Mark Ruskell

5 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what natural flood management measures are being progressed with funding allocated as part of its 10-year flood funding strategy with COSLA.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The 14 Flood Risk Management Strategies and Local Plans include 104 actions with a natural flood management element; most of these actions are flood studies. Nearly all of the flood studies will be funded through this budget. Where local authorities subsequen…

5 Apr 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any natural flood management studies (a) completed and (b) that are ongoing under the Flood Risk Management Strategies.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: To support delivery of the natural flood management actions outlined in the flood risk management strategies, local authorities and other responsible authorities have committed to undertaking 85 natural flood management studies. These studies will examine the…

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on draft European Commission regulations that would ban the use of neonicotinoids in agriculture.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is aware of draft European Regulations to further restrict the use of three neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) to permanent greenhouses or for the treatment of seeds to be used in permanent greenho…

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Scottish Natural Heritage has in proposals for ship-to-ship transfers.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Section 2 of The Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010, as amended, define Scottish Natural Heritage as the only consultation body providing nature conservation advice in Scottish waters on ship to ship transfers. Schedule 2 of those Reg…

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances (a) the Scottish Ministers and (b) another Scottish authority might be considered a competent authority for ship-to-ship transfers for the purposes of Regulation 48A of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: All matters relating to ship-to-ship transfers are reserved to the UK Government, and the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) do not apply to reserved matters. The Scottish Government has requested on a number of occasions for t…

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which public bodies provide nature conservation advice regarding proposals for ship-to-ship transfers in Scotland.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-08390 on 26 April 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…

23 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06774 by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 February 2017, what further communication it has had with the UK Department for Transport regarding the review of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Secretary of State for Transport has apologised for not consulting the Scottish Ministers on a recent minor review of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010, as amended. The Secretary of State for Transport has also advised that a…

15 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how NHS Fife is performing with regard to the waiting time targets for neurology.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Fife performance for a first outpatient appointment in neurology was 69.6% of patients seen within the 12 week standard on 31 December 2016. Of the 21 NHS residents who were treated as inpatient or day cases within the specialty of Neurology during the qu…

15 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the research that it used to underpin its consultation on unconventional oil and gas extraction, Talking Fracking, explored the impacts of fracking on wildlife and biodiversity.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government continues to take a cautious, evidence-led approach to unconventional oil and gas. An Independent Expert Scientific Panel, convened by the Scottish Government to examine the scientific evidence relating to unconventional oil and gas, p…

8 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in establishing the independent rural stakeholders group to advise on rural support beyond 2020, which was agreed by the Parliament in the debate on motion S5M-03463 on 19 January 2017.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is currently working up proposals for an external group to provide advice on future agricultural support, including how this new group should fit with the work being taken forward by the four Agriculture Champions - Education and Train…

8 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 7 February 2017, Future of Farming, whether it will confirm the (a) the terms of reference, (b) membership and (c) timescale of the agricultural review group to be chaired by Professor Griggs.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The updated terms of reference, including membership and timescale, for the group chaired by Professor Griggs were published on the Scottish Government website in May 2017. The membership of the group is as follows: Russel Griggs (Chair) Allan Bowie Caroli…

6 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to develop a vision for the uplands.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A report and advice prepared by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on ‘Scoping a Strategic Vision for the Uplands’ was submitted to the Scottish Government in early February. This work was commissioned to deliver Proposal 5 in the Land Use Strategy 2016-2021, wh…

6 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had since November 2016 with (a) Police Scotland, (b) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, (c) the Scottish SPCA and (d) other stakeholders to discuss the potential granting of additional powers to the Scottish SPCA to assist in reducing and detecting …

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Government officials met Police Scotland on 20 February 2017 to discuss wildlife crime and related matters, including the potential granting of additional powers to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA). Since Novembe…

3 Mar 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether guidance is provided to local authorities regarding the setting of fees for licensing (a) pet shops and (b) dog breeding facilities.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Pet Animals Act 1951 and The Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 provide the fees regime for the licensing of pet shops and dog breeding facilities respectively. Each of these Acts provide that it is for the relevant local authority to determine the fees that it ch…

1 Mar 2017 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will work with Sodexo to improve the Food for Life catering mark in the Garden Level Restaurant from Bronze to Silver.

