Parliamentary questions
Mark Ruskell
1,773 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the contribution of Scottish biodiversity to human health.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Our natural environment plays a central role in addressing the new public health priorities, and particular those around place, early years, physical activity, diet and mental health. Contact with nature is now embedded in a range of Scottish Government poli…
23 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Good Food Nation legislation will protect the vital ecosystems that underpin the food and drink sector.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Our Consultation on Good Food Nation Proposals for Legislation concluded on 18 April and we will give further consideration to next steps once the analysis of responses is complete. The Scottish Government’s Good Food Nation ambitions include that Scottish p…
16 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has commissioned any research on the impact of wildfires in relation to meeting carbon emissions reduction targets and, if so, what the findings are.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Emissions associated with wildfires are captured as part of the greenhouse gas emissions inventory, reported annually in the Scottish Greenhouse Gas statistics publication and are therefore included in the emissions used to evaluate Scotland’s performance aga…
16 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning to make it easier for public authorities to identify and prosecute those who cause damage to private property and public interests by the reckless setting of muirburn.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Landowners and managers actions when carrying out muirburn is covered by the Muirburn Code which also sets out the criminal offences associated with irresponsible muirburn. Decisions on whether any muirburn was reckless and requires prosecution would be a ma…
16 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of large-scale wildfires in recent years, whether it is planning (a) any further regulation of muirburn and (b) on making full compliance with the Muirburn Code a statutory requirement.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Muirburn Code, which was recently reviewed and updated, provides best practice guidance for the burning and cutting of vegetation. The Code also sets out existing statutory requirements and offences relating to muirburn. It has been estimated that over 50…
13 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the requirement in General Licences 01/2019, 02/2019 and 03/2019 for birds for the authorised person using the licence to be satisfied that there is no satisfactory solution other than controlling wild birds is compliant with section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-23115 and S5W-23116 on 22 May 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamen…
13 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the use of General Licences 01, 02 and 03 for birds, including the number of birds taken or killed and compliance with the requirement that there is no other satisfactory solution.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As this is a delegated matter, this responsibility lies with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). SNH requires users of these general licences to report on the numbers of birds killed or taken for those species which may have suffered notable declines in number o…
13 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of the recent decision by Natural England to revoke three General Licences for controlling certain wild birds, what evidence it has that Scottish Natural Heritage is compliant with the requirement under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 that no licence sho…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As the issuing of licences is delegated to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the responsibility falls to them, as the appropriate authority, to ensure compliance with this requirement. SNH has previously gathered information, including from public consu…
13 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many operators making use of General Licences 01, 02 and 03 for birds in 2018 notified Scottish Natural Heritage of their intention to use meat-based baits in Larsen mate or Larsen pod traps and were permitted to do so by acknowledgement of the information.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There were 21 operators making use of General Licences 01, 02 and 03 for birds in 2018 who notified Scottish Natural Heritage of their intention to use meat-based baits in Larsen mate or Larsen pod traps, and all 21 were permitted to use meat bait.
13 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents of non-target capture were reported to Scottish Natural Heritage in 2018 by operators using meat bait in Larsen mate and Larsen pod traps under the terms of General Licences 01, 02 and 03.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A total of 5 incidents of non-target capture were reported to Scottish Natural Heritage in 2018 by operators using meat bait in Larsen mate and Larsen pod traps under the terms of General Licences 01, 02 and 03.
10 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S2W-04106 by Mary Mulligan on 26 November 2003 regarding making policy statements about Ramsar sites, whether its position has changed and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government published guidance in January 2019 on the implementation of Scottish Government policy on protecting Ramsar sites. This guidance restated and explained existing policy contained within Scottish Planning Policy 2014.
10 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its policy was regarding the protection of Ramsar sites prior to the publication of Scottish Planning Policy in 2010.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Ramsar sites have been protected through co-designation with other regimes since they were first designated in Scotland.
