Parliamentary questions
Malcolm Chisholm
362 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its target for transport emissions is for 2020 and how this compares with emissions in 1990.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets long-term targets to reduce emissions in Scotland by 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 from a 1990 base year figure of 72 MtCO2e and annual targets are set for the period 2010-2027. The latest available Scottish emissions…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees are normally on duty at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works from (a) 8 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday, (b) 8 pm to 8 am Monday to Friday, (c) 8 pm on Friday to 8 am on Saturday, (d) 8 am to 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday and (e) 8 pm on Sunday to 8 am on Monday, and how m…
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06226 on 27 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether options necessitating further investment have been considered in the event of failure of the odour improvement plan at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Code of Practice requires Scottish Water to adopt the Best Practicable Means for controlling malodour from Waste Water Treatment Works. As part of the evaluation of the monitoring of the recently completed odour improvement plan, Edinburgh City Council wi…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is liable for further improvements if the odour improvement plan at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works fails.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06226 on 27 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that odour discharge from the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works represents a failure of the odour improvement plan even when the odour is not a result of a failure of the system put in place as a result of the plan.
Answer · Alex Neil: This is a matter for Edinburgh City Council. I understand that as the investigation into the recent odour incident is still ongoing, the council intends to have discussions with Scottish Water and SEPA regarding the findings of that investigation.
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the odour improvement plan for the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works was designed as a holistic plan to significantly reduce odour emissions.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06234 on 27 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the recently reported problem causing odour to be emitted from the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works was not anticipated during the design of the odour improvement plan.
Answer · Alex Neil: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water as it designed and implemented the Odour Improvement Plan. I understand that the member met with Scottish Water on 23 March 2012 to discuss this issue.
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the long-term efficacy of the odour improvement plan at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works will be evaluated.
Answer · Alex Neil: It is for Scottish Water to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the Odour Improvement Plan. Edinburgh City Council will continue to carry out monitoring for Code of Practice compliance at Seafield and investigate odour complaints as required by the Water Servi…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the odour improvement plan at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Sewerage Nuisance (Code of Practice) (Scotland) Order 2006 (COP) provides guidance on the methods of determining the effectiveness of an Odour Improvement Plan, providing a number of criteria to be taken into consideration. The findings of the Edinburgh C…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when monitoring of the odour improvement plan at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works will end.
Answer · Alex Neil: This is a matter for Edinburgh City Council. I understand that the council's agreed monitoring and assessment programme, set up to assess the effectiveness of the Scottish Water Seafield Odour Improvement Plan (OIP), is scheduled to operate for a 12 month per…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether recent reports of odour from the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Plant indicate a failure of its odour improvement plan.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06226 on 27 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the operation of an additional mobile centrifuge at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works will compromise the efficiency of the odour control units.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06226 on 27 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what risk assessments have been carried out in anticipation of increased flows of sludge through the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06226 on 27 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what operational difficulties arose at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works in late February and early March 2012.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06226 on 27 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
15 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the dates from January 2011 to March 2012 of each incident at the Seafield Wastewater Treatment Works in which odour was emitted from the plant.
Answer · Alex Neil: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I understand that the member met with Scottish Water on Friday 23 March 2012 to discuss this issue.
14 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regarding PIP breast implants.
12 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to inform stakeholders in Scotland of the opportunity to respond to the public consultation on the UK plan for rare diseases.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The UK Department of Health, acting on behalf of all four UK administrations, issued the draft UK plan for rare diseases for consultation directly to a wide range of stakeholders on 29 February 2012. Contacts were provided by the Scottish Government so that a…
5 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05767 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 March 2012, how much money was given to community justice authorities for work with (a) all and (b) women offenders in 2011-12.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Community Justice Authorities (CJAs) received £97.65 million from the Scottish Government in the financial year 2011-12. This funding allocation was made in respect of CJAs’ work with all offenders, regardless of gender. Women offenders are a core component o…
5 Mar 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will issue guidance on the new public entertainment licensing regime.
22 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the availability of supply teachers across the country.
20 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to give money to community justice authorities for work with women offenders.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Yes. Community Justice Authorities will receive £96.8 million from the Scottish Government in the forthcoming financial year (2012-13) for work with all offenders, regardless of gender. Women offenders are a core component of Community Justice Authorities’ an…
16 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted each year under the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007 broken down by (a) police force and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables. People Convicted in Scottish Courts Under the Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 20071, by Police Force Area, 2007-08 to 2010-11 Police Force 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Grampian …
8 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor progress by NHS boards in meeting the clinical standards for neurological health services after the implementation programme ends in March 2012.
30 Jan 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will reconsider the decision to abolish prison visiting committees.
25 Jan 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve services for children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
5 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the estimated change in road traffic levels between 2001 and 2021 will have on climate change emissions.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04839 on 2 February 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…
5 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of road traffic levels in 2021 compared with 2001.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04839 on 2 February 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…
5 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the consequences of its road building programme for road traffic levels by 2021.
Answer · Keith Brown: There is no direct relationship between road building and road traffic levels. Traffic levels will be influenced by how we manage the road network, the further development of public travel choices and potential improvements to vehicle technology. Based on inf…
5 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it abandoned the target set in 2006 to stabilise road traffic volumes at 2001 levels by 2021.
Answer · Keith Brown: As set out in the 2006 National Transport Strategy, the then Scottish Executive began to move away from the earlier aspiration to stabilise road traffic volumes at 2001 levels by 2021, favouring the development of more sophisticated outcomes and targets linke…
21 Dec 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it carried out before announcing the criteria for the latest round of international development funding.