560 million glass containers that are estimated by Zero Waste Scotland to be in scope of the scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-07100 on 18 March 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committee…

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what efforts it has made to increase the proportion of glass that has been fully recycled and processed in Scotland, and what effect the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme will have on these efforts.

Answer · Lorna Slater: Our Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is complementary to extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging, which we are working with the other UK administrations to introduce. Both DRS and packaging EPR will drive higher recycling rates for glass, creating a s…

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity has met with the British Glass Federation in relation to the Deposit Return Scheme.

Answer · Lorna Slater: I have not had any meetings with British Glass regarding Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). We engaged frequently with British Glass during the policy-development process for DRS, and the former Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change, and …

1 Mar 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the expected impact in terms of costs to the wholesale sector of the Deposit Return Scheme, and how any such estimates were included in the Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland Final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), published in December 2021.

Answer · Lorna Slater: There are no costs or benefits associated with the wholesale sector in the economic model underpinning the final Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment. After intensive engagement with the wholesale sector we concluded that industry has options to minimis…

27 Oct 2021 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its plans for onshore wind in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We intend to launch the consultation of the draft Onshore Wind Policy Statement later today, in line with the commitments we set out in the Programme for Government. The consultative draft of the Policy Statement will be available to view on the Scottish Gov…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the decision taken by it on the request of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) that the mobility clause within the contracts of some SNH staff will not be implemented, this decision will be replicated for any other relocations of public sector departments or functions whe…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The improvements proposed for the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line are part of a managed programme of change, providing a more efficient and greener rail network in Central Scotland, delivering faster journey times, increased capacity and more services. It is t…

19 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the decision taken by it on the request of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) that the mobility clause within the contracts of some SNH staff will not be implemented, this decision will be replicated for any other relocations of public sector departments or functions whe…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm">http://www.scott…

9 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether a judicial inquiry should be held into the conduct of the parliamentary and local government elections on 3 May 2007.

9 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what way it was consulted by the Scotland Office about the layout of the ballot papers for the parliamentary election on 3 May 2007; whether it received the report on this issue prepared for the Electoral Commission at the request of the Scotland Office, as referred to in The Scotsman …

9 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what way it was consulted by the Scotland Office about the layout of the ballot papers for the parliamentary election on 3 May 2007; whether it received the report on this issue prepared for the Electoral Commission at the request of the Scotland Office, as referred to in The Scotsman …

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in providing a single system of transcription of reading materials for blind or partially sighted people and whether it has been in contact with the RNIB on this issue and, if so, what response it has received.

Answer · Robert Brown: The Centre for Communication Aidsfor Language and Learning, University of Edinburgh, was commissioned to conducta scoping exercise on accessible curriculum materials for all young people withadditional support needs, and to consider the need for a national tr…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it determined the amount of funding for wheelchairs and wheelchair users announced on 16 March 2007 and whether it considers that £1 million is sufficient.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The further 1 million interim fundingannounced on 16 March 2007 is to allow the service in the short term to build onthe improvements already made in reducing waiting times as a result of the additional1.9 million interim funding in 2005-06. It is expected th…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of how the Hospital at Home scheme operates, how it is funded, what personnel are required and where it has been piloted.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is for NHS boards to provide high quality, safe and sustainablehealthcare services that meet the needs of its local population. Hospital at Homeschemes are community based services designed to provide a care package around anindividuals needs which support…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional provision it is making for the care of elderly people in the Highland Council or NHS Highland areas, in light of predictions about the increasing proportion of the population aged over 75.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In addition tothe money provided through the core settlement for care of the elderly, the ScottishExecutive is making additional provision through the local authority revenue settlementof 16.3 million in 2006-07 and 42 million in 2007-08 for the increased num…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all responses and evidence it received in respect of its consultation on tail docking.

