Parliamentary questions
Mike Rumbles
1,089 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage farmers to maximise the opportunities offered by decoupling under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and CAP Reform.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The 2003 reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, which led to decoupling of Single Farm Paymentsfrom levels of production, gave farmers freedom to develop their businesses in responseto market needs. Our £1.6 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme 200…
23 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support farmers to achieve membership of quality assurance and organic certification schemes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As part of the newScottish Rural Development Plan 2006-13, we will provide support for membershipof food quality assurance and organic certification schemes. Under Rural DevelopmentContracts - Land Managers Options eligible applicants can choose to use part o…
23 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will raise public awareness of land management issues.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As part of anon-going communications strategy for the Scotland Rural Development Programme2007-13, my officials have engaged with over 400 agents directly and are holdinga series of 21 public meetings throughout Scotland, the first five of which have been att…
23 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take on animal disease prevention and control.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Governmenthas a range of statutory measures in place to support the control of notifiablediseases. In addition, it works in close partnership with stakeholder organisationsto promote proactive approaches to non notifiable diseases.</p>
23 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will raise standards of animal health and welfare in the farming industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Current examples ofwork include the consideration of compulsory treatment period for sheep scab andwork to protect Scotland from the threat of bluetongue. The ScottishGovernment will seek to have an animal health and welfare measure included in theScotland Ru…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many lecturers will be employed at the (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee and (c) Glasgow dental schools in the academic year 2008-09.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This information isnot held centrally.</p><p>The latest informationcurrently available is for academic year 2005-06. In 2005-06, there the followingnumber of academic staff (full-time equivalents) were employed in clinical dentistry:</p><p>(a) Aberdeen 0</p>…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which institution will award degrees to students who study at the Aberdeen dental school.
Answer · Shona Robison: Initially Aberdeen andDundee Universities will award a joint degree.</p>
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students have applied through UCAS to study at the Aberdeen dental school.
Answer · Shona Robison: Due to the tight timescales ofestablishing the new dental school in Aberdeen, applications are not being channelled through UCAS thisyear. Adverts will be placed shortly in the media and a number of expressions ofinterest have already been received.</p>
9 Jan 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in order to involve local councillors in decisions about health services in their areas, it will consider extending their role and powers.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Senior local authority membersalready sit on health boards and participate fully in the role of the boardsand in the decisions that they make.</p><p>On 8 January I launched a consultationon proposals for a Local Healthcare Bill.The consultation is part of our…
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner informed the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth of the outcome of the first telephone call which he made to Aberdeenshire Council on 4 December 2007 and, if so, when and what action the Cabinet Secretary took as a result.
Answer · John Swinney: Following a telephonediscussion with the Chief Planner on 4 December 2007I agreed to call in the planning application for the proposed golf resort atMenie Estate. During that call the Chief Planner informed me that he hadascertained from Aberdeenshire Council…
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner was asked by ministers to telephone Aberdeenshire Council concerning calling in the planning application for the Menie estate, rather than use any other form of communication.
Answer · John Swinney: No.</p>
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the dates and times of all contacts and communications between the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s office and the Trump Organization between 29 November and 5 December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: No such contacts took place.</p>
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the dates and times of all contacts and communications between the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s office and Aberdeenshire Council between 29 November and 5 December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: No such contacts took place.</p>
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the dates and times of all contacts and communications between the Chief Planner’s office and the Trump Organization between 29 November and 5 December 2007, broken down into those (a) specifically requested and (b) not specifically requested by ministers.
Answer · John Swinney: On 3 December 2007 theTrump Organization contacted the Chief Planner to arrange a meeting. Thismeeting took place on 4 December at 2.20pm. The note of the meeting is available on the Scottish Government website: <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/FOI/Di…
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the dates and times of all contacts and communications between the Chief Planner’s office and Aberdeenshire Council between 29 November and 5 December 2007, broken down into those (a) specifically requested and (b) not specifically requested by ministers.