28 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions, identified by the Scotland's Rural College’s marginal abatement cost curve as cost-effective, appear as policies in its draft Climate Change Plan.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) was a key guide when drafting the Agriculture chapter of the draft Climate Change Plan. Actions such as improving synthetic Nitrogen use, improving organic Nitrogen planning, the adoption of precision farming, the use …

24 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the appeal decision will be made in relation to the executive housing and sports development on land at Park of Keir, Dunblane.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: This is a complex planning application and Ministers are currently giving full and proper consideration to it. Every effort is being made to issue the decision as soon as possible.

20 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the research that it used to underpin its consultation on unconventional oil and gas extraction, Talking Fracking, explored the environmental impacts of fracking.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government continues to take a cautious, evidence-led approach to unconventional oil and gas. In September 2013, the Scottish Government convened an Independent Expert Scientific Panel to report on the scientific evidence relating to unconvention…

17 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00171 by Derek Mackay on 3 June 2016, and in light of the publication of the City of Edinburgh Council’s report, what project-specific detail will be considered in relation to Balfron High School as part of its review of NPD and PFI/PPP projects.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The safety of people in public buildings is an absolute priority and the Scottish Government is concerned by some of the findings highlighted in this report. Following publication of the Cole Report, on 9 February 2017 the Minister for Local Government and H…

14 Feb 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the licensing of seal killing is compliant with the fishery product import regime of the United States.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are currently involved in detailed discussions with the UK Government, and the EU, about an appropriate response to the US Government’s initial request for information, including the need for clarification on a number of issues around domestic legislation …

13 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on Scotland of the UK Government reportedly planning to leave the Euratom Programme as part of the Brexit arrangements.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining protection of the environment and human health to robust international standards where we have devolved responsibility, including for radioactive substances, where some standards are currently set in Directi…

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect the natterjack toad population (a) east of the River Nith and (b) at Caerlaverock National Nature in light of the species' "favourable declining" status.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is taking the following action to protect natterjack toad populations in light of the species’ “favourable declining” status as set out below. East of the River Nith There are seven management agreements with landowners in pl…

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when a new assessment will be made of the natterjack toad feature of the Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest, in light of the last report being carried out in 2009.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The natterjack toad population of the Upper Solway Flats and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is subject to a continuing monitoring programme carried out by the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) on behalf of Scottish Natural Her…

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the population decline in the natterjack toad that was recently recorded in The Amphibians and Reptiles of Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has provided financial support to the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust (ARC) to produce “A guide to Agri-Environment-Climate Scheme options for natterjack toad’ to assist land managers carrying out work to benefit natte…

8 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the spread of sitka spruce seedlings and other plantation forest regeneration on or adjacent to (a) sites of special scientific interest and (b) EU natura sites for open ground habitats or features, and what information it has regarding how many design…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government through the use of Management Agreements supports actions to manage protected areas, including the removal of plantation forest regeneration. In addition, grant funding, under the Scottish Rural Development Programme, is available for …

7 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Scottish Natural Heritage, (b) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (c) Cromarty Firth Port Authority and (d) the UK Government regarding the application of Regulation 48A of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended)…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06053 on 26 January 2017. 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/parliamentarybusiness…

2 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with each (a) policy and (b) proposal in its Draft Climate Change Plan.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The draft Climate Change Plan sets out policies and proposals to meet our ambitious emission reduction targets out to 2032. Policies are hard and fast action – things we are doing now, or will do soon. Where budget is needed now it has been allocated in the …

2 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) abatement for each (a) policy and (b) proposal in its Draft Climate Change Plan.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Previous reports on proposals and policies (RPP1 and RPP2) were produced using a bottom-up approach that identified abatement for individual policies and proposals from sector specific emissions projections. This approach was unable to consider cross sectoral…

1 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what top five subjects have been raised by members of the public with (a) the First Minister and (b) each (i) cabinet secretary, (ii) minister and (iii) law officer by volume of written or electronic correspondence since May 2016.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Correspondence received by the Scottish Government addressed to Ministers are added to and processed via the Ministerial and Corporate Correspondence System (MACCS). MACCS records the type of response required, i.e Ministerial Reply, Diary Request or Official…

1 Feb 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the Secretary of State for Transport regarding a review of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Oil Transfers) Regulations 2010, as required by Regulation 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has only recently been made aware of a review and quite astonishingly has not been invited to make any representations regarding a review of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010, as amended. It is understood …