Answer · Ross Finnie: All responses to the consultation papers issued by the ScottishExecutive on proposals to revise animal welfare legislation in March 2004, on thedraft Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Bill issued in May 2005 and the draftProhibited Procedures (Exemptions) …

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliamentary Information Centre all information that it received in relation to tail docking, including copies of any advice notes, aides memoire or notes of meetings held following a meeting in February or March 2007 with representatives of the Scot…

Answer · Ross Finnie: All responses to the consultation papers issued by the ScottishExecutive which dealt with tail docking have been placed in the Scottish Executivelibrary except where respondents specifically asked for their responses to be treatedconfidentially. There are no …

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate or best prediction is of the amount of end-year flexibility for 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive does notforecast levels of EYF but provisional outturn data for 2006-07 on which EYF willbe based is expected to be announced in June 2007. Figures for 2007-08 can similarlybe expected in June 2008.</p>

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give, in respect of each of the components of the cost of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, the original cost estimate on which it relied and the current estimate.

Answer · Tavish Scott: A breakdown of costs hasalready been provided by the project promoter and is contained within thePromoters Memorandum for the EARL Private Bill under the Estimate of Expensesand Funding Statement, submitted to the Scottish Parliament  on 16 March 2006. Theest…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to secure provision for care for elderly people in South Lochaber while the application for the closure of Glencoe Hospital by NHS Highland is pending, while the Parliament is dissolved and until a new Executive in established.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: NHS Highland has assured Scottish ministers that elderly peoplein south Lochaber will continue to have access to a comprehensive range of healthcare services pending a ministerial decision on the boards proposals for the futureof Glencoe hospital.</p>

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to build additional housing on Rum in each of the next five years; what provision will be made for affordable housing on Rum, and whether, in the work being considered in relation to Kinloch Castle, the Executive considers that holiday homes or timeshare properties sh…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage are currentlyexploring a number of options with the Rum Community Association for the provisionof housing and hostel accommodation on Rum to meet its aspirations for communitydevelopment and tourism, including various options for dev…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much and what type of housing has been built on Rum in each of the last 20 years, also giving the permanent population of Rum in each of these years.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. The informationrequested is not held centrally.</p>

16 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many scallop fishing vessels were boarded by Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency officers in each of the last five years, broken down into those with (a) 10 dredges and over and (b) less than 10 dredges.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The number of scallop fishing vesselsboarded at sea by officers from the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in eachof the last five years, broken down by vessels using a total of 10 dredges or more,and those using less than 10 dredges in total is given in t…

16 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many over-15-metre vessels were boarded by Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency officers in each of the last five years, also showing the nationality of each vessel.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The number and nationality of over15 metre vessels boarded at sea by officers of the Scottish Fisheries ProtectionAgency in each of the last five years is given in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valig…

16 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of time is spent by each Scottish fishery patrol vessel per annum in ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) area VIa.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The total amount of time spent byeach Fishery Protection Vessel (FPV) of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agencyin ICES area Via: is as follows:</p><p>FPV <i>Jura</i>: 23.5 days.</p><p>FPV <i>Vigilant</i>: 56.5 days.</p><p>FPV <i>Minna</i>: 217.5 days.</p><p…

16 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much time per annum is spent by each Scottish fishery patrol vessel in patrolling fishing grounds, also broken down into the time spent in each ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) square.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Fishery Protection Vessels (FPVs)operated by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency spent a total of 1,117 dayspatrolling the fishing grounds in 2006.</p><p>A record of the time spent by individualFPVs in each International Council for the Exploration of th…

15 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland has published all relevant information that it possesses in respect of factors about which it has been made aware that make it likely that costs of strategic transport projects will rise above the stated estimates and, if not, whether it will publish such inform…

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-32425 on 23 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at  <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

15 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any information that would indicate that costs of strategic transport projects are considered likely to rise above the stated estimates has not been placed in the public domain and, if so, whether any such information will be published prior to May 2007.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-32425 on 23 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

15 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of any planned strategic transport projects are set to rise, or considered likely to rise, over the stated estimates and, if so, whether it will provide full details of any such rises.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The estimated costs of eachof the planned strategic transport projects are provided in the reply to the answer to question S2W-29718 on 23 March 2007, which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="…

15 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of each of the projects contained in Scotland’s transport future, what the current estimate is of the total cost of each project and how much expenditure will be incurred in each year from 2006-07 to 2012-13.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-29718 on 23 March 2007, which provides our current best estimates for eachproject contained in Scotland’s transport future. All answers to written parliamentaryare available on the Parliament’s website, the sear…