Parliamentary questions

Mark Ruskell

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

31 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has approached the organisers of London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games about the possibility of Scotland hosting Olympic mountain biking events if the bid is successful.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: To remain within the city-based bidding rules of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the only events that a London Olympic Games could possibly stage outside London were the sailing and football competitions. Scotland went through the appropriate chann…

28 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13508 by Ross Finnie on 24 January 2005, in which month it expects to introduce a revised code of practice for the safe use of plant protection products.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are some complex issues to be resolved prior to the introduction of a revised Code of Practice and I cannot be any more specific than the answer given to question S2W-13508.

28 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is conducting any research into how to improve planning guidance on wind farms in order to minimise the cumulative impact of wind farm developments.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The Environmental Advisory Forum for Renewable Energy is considering the need for research into the operation and effectiveness of existing renewable energy policies.

28 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is consulting local authorities directly about the cumulative impact of wind farm developments and whether improvements can be made to planning guidance to improve the selection process for wind farms in any given area.

Answer · Johann Lamont: Existing guidance recognises that cumulative impacts may, in particular circumstances, need to be addressed before consent is granted. With the assistance of the Environmental Advisory Forum, we are considering whether there is need for additional policy guid…

17 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance issued to Scottish Water on sustainable development is made available to the Water Industry Commissioner.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Water Services etc. (Scotland) Bill will require the Water Industry Commission to have regard to any guidance issued to Scottish Water. The Executive is currently revising the guidance on sustainable development to incorporate changes in legislation prop…

14 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it intends to bring forward a revised code of practice for the safe use of plant protection products.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We expect to introduce a revised code of practice later in the year.

23 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the provision of NHS wheelchair services from initial assessment to upkeep and upgrade.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has commissioned a national needs assessment to look at possible options for redesign of the NHS wheelchair service. The aim of the review, which will report in the spring of 2006, is to provide a plan for improved NHS wheelchair service provisi…

8 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make any representations to the UK Government regarding the establishment of a confidential system for registering supermarket suppliers' complaints under the code of practice, given concerns expressed by suppliers and trade associations over the impact of the current …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The question of the effectiveness of the Supermarket Code of Practice is the subject of an audit being carried out by the Office of Fair Trading. The issue of change to the code will be considered in light of the results of that audit, which are due to be pub…

8 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any correspondence with supermarket suppliers who wanted to register their concern over the impact of the Supermarket Code of Practice but who were reluctant to make an official complaint under the code and, if so, what its response to these suppliers was.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has received little formal correspondence where the supplier wanted to register concern over the Supermarket Code of Practice, but was reluctant to make an official complaint under the code. However, informal and anecdotal views have been expres…

8 Dec 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the TETRA system will be fully operational and ready for use by police.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: By summer of 2006 all police forces in Scotland will be fully operational in the use of Airwave.

7 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has raised any concerns regarding the Supermarket Code of Practice officially with the UK Government and, if so, whether it will give details of the representations made.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The question of the effectiveness of the operation of the Supermarket Code of Practice is currently the subject of an audit by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The Executive made representation to the OFT about the effectiveness of the Code which, along with…

7 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it made to the Office of Fair Trading"s review of the Supermarket Code of Practice.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive made representation to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), early in 2003, to the effect that there was a very strong view from suppliers in Scotland that the Supermarket Code of Practice was not working. The representation made it clear that fear …

24 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the main public interest criteria are in respect of planning appeals.

Answer · Johann Lamont: There are no set criteria for defining public interest, nor can there be. Planning decisions, including appeals, must be made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. This means that each decision must be made…

10 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lewis Peatlands are classified as a Special Protection Area under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) and, if so, what the extent is of the site; what species of bird in the area are listed as the qualifying interest; how many of these species occur…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area (SPA) was classified under the European Council Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) on December 7 2000; the site encompasses an area of 58,984.23 hectares.The relevant international popul…

10 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering increasing the funding available for the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are delighted that the Biodiversity Action Grants scheme has been very well received and we decided to top up the scheme from contingency funds for 2004-05. Decisions on future funding for the scheme will depend both on the availability of resources, and o…

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for complying with Articles 3.1 and 3.2 of the Ramsar Convention in relation to Ramsar sites (a) which are also Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and (b) which are not SSSIs.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: All Ramsar sites in Scotland are designated as Special Protection Areas or candidate Special Areas of Conservation under the EC Birds and Habitats Directives, except one which has been notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Compliance with …

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to protect the peatland features of the Lewis Peatlands Ramsar site outside the boundary of the Lewis Peatlands candidate Special Area of Conservation.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Outside the candidate Special Area of Conservation the Ramsar site and its features are protected by designation as a Special Protection Area and the associated Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994.

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the Lewis Peatlands Ramsar site overlaps with the (a) Lewis Peatlands candidate Special Area of Conservation and (b) Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Lewis Peatlands Ramsar site is identical to the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area in extent (58,984.23 ha) and boundary. The Lewis Peatlands candidate Special Area of Conservation is smaller (27,945.59 ha) and lies entirely within the Lewis Peatland…

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking research into means of avoiding damage by deer to woodland, agricultural production of crops or livestock that do not involve the taking or killing of deer.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive funds an ongoing research programme of about £600,000 per annum on sustainable deer management. The research includes developing a decision support tool for management of deer in woodlands as an aid to native woodland regeneration.<…

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many deer were killed in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003 (i) under control agreements made under section 7, (ii) under control schemes made under section 8, (iii) as part of emergency measures taken under sections 10 and 11 and (iv) by occupiers or persons authorised by occupiers acting under s…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Director of the Deer Commission for Scotland to respond to you. A copy of the response shall be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many control (a) agreements under section 7 and (b) schemes under section 8 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 have been made since 1 January 2002 and, of these, how many are still in operation.

5 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lewis Peatlands are classified as a SpecialProtection Area under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) and, if so, what the extent is of the site; what species of bird in the area are listed as a qualifying interest; how many of these species occur in…

27 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Integrated Transport Fund is supporting projects that include the provision of infrastructure for cycling.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Integrated Transport Fund supports cycling infrastructure projects through its Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects and Public Transport Fund awards.