Answer · John Swinney: Planning Directorate officials keep in regular contact withAberdeenshire Council officials over a range of planning matters. A formalrecord of every telephone call is not kept. Planning officials were in contactwith Aberdeenshire Council on a number of occasi…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what journeys were undertaken by the First Minister using the Government Car Service on 3 December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The First Ministerissued a statement on 11 December 2007, which noted that he wasat an official engagement in Inverurie on 3 December launching a major show forthe Scottish meat industry, using a government car. He then travelled to Aberdeenwith his special a…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any civil servants or special advisers travelled with or accompanied the First Minister to the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen on 3 December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: As a result of the unusual amountof public interest in the First Minister’s travel to this meeting, the PermanentSecretary has personally considered what use was made of the Government Car Serviceon this occasion. He has noted that it is commonplace for civil…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the meeting held on 4 December 2007 between the Chief Planner and representatives of the Trump Organisation to discuss the proposals for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire was arranged and who initiated the meeting.
Answer · John Swinney: On 3 December 2007 theChief Planner took a call from Mr Salmond in his capacity as constituency MSP. MrSalmond sought advice from the Chief Planner on whether it would still be permissiblefor the officials of the Scottish Government Planning Directorate to me…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of those in attendance at the meeting between the Chief Planner and representatives of the Trump Organisation on 4 December 2007 concerning the planning application for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7664 on 20 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner had a telephone conversation with Aberdeenshire Council on 4 December 2007 concerning the planning application for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire and, if so, who was present in the room during this conversation.
Answer · John Swinney: The Chief Planner made three telephone calls to the Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council on the afternoon of 4 December. David Ferguson, Head of Planning Decisions was present during these conversations. The first of these calls was to request…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner was given an instruction by ministers to telephone Aberdeenshire Council on 4 December 2007 concerning the planning application for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.
Answer · John Swinney: No.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Chief Planner was given the instruction by ministers to call in the planning application for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.
Answer · John Swinney: 4 December 2007.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the First Minister declared his constituency interest in the planning proposals for the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire and what communications have been issued from the First Minister’s office to civil servants concerning these proposals since that date.
Answer · John Swinney: Mr Salmond’s constituency interestin this proposal commenced immediately following his election to the Gordon constituencyin May. We are giving immediate consideration to the publication of informationalongside requests made under Freedom of Information legis…
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to achieve its aspiration of a zero waste society.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Zero waste requireshigh-levels of recycling and composting and a greater emphasis on waste prevention.Figures from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency show that recycling andcomposting is increasing and the amount of waste going to landfill is falling.…
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial penalties will be incurred by local authorities for failure to comply with the limits laid down in the Landfill Allowance Scheme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Each case is consideredon its merits and penalties are not automatic. Regulation 19 of the Landfill AllowancesScheme (Scotland) Regulations 2005 lay down the penalties thatcan be levied if an authority exceeds its allowance. These penalties are £10 a tonnein …
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that local authorities meet the targets set by the EU landfill directive.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: National Indicator39 in the concordat between the Scottish Government and local government relatesto reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill in 2010, in line with the firstEU Landfill Directive target. In addition, the Landfill Allowance Scheme placesli…
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to establish service level agreements relating to waste management with local authorities.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The concordat betweenthe Scottish Government and local government outlines that as part of the overallpackage each local authority would aim to reach a Single Outcome Agreement withthe Scottish Government at the earliest opportunity. National Indicator 39 in …
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement the recommendations of the Audit Scotland report, Sustainable waste management, published in September 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the letter sent on 31 October 2007 by the Accountable Officerto the Convenor of the Audit Committee. A copy of this letter can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/audit/papers-07/aup07-06.pdf">http://www.sc…
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where the £26 million which has been reallocated in 2008-09 from waste services will be spent.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In 2007-08, the StrategicWaste Fund baseline was over £132 million. However, this level of resources willnot be spent on waste and so resources in 2007-08 have been allocated to other spendingpriorities and pressures. Resources for 2008-09 have also been allo…
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated to local authorities to support improvement in recycling rates in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 expressed in (i) cash and (ii) real terms, also showing any year-on-year real term percentage change.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Recycling servicescurrently funded by the Strategic Waste Fund will in future be supported throughthe local government settlement. We expect that around £100 million over the nextthree years in the centrally-held Zero Waste Budget will be used to develop infr…