Parliamentary questions
Mark Ruskell
1,773 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many alleged offences against protected wildlife have been reported to procurators fiscal in each year since 1999 and, of these, how many have proceeded to prosecution and how many have resulted in a conviction.
Answer · Colin Boyd: Complete and accurate information on the number of offences against protected wildlife reported to procurators fiscal prior to 2002 cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. Information available for financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04 relates to case…
21 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the specialist environmental prosecutors, announced on 9 February 2004, will begin work and whether it will publish their names and office addresses.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The network of specialist environmental prosecutors, announced on 9 February 2004, was fully operational from that date. The names and contact details are available to the relevant reporting agencies but there are no plans at present to publish more widely th…
4 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many strategic environmental assessments have been carried out since the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004 came into force and what effect these have had on decision-making.
Answer · Ross Finnie: To date no Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) have been carried out since The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations came into force on 20 July 2004.</p><p>It is not possible at this early stage to quantify what effect …
22 Sep 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to protect native biodiversity from the impact of non-native species.
Answer · Allan Wilson: We are concluding the analysis of the Consultation of Non-Native Species Policy which closed at the end of June. We had an excellent and informative response – with over 60 consultees contributing. That will help us put in place appropriate measures to addres…
13 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent inscription of 17 MON 810 maize varieties to the EU common seed catalogue, what steps it will take to prevent cultivation of these varieties before a comprehensive coexistence and liability regime is in place in Scotland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: These varieties have been bred for southern European conditions and have been modified to carry resistance to the European corn-borer; a problem pest in southern Europe, but not in Scotland. They do not, therefore, represent a viable alternative to the variet…
8 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many telecommunication masts using the TETRA standard will be located within Scotland and where they will be located.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: he Airwave project, which is rolling out a communications infrastructure for use by the emergency services, uses TETRA technology and will involve some 632 sites in Scotland. The Scottish Executive does not hold information on the location of these sites. How…
8 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the farm-scale evaluations into the cultivation of genetically-modified winter-sown oil seed rape will be published.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The results for winter oilseed rape have been written up as scientific papers and submitted to the Proceedings of the Royal Society. The timing of the peer review process and the decision whether or not to publish the papers is at the discretion of the Royal …
2 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to consult the public as part of its review of the Scottish climate change programme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: A formal consultation exercise, as part of the review of the Scottish Climate Change Programme, will be launched before the end of the year.</p>
1 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what activities are being planned to deliver equivalent outcomes to the climate change communications strategy being developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Answer · Ross Finnie: It is too early to speculate on the implications for Scotland of the proposed climate change communications strategy. However, we are working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in considering recommendations for a UK Government climat…
1 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the activities of the Energy Savings Trust and the Carbon Trust in Scotland will be affected by the climate change communications strategy being developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Answer · Ross Finnie: It is too early to say how the activities of the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust in Scotland might be affected by the proposed UK Government climate change communications strategy. However, we are encouraging Scottish representatives of both bodies t…
1 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had into plans by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop a climate change communications strategy.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is in on-going discussion with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFR) on its plans to develop a climate change communications strategy. We are working with Defra in consideringoptions for Scotland stemming from a …
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why Bayer CropScience was not prosecuted for any recent breaches of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Scotland) Regulations 2002 following any incidents at Daviot and Newport-on-Tay when genetically modified organisms were r…
Answer · Allan Wilson: A thorough investigation into the incidents referred to was undertaken by the Executive’s GM Inspectorate. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment was also asked for its advice and confirmed that the additional GM elements did not represent an i…
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-9592 and S2W-9593 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, what information it has on when the (a) United Kingdom Ethics Committee Authority and (b) Central Office for Research Ethics Committees have requested from the Edinburgh Independent Ethics Comm…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W–10016 on 7 September 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-9592 and S2W-9593 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, whether the (a) Ethics Committee Authority or (b) Central Office for Research Ethics Committees holds (i) the list of members of the Edinburgh Independent Ethics Committee for Medical Research …
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information has not been requested nor is it held by UK Ethics Committee Authority or Central Office Research Ethics Committees.</p>
