Parliamentary questions
Peter Peacock
1,395 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23829 by Roseanna Cunningham on 27 May 2009, whether it will advise local authorities that single outcome agreements fall within the scope of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and therefore require a strategic environmental assessment.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to the question S3W-19895 on 2 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parl…
9 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23829 by Roseanna Cunningham on 27 May 2009, whether it considers that single outcome agreements require a strategic environmental assessment under section 11 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Section 11 of the 2005 Act has to be considered on an individual and case-by-case basis by the Scottish ministers.</p> <p >At this point there are no identified justifiable reasons why the Scottish ministers would use their powers under Section 11 of the 200…
3 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-23196, S3W-23197, S3W-23198, S3W-23199 and S3W-23200 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2009, how long Scottish Water’s £43.7 million out-performance balance remained as a bank deposit after the decision to deposit the money was approved by ministers on…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23197 on 5 May 2009. Out-performance funds are not identified as a separately identifiable cash reserve. Scottish Water''s bank deposits vary from day-to-day in line with the cash flow requirements of the busin…
3 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23197 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2009, for what reason it was decided not to keep financial flows related to Scottish Water’s £43.7 million out-performance balance clearly distinguishable from other day-to-day income and flows, as directed by Scot…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Keeping financial flows clearly distinguishable is only appropriate where the funds have been placed in investment securities, such as gilts. As noted in the answer to question S3W-23198, on 5 May 2009, these funds have not been used to purchase gilts. The fu…
3 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23903 by Stewart Stevenson on 20 May 2009, whether it will indicate all instances of more than 5% over expenditure against estimates in Scottish Water’s capital programme for the year to 31 March 2009.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Figures held centrally are aggregates which is the level at which outperformance will be assessed. Scottish Water reiterated their commitment to outperforming the financial limits set out in the final determination in their Delivery Plan update for 2009-10. T…
1 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to operate the scoring and assessment system for measures associated with reducing the predation of lambs by sea eagles.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24508 on 15 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…
1 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance on the priority that it will give to applications from crofters on measures to reduce the predation of lambs by sea eagles.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24508 on 15 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…
1 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it is putting in place to allow crofters to develop plans to assist in addressing their concerns regarding losses arising from sea eagles taking lambs, once management schemes are transferred to the Scotland Rural Development Programme.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is in the process of drawing up an option which would provide assistance with measures intended to address management of sea eagle predation on live lambs for future inclusion in the Rural Priorities component of the Scotland R…
1 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it attaches to protecting sea eagles.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: At present, the sea eagle is the only species listed on Schedule 1A and A1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which respectively list bird species whose nest sites are protected and bird species which are protected from harassment. The on-going sea eagl…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funds will be made available to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to implement the requirements of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We intend to make available to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency additional funding for this purpose of £0.6 million in 2009-10, subject to approval by the Parliament at autumn Budget Revisions. For 2010-11, funding will be considered alongside other…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the costs will be for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to implement the requirements of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Financial Memorandum, which accompanied the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill upon introduction to the Scottish Parliament, estimates that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is likely to incur costs of £3.34 million up to 2010-11:</p> …
13 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-23196 to S3W-23200 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2009, how much Scottish Water is allowed to borrow under the borrowing consent agreement with the Scottish Government and to what extent this borrowing capacity is being utilised.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government made provision for Scottish Water to borrow £181.8 million in 2008-09. Scottish Water drew down the full amount.</p>
13 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-23196 to S3W-23200 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2009, whether Scottish Water’s capital expenditure programme was overspent against estimate for the year to 31 March 2009 and, if so, what the level was of over expenditure.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water is tasked with delivering a £2.4 billion capital investment programme between 2006-10. In their Delivery Plan update for 2008-09 Scottish Water forecast that they would deliver between £650 million to £690 million of this investment. Their prov…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal status of a planning decision would be if the National Performance Framework or a single outcome agreement that had not been subject to environmental assessment had been a material consideration in the decision making process.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It would ultimately be for the courts to determine in the individual circumstances of a case whether the absence of a Strategic Environmental Assessment on a document which was considered a material consideration in the determination of a planning application…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate to consider the National Performance Framework as a material consideration in planning decisions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Legislation requires decisions to be taken on planning applications to be made in line with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.</p> <p >There are two main tests in deciding whether a consideration is material and relevant.…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate to consider single outcome agreements as a material consideration in planning decisions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Legislation requires decisions to be taken on planning applications to be made in line with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.</p> <p >There are two main tests in deciding whether a consideration is material and relevant.…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the potential legal, operational and financial consequences would be of local authorities and their community planning partners failing to undertake an environmental assessment of single outcome agreements.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: It is for the individual local authorities to consider whether their single outcome agreement falls within the scope of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 (2005 Act) and therefore requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).</p> <p >How…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-22108 and S3W-22109 by John Swinney on 31 March 2009, what the potential legal, operational and financial consequences would be of failing to undertake an environmental assessment of the National Performance Framework.
Answer · John Swinney: As it would be for the courts to ultimately decide whether the Scottish Government had taken the appropriate course of action in relation to an environmental assessment of the National Performance Framework, we have no means to gauge what the potential legal,…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-22108 and S3W-22109 by John Swinney on 31 March 2009, how it will ensure that any significant effects on the environment likely to arise from the National Performance Framework, in particular secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects of specifi…
Answer · John Swinney: Where appropriate, the environmental effects can be considered within individual assessments undertaken by the relevant Responsible Authorities of the plans, programmes and policies that flow from the government and its partners'' alignment to the National Pe…
7 May 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it views the current prospects for the dairy sector.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In common with other types of agricultural activity the dairy sector is subject to market movement. Global economic factors are impacting on farmgate prices which are a concern to many dairy producers. The government has called a dairy summit for 27 May, to w…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in seeking suggestions of potential candidates for the relocation of civil service jobs under the Small Units Initiative.
Answer · John Swinney: Ministers remain committed to the Small Units Initiative. We will keep under on-going review opportunities within the core Scottish Government and related bodies for the relocation of specific small units where it can be demonstrated that the benefits are com…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether individual crofters will be able to apply for crofting development support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Financial assistance is available to individual crofters through the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme (CCAGS) and other elements of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). Support and advice to individual crofters will be available from s…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to whom crofters should apply in Highlands and Islands Enterprise for assistance with crofting development.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23616 on 19 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether democratic control from crofters will influence Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s crofting development function.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23612 on 19 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Highlands and Islands Enterprise board members are crofters.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: None of the current Highlands and Islands Enterprise Board members is a crofter.</p>
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the crofting development function of Highlands and Islands Enterprise will be administered as part of the Scottish Government’s community account management approach and whether it will outline what community account management is and what benefits this approach will bring to crof…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)''s approach to crofting community development has two components: Community Account Management, and Crofting Sector Development, which form part of its new Growth at the Edge approach.</p> <p >Community Account Manageme…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise will assist with crofting skills development and encouraging new entrants to crofting.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is involved in a partnership that helps to fund courses such as the Crofting Induction Course and the Highlands and Islands Crofters and Small Landholders Training Programme. Under Highlands and Islands Enterprise''s Cro…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Highlands and Islands Enterprise has set aside for the purpose of crofting development.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: On 1 April 2009, crofting community development transferred to Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The Scottish Government transferred £175,000 per annum from the crofting assistance budget to assist with crofting community development. In total, HIE will…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all crofting areas in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) area will be eligible to apply for support from HIE for crofting development.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23612 on 19 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk…
6 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures Highlands and Islands Enterprise has been asked to take to develop its role in crofting development and what progress has been made.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23612 on 19 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…