Parliamentary questions
John Farquhar Munro
549 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Sep 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the site-specific risk assessment, the appropriate assessment and all information that pertains to its recent decision to grant consent to the release of genetically-modified oilseed rape at Roskill Farm, Munlochy, Ross-shire.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive routinely places information relevant to applications for GM releases on the public register. Site-specific risk assessments for the crop being grown this winter at Munlochy are on the register and individual assessments of various aspe…
3 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to British Regional Air Lines about a possible reduction in air services between Inverness and Gatwick.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive meets airlines on a regular basis to discuss a range of aviation matters. The issue of air services between Inverness and Gatwick is amongst those we have discussed with British Airways who recently acquired the British Regional Airline…
3 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it expects to play in improving and maintaining affordable air links from the Highlands and Islands to major urban centres.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive funds the air services between Glasgow and Barra, Glasgow and Campbeltown and Glasgow and Tiree. In addition, our subsidy to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, which was some £15.1 million in 2000-01 or £55.77 per arriving passenge…
22 Aug 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8632 by Sarah Boyack on 14 August 2000, what legislation permits financial details of the Skye Bridge contract to be subject to commercial confidentiality.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The contract documentation relating to the Skye Bridge project includes, as part of the main Concession Agreement between the Scottish ministers and Skye Bridge Limited, a confidentiality clause which requires both parties to the agreement to hold in confiden…
6 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16446 by Rhona Brankin on 4 July 2001, what the outcome was of its contact with Her Majesty's Government on the environmental implications of the disposal of material from nuclear-powered submarines.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues, including the environmental implications of the disposal of material from nuclear-powered submarines and, as the Memorandum of Understanding between the…
6 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government concerning action that can be taken UK-wide to prevent the spread of the freshwater salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We have been working closely with DEFRA to develop measures to prevent this parasite entering the UK or Scotland, and on action which could be taken if it did. We aim to ensure consistency of approach, where appropriate, and prevent infection being transmitte…
6 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to prevent the spread of the freshwater salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris into rivers and what guidelines it has issued to river fishery boards on this matter.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scotland, and the UK, is free of <I>Gyrodactylus Salaris</I> (GS), and always has been, as a result of our strict health requirements, the work of the Fish Health Inspectorate and the natural barrier formed by the sea.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">We have agreed safegua…
26 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all working groups currently in operation concerned with the aquaculture industry.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Collaborative working is a key principle of our aquaculture policy. Fish farmers, wild fishery interests, the Executive and other stakeholders come together in three groups to improve dialogue and trust, to confront issues and to find solutions: <DIR><DIR><P>…
26 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the implementation of the land management contracts set out in A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a major new initiative which will require to be carefully developed in partnership with all interested parties and in conjunction with the European Commission. As the Strategy document states, our aim is to develop Land Management Contracts over the n…
26 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy on the development of renewable energy generation in the Highlands is compatible with the use of this area for training with low-flying military aircraft.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The increasing deployment of renewable energy systems, notably wind turbines, does have implications for low-flying aircraft, and, as has always been the case, every proposal for a wind farm is considered by the Ministry of Defence, as a statutory planning co…
26 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the telecommunication mast planning rules announced on 25 June 2001, whether permitted development rights for mobile telephone masts on buildings will apply to dwellings, schools, places of work and community facilities.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In general, the new planning legislation on telecommunications development makes no distinction between particular types of building with regard to permitted development rights for apparatus on buildings.<P>There are designated areas, such as conservation are…
26 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planning guidelines for mobile telephone masts announced on 25 June 2001 take account of health concerns about electromagnetic radiation.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG), which will accompany the new planning legislation, will set out the precautionary approach developed by the UK Government and the Executive regarding health concerns associated with radiofrequency radiation (a fo…
21 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance that the creation of a single water authority will not lead to the privatisation of the water industry.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Yes.
21 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase resources to rural local authorities in order to meet additional expenditure they may incur as a result of implementing the discipline policy recommended in the recent report of the Discipline Task Force.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Some of the task group recommendations can be implemented within existing education budgets or through better targeting of the Excellence Fund, which is currently under review. The allocation of any additional resources provided will take into account local n…
21 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the "out of class" facilities recommended for use by children with behavioural difficulties in the recent report by the Discipline Task Force are intended to operate in rural areas.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Discipline Task Group recommendation on flexible support provision applies across the country. It will be for individual local authorities to determine the provision they require to make to meet the needs of the children and young people in their areas.