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9594 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, what criteria under the Clinical Trials Directive (a) NHS and (b) non-NHS ethics committees have to fulfil before they can be given type (1) recognition by the United Kingdom Ethics Committee Authority.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The criteria applicable to all committees are set out in Regulation 7 of, and Schedule 2 to, The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical trials) Regulations 2004. Committees recognised solely for the purpose of Phase 1 trials, however, are not required to meet the …
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9594 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, whether the informed consent, with full information given about treatment, of healthy volunteers participating in human clinical trials of non-pharmaceutical substances is required under the Clinical Trials D…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Clinical Trials Directive, which was transposed into UK law by The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004, addresses clinical trials of medicinal products (that will include some non-pharmaceutical substances) and requires fully inform…
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9592 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, who holds the information on who the members are of the Edinburgh Independent Ethics Committee for Medical Research.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This information is held by Inveresk Research Ltd.</p>
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9588 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, whether the controls to protect healthy volunteers participating in human clinical trials of non-pharmaceutical substances at Inveresk research laboratories are equivalent to those in England and Wales, such …
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-10010 on 7 September 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9588 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, what information it has on how many times in each year since 1995 the Health and Safety Executive has visited Inveresk research laboratories, on which records relating to clinical trials of non-pharmaceutical…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10010 on 7 September 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk…
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9588 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, whether the informed consent, with full information given about treatment, of healthy volunteers participating in human clinical trials of non-pharmaceutical substances at Inveresk research laboratories is re…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: UK health and safety matters are reserved to Westminster.</p>
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9588 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, which UK health and safety regulations apply to healthy volunteers participating in human clinical trials of non-pharmaceutical substances at Inveresk research laboratories.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The regulation of Health and Safety is a matter reserved to Westminster. However, I understand that trials of the kind carried out at Inveresk Laboratory are regulated under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Hea…
13 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9595 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 July 2004, whether Schedule 2, or any other part of The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, covers clinical trials of non-pharmaceutical substances on healthy volunteers.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 apply only to clinical trials of medicinal products. Substances falling outwith that definition would, therefore, not be in covered by the Regulations. The definition of “medicinal product” is set…
9 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities it has been informed are preparing to submit Integrated Transport Fund bids for major cycling infrastructure projects.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are not aware of any local authorities preparing to submit Integrated Transport Fund (ITF) bids for such projects. Since substantial resources from the ITF are already committed to the delivery of our Partnership commitments, we would not encourage local a…
9 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when revised guidance on the Integrated Transport Fund will be published.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There is no immediate intention to publish guidance on the Integrated Transport Fund (ITF), since substantial resources have already been allocated to delivering our Partnership commitments such as Edinburgh trams, the redevelopment of Waverley rail station a…
9 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions will be placed on the new Scotrail franchise regarding the level of capacity for the carriage of bicycles on services where such capacity has decreased in recent years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-9674 answered on 10 September 2004. All Answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.par…
9 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions will be placed on the new Scotrail franchise regarding the level of capacity for the carriage of bicycles on all services.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The operator of the new ScotRail franchise must maintain at least the current capacity for the carriage of bicycles on trains.</p><p>The Scottish Executive has funded the fitting of additional cycle storage racks to all ScotRail Express and ScotRail Suburban …
9 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions will be placed on the new ScotRail franchise regarding charges for the carriage of bicycles.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The operator of the new ScotRail franchise will be required to carry bicycles free of charge. </p>
9 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any outstanding requirements that may be delaying the consent process for the Farr wind farm development.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: My department is still discussing with the applicant possible measures to avoid, mitigate or compensate for possible adverse impacts on the local environment and on the ecology of the area arising from the development.</p>
9 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the consent process for the proposed Farr wind farm development will be concluded.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: My department is still discussing with the applicant possible measures to avoid, mitigate or compensate for possible adverse impacts on the local environment and on the ecology of the area arising from the development. No decision will be made until these mat…
6 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Caledonian Cheese Company in Stranraer is meeting the terms of its marketing grant awarded by the Executive for a new production line.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Three awards have been made to the Caledonian Cheese Company under the Executive’s Agriculture Processing & Marketing Grant Scheme for Lowland Scotland towards the provision of new facilities and processing equipment. The conditions pertaining to these grants…