Parliamentary questions

Mark Ruskell

1,773 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care’s letter of 22 January 2005 to me in respect of the Scottish Executive Health Department’s representation on the UK Government Stakeholder Advisory Group on Electric and Magnetic Fields (SAGE), what issues of particular concern…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The aim of the SAGE process is to allow stakeholders to consider implications for a precautionary approach to power frequency electric and magnetic fields and make practical recommendations for precautionary measures. While issues of current public concern fe…

12 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21559 by Rhona Brankin on 21 December 2005, how its consideration of applications for licences, the issuing of licences for killing mountain hares and pine martens and any other measures it has in place meet the requirements of the Habitats Directive.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: In its consideration of such licence applications, and the issuing of any such licences, the Executive takes account of the three tests outlined in Article 16 of the Directive. These tests are:That any licence issued is for a purpose outlined in…

12 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21559 by Rhona Brankin on 21 December 2005, what duties are placed on it by virtue of these species being listed on Annexes IV and V of the Habitats Directive.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Article 12 of the Habitats Directive requires that member states take the requisite measures to establish a system of strict protection for the animal species, in their natural range, that are listed in Annex IV (a) of the Directive. These measures must prohi…

12 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21559 by Rhona Brankin on 21 December 2005, whether it is aware of any killing of mountain hare, other than under the licences specified.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is known that the shooting of mountain hares takes place in Scotland. In terms of Article 15 of the Habitats Directive, it is only an offence to kill a mountain hare using an indiscriminate means of killing capable of causing the local disappearance of, or…

12 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21559 by Rhona Brankin on 21 December 2005, whether it will provide a breakdown of the numbers of each species listed that were killed under the licences issued.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: With reference to S2W-21599, the number of mountain hares killed under Scottish Executive licences since the year 2000 is 258. These licences were issued to prevent the spread of disease. The Executive has no knowledge of any other species having been …

11 Jan 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what jurisdiction police forces and procurators fiscal have to investigate and prosecute where civil criminal offences are suspected of having been perpetrated on or within Ministry of Defence property in Scotland.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Scottish police forces have jurisdictionto investigate, and the Procurator Fiscal has jurisdiction to prosecute, any criminaloffence committed within Scottish jurisdiction. This jurisdiction would includeMinistry of Defence property.The Ministry of Def…

4 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21559 by Rhona Brankin on 21 December 2005, to what time period and area of land each of the 30 licences issued under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 in relation to otters applied.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The licences have now been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) (Bib. number 38705), and each licence details the activities permitted under the licence, the purpose for the licence, as well as its time period. As amendment and extensi…

4 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21559 by Rhona Brankin on 21 December 2005, what activities apart from trapping for the purposes of relocation or killing each of the 30 licences issued under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 in relation to otters permitted.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The licences referred to above were issued for a variety of purposes and include disturbance of otters and the destruction and repair of holts. The licences have now been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) (Bib. number 38705),…

4 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21559 by Rhona Brankin on 21 December 2005, how many of the 30 licences issued under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 in relation to otters resulted in trapping for the purpose of relocation or killing.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: None of the 30 licences mentioned above resulted in trapping for the purpose of relocation or killing.

4 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21559 by Rhona Brankin on 21 December 2005, how many of the 30 licences issued under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 in relation to otters licensed trapping for the purpose of relocation or killing.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: One licence was issued in 2004 to trap and relocate an otter in order to prevent serious damage to domestic poultry. The licence was ultimately not exercised as the otter did not re-appear at the site for which the licence was granted.

4 Jan 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in ensuring that new school projects managed by public private partnerships encourage the use of biomass heating systems.

Answer · Robert Brown: While sustainable development, including energy use, is a key aspect of our School Estate Strategy, the type of heating in individual schools must remain a matter for local decision whatever the means of procurement.

23 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will submit a formal response to the UK Government’s Energy Review and, if not, how it will contribute to the review.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is already engaged in the UK Energy Review and I have confirmed to the Scottish Parliament that we will respond to it. I will also maintain regular contact with the UK energy minister Malcolm Wicks, and my officials will continue…

14 Dec 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on excluding tallow from the scope of the Waste Incineration Directive, in light of its support for the UK Government¿s representations to the European Commission on the matter.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand the European Commissionhas recently awarded a contract to examine whether there is scientific evidenceto support the exclusion of waste tallow from the Waste Incineration Directive onenvironmental and public health grounds. This study is expected…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences it has issued to kill sparrowhawks and buzzards in each month since the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Since 1 October 2004, no licences have been issued to kill sparrowhawks. The number of licences issued to kill buzzards, month by month, is given in the following table. All the licences listed below were issued for the purpose of the preservation of air safe…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications it has received for licences to kill sparrowhawks and buzzards in each month since the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 came into force.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Since 1 October 2004, the number of applications received to kill the above species, month by month, has been as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Month</td> <td> <p align=center…

8 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20176 by Rhona Brankin on 14 November 2005, to what species the 118 licenses issued under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 relate and in how many instances each species was trapped for relocation or killed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The 118 licences referred to in the response to S2W-20176 relate to the following species: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=636> <thead> <tr> <td> Species</td> <td> Number of Licences Issued</…

7 Dec 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of vehicles crossing the Forth Road Bridge are single occupancy and whether it has any plans to address this issue.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Over 70% of cars crossing the bridge at peak times have a single occupant. This devolved government is working closely with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and other stakeholders to address access and congestion issues associated with the bridge. We hav…

28 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions it has issued licences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the control of species listed under Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive in the last 10 years.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Records of licences issued prior to 2000 are not available centrally. From 2000 to date, the Scottish Executive has issued one licence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for species listed under Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive. In …

3 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18697 by Cathy Jamieson on 26 September 2005, what the additional cost to it was, over and above the core cost, of the Airwave communications system being fully operational for the G8 summit at Gleneagles and what aspects of the network's use were no…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have previously said that all reasonable additional costs incurred by Scottish police forces for policing G8 would be met. An announcement about these costs will be made later this year.

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to reform the provisions that exist for third-party interests to influence decisions on planning applications for agricultural buildings.

Answer · Johann Lamont: There are no plans at presentto reform the publicity and consultation procedures specifically in relation toplanning applications for agricultural buildings. However, our White Paper - Modernisingthe Planning System, published in June 2005, cont…

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions exist for third-party interests to influence decisions on planning applications for agricultural buildings.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The provisions covering publicity(neighbour notification and advertising) and consultation apply to planning applicationsgenerally. The publicity and consultation required in a particular case will dependon the circumstances of the case, e.g. whether the prop…

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when any changes to the Rural Challenge Fund will come into effect.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans at present to extend or replace the Rural Challenge Fund. An announcement about future arrangements will be made in due course.

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend or replace the Rural Challenge Fund.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans at present to extend or replace the Rural Challenge Fund. In 2004, a review and full consultation exercise was carried out on the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF). We are considering the outcome of that review and the f…

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will consider the need for a spatial framework or regional targets for wind farms as part of the review of National Planning Policy Guideline 6.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: These issues will be explored through the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) that is being undertaken as part of the review process. The SEA will inform revised policies that will be prepared in consultation with the Environmental Advisory Forum on Rene…