21 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to any difficulties created by indiscipline in rural schools.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Discipline Task Group, which recently published its report <I>Better Behaviour - Better Learning</I>, considered a wide range of difficulties created by indiscipline in schools in both urban and rural areas. Members of the task group did have experience o…
20 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with Her Majesty's Government regarding the environmental implications of the disposal of material from nuclear-powered submarines.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is in contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues including the environmental implications of the disposal of material from nuclear-powered submarines.
20 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the monitoring by the Performance Audit Group of BEAR (Scotland) Ltd's trunk road maintenance contract has found any shortcomings in their winter road maintenance performance on the Highland trunk road network during the last six weeks.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The monitoring carried out to date has not found evidence that BEAR Scotland Ltd has failed to meet its contractual obligations with regard to winter maintenance in the Highlands.
19 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is an offence for an enumerator to divulge any information provided on a census form to a third party; if so, what the penalties are and what official complaints procedure exists for members of the public who wish to complain about enumerators or about the census form itself.
Answer · Jim Wallace: It is an offence under section 8 of the Census Act 1920 as amended by the Census (Confidentiality) Act 1991 for an enumerator or any other person, without lawful authority, to disclose any personal census information to another person. A person found guilty s…
19 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many forms for the 2001 Census were printed in Gaelic; who was eligible to receive such forms, and whether it was an offence for someone able to write in English to complete a Gaelic census form.
Answer · Jim Wallace: As agreed by the Parliament, the 2001 Scottish Census forms were not available in Gaelic. However, the Registrar General for Scotland printed 10,000 Gaelic translations of the questions included on the census form to assist Gaelic speakers in completing the c…
19 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets were set for the number of grants to be paid under the Powershift programme for the conversion of vehicles to run on liquid petroleum gas in each year since the programme started.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: No targets are set for Powershift grants.
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to boost manufacturing in rural Scotland.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Executive is fully committed to manufacturing in Scotland. <I>Created in Scotland, the</I> <I>Way Forward for Scottish Manufacturing in the 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century</I> lists nearly 50 public sector initiatives and programmes supporting the sector…
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will offer Highland Council to assist implementation of the Inverness local plan.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Highland Council has sought comments from the Scottish Executive on the consultative draft Inverness Local Plan. Comments on the draft local plan do not commit the Scottish minister, or any Government department, to payment of grant on any particular project …
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Scottish Natural Heritage's policy on renewable energy (Policy Statement No. 01/02) has on determining planning consent for renewable energy schemes under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Natural Heritage's Policy Statement does not constitute guidance to planning authorities but is primarily intended to guide its staff in their role as consultees. Scottish Executive planning policy on this issue is to be found in National Planning Po…
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage's policy on renewable energy (Policy Statement No. 01/02) is consistent with Executive policy as stated in National Planning Policy Guideline 6.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The text of Policy Statement No.01/02 is not incompatible with that of National Planning Policy Guideline 6.
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage before the production and publication of its document Guidelines on the Environmental Impacts of Windfarms and Small Scale Hydroelectric Schemes, in particular how many organisations were consulted, which organisations these we…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16353.
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage before the production and publication of its policy on renewable energy (Policy Statement No. 01/02), in particular how many organisations were consulted, which organisations these were, how many responses were received and whe…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. The information requested is not held centrally.
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity would be generated annually if every proposed small-scale hydroelectric scheme which holds a Scottish Renewables Obligation (SRO) contract became operational at the level of output planned at the time the SRO contract was awarded.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The small hydro schemes contracted under the SRO had a total capacity of 30.5 MW, and a potential output of about 80 GWhrs annually. It was always recognised however that the commissioning of these projects would depend on the developers being successful in o…
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity it expects will be generated by small-scale hydroelectric schemes and what proportion of Scotland's electricity generation capacity this will represent by (a) 2003 and (b) 2010.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: We have commissioned a study of Scotland's renewable resource, which is expected to be published in late summer. This should provide an indication of what further potential there is for small-scale hydro to contribute to our renewable targets. I consider that…
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many proposed small-scale hydroelectric schemes which were awarded Scottish Renewables Obligation contracts are (a) currently operational, (b) expected to become operational by 2003 and (c) expected to become operational by 2010.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Eight Scottish Renewables Obligation hydro-electricity projects have been commissioned; two are under construction and a further two, although they have received the necessary consents, have still to get under way. Progress on these and the other projects app…