10 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S2W-11985 by Lewis Macdonald on 19 November 2004 regarding Ramsar sites that were not sites of special scientific interest, whether its position has changed and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The vast majority of Ramsar designated land in Scotland is also designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and all land within Ramsar sites is designated as a SSSI and/or as a Natura 2000 site (a Special Protection Area and/or a Special Area …
10 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) public consultation and (b) environmental assessment it carried out regarding the Ramsar policy that was set out at paragraph (i) 136 of the 2010 and (ii) 211 of the 2014 Scottish Planning Policy.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) has been developed through a full public consultation process and subject to all statutory and other assessment requirements as appropriate. In particular, SPP 2014 and any significant policy changes in SPP 2010 were subject to …
10 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S2W-11986 by Lewis Macdonald on 19 November 2004 regarding the impact of renewable energy developments on nature conservation, whether its position has changed and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The answer referred to does not relate to renewable energy developments. Current policy on renewable energy developments and nature conservation is available on the websites of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish N…
10 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its policy regarding the protection of Ramsar sites has diverged with that of the rest of the UK, and what action it has taken to ensure that the Ramsar Convention secretariat has been made aware of the divergence.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is committed to meeting its obligations under the Ramsar Convention and to providing a high level of protection for Ramsar sites in Scotland, through co-designation with Natura 2000 sites and/or Sites of Special Scientific Interest and…
8 May 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that communities are protected from the effects of aircraft noise.
1 May 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the levels of the pollutant, bisphenol A, are at potential point sources such as landfill, sewage and paper sludge and in the wider environment.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Further to my answer to S5W-20266 14 December 2018, SEPA have analysed BPA in surface waters since 2007 at over 20 sites. These are prioritised based on populace and inputs from sewage treatment works or denser concentrations of septic tanks. Annual mean conc…
29 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will launch the consultation for the Circular Economy Bill.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are committed to developing Scotland’s circular economy, as set out in our strategy document Making Things Last . Taking a more circular approach to the use and reuse of materials and circular business models can help protect the environment, and deliver…
29 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what options have been explored to close the 2021 landfill capacity gap through waste prevention.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are examining options to address the landfill capacity shortfall which has been identified in the recently published waste markets study. Waste prevention is high on the Scottish Government's priorities and this is why we have introduced an ambitious food…
17 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will report on the review of the Climate Challenge Fund.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The results of the Climate Challenge Fund review are currently being analysed. We will provide further information in due course.
17 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what involvement it has in the establishment of regulatory standards and processes in relation to the rollout of 5G technology.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Legislative and regulatory powers regarding telecommunications are currently reserved to the UK Government under the policy reservation provisions of the Scotland Act (1998). As such, the Scottish Government has no direct locus in the establishment of regula…
16 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the civil contingency preparedness review of nuclear warhead transportation by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and HM Fire Service Inspectorate will be published.
Answer · Ash Denham: I have been advised by Scottish Government Officials supporting the review that the information gathering phase of review is complete and the compilation of the review report is in the final stages, however with many organisations still actively involved in f…
16 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will deliver the Bonn Challenge target of 3,000 to 5,000 hectares of new native woodland planted during 2019-20.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are making good progress. The official statistics on woodland creation will be published in June 2019.
16 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22414 by Kevin Stewart on 16 April 2019, for what the reason concluding the review of SesPlan2 has been delayed.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: SESplan 2 is an important and complex case requiring detailed and very careful consideration prior to a decision being issued. As that consideration is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
4 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-22230 by Roseanna Cunningham on 28 March 2019, how many projects have been recommended for funding by the Climate Challenge Fund awards panel, but not awarded funding by the Scottish Ministers, in each year since 2014.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In all previous years, the Climate Challenge Fund administrator Keep Scotland Beautiful were given an indicative budget for the Climate Challenge Fund. The independent Grants Panel made recommendations within that indicative budget and in every year from 2014…
4 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which projects have been funded by the Climate Challenge Fund in its 2019-20 round of funding, and how much in total has been awarded.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The projects receiving funding in 2019/20 can be found here: https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/sustainability-climate-change/climate-challenge-fund/ccf-in-action/funded-projects-map/ . The total overall spend for 2019-20 is £8 million, from which a tot…
4 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek co-operator country status with the European Environment Agency, if the UK exits that body.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s Consultation on Environmental Principles and Governance in Scotland, which closes on 11 May 2019, highlights the important role currently played by the European Environment Agency and seeks views on the impact of the loss of engageme…
4 Apr 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding UK membership of the European Environment Agency.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Continued participation in the work of the European Environment Agency would offer benefits in terms of continued access to long-term data sets, monitoring information and expertise, with benefits for Scottish organisations including our research institutions…
28 Mar 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the examination of SesPlan2 will be completed.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The report of the examination of the proposed SESplan 2 Strategic Development Plan was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 20 July 2018 and was followed in September 2018 by an addendum to the report. SESplan 2 is an important and complex case requiring very …