Parliamentary questions
Peter Peacock
1,395 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is keeping the representational structure of inshore fisheries groups under review.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish ministers will regularly review the operation of pilot inshore fisheries groups to ensure that they fulfil their role and are properly inclusive.</p>
30 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the arrangements for representation of independent fishermen on inshore fisheries groups are sufficient.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The arrangements for representation of independent fishermen on inshore fisheries groups are considered sufficient at present. Scottish ministers will regularly review the operation of pilot inshore fisheries groups to ensure that they fulfil their role and a…
30 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishermen each fishing association represents and whether such membership was a factor in deciding membership of inshore fisheries groups.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information requested is not held centrally. However, in terms of Fishermen''s Associations, membership of the Executive Committee of the inshore fisheries groups (IFG) is open to Fishermen''s Associations which represent 10 or more licensed and registere…
30 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many boats are operated by independent fishermen who are not members of a fishing association.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
24 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Island of Skye is regarded as an island for the purposes of considering the application of rules applying to the handling and disposal of fallen stock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Whether a particular area is an island is not of itself relevant to the application of rules relating to the handling of fallen stock. When the designated remote area was drawn up in 2003, Skye was included in that area on the basis of low stocking density an…
24 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to extend any derogations from the normal rules of dealing with fallen stock to recognise the challenges of geography.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are no plans to extend the remote area designated in the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003. However, the European Commission is in the process of reviewing the EU Animal By-Products Regulation 1774/2002 and a number of proposals are under c…
24 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what derogations are in place for farmers and crofters from the normal rules of dealing with fallen stock to recognise the geographic difficulties of dealing with such stock other than on a very localised basis.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 apply a derogation to permit the continued routine on-farm disposal of fallen stock in remote areas. In Scotland, the designated remote area covers the majority of the Highlands and Islands and Argyllshire. S…
24 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to maintain, increase or reduce support for farmers and crofters with the costs of dealing with fallen stock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Ministers are considering representations from industry on issues relating to the collection and disposal of fallen sheep in Scotland.</p>
24 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding annually goes to support farmers and crofters with the costs of dealing with fallen stock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has provided just over £3 million to farmers via the National Fallen Stock Scheme for the funding period 2004-08 to support farmers in the collection and disposal of fallen stock as they adjusted to the new requirements on the disposal of …
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has regarding the decline in cattle numbers in the Highlands and Islands and what implications the decline has for the infrastructure that supports cattle breeding in the area.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government shares the industry''s concerns about the difficulties facing not only cattle farmers, but livestock farmers and crofters generally in the Highlands and Islands. Maintaining livestock production is important, both in its own right and…
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cattle there were in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last five years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Total cattle numbers in the Highlands and Islands for 2004-2008 are given in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=52 valign=top > <p align=left >Year</p> </td> <td width=90 valign=top > <p ali…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Dog Welfare Code of Practice will contain advice against the use of electric shock collars on dogs.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Dog Welfare Code of Practice will not contain advice against the use of electric shock collars on dogs, as there is insufficient information on which sound advice can be based. The Companion Animal Welfare Council have been commissioned to conduct a detai…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its response to the consultation on the draft Dog Welfare Code of Practice that closed on 1 May 2008.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Comments on the draft Dog Welfare Code of Practice are being considered and the draft code is being amended to take account of the responses to the consultation. A revised version of the code will be laid in Parliament later in the year.</p>
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it uses research findings from universities that have experimented on live animals.
Answer · Shona Robison: Government needs to have the best available evidence possible upon which to base all of its policy, statutory and regulatory activities. In some instances this may involve the results from experiments on live animals conducted in universities. In the case of …
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discretion ministers have to vary the purposes and uses for which Scottish Water may hold financial reserves.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22130 on 2 April 2009. 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/Apps2/B…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider directing Scottish Water to utilise any financial reserves for the purpose of advancing works in order to maintain employment and protect apprentices employed by approved contractors to Scottish Water.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22132 on 2 April 2009. 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/Apps2/B…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that utilising part or all of any financial reserve held by Scottish Water for the purpose of advancing works would be an appropriate response to current economic circumstances and a way of maintaining employment and protecting apprentices employed by approved contrac…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The government is doing everything in our powers to make sure the Scottish economy is in as robust shape as possible. As part of this, we will ensure that all the resources at our disposal, including those available to Scottish Water, are used in the most eff…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has used powers of direction to require Scottish Water to utilise any part of a financial reserve held by it.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22132 on 2 April 2009. 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/Apps2/B…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water has applied to ministers for approval to utilise any part of a financial reserve and, if so, when such an application was made and for what purposes.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has requested Scottish Water to deliver as much efficient investment as possible by March 2010 and to utilise all the available sources of funding to achieve this. Scottish Water''s Delivery Plan update for 2009-10 reflects this.</p>
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much is held by Scottish Water in any reserve financed by out-performance of targets and expectations set for it or for any other reason.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The final assessment of out-performance can not occur until after the end of the regulatory period. At the end of 2007-08 Scottish Water''s accounts show a cash balance of £80 million. These accounts can be viewed at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottishwat…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions there are for Scottish Water to hold a reserve financed by out-performance of targets and expectations set for it.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As part of the 2006-10 price setting process, the Scottish Government agreed with the Water Industry Commission for Scotland that Scottish Water''s out-performance of the regulatory settlement would be built up into a financial buffer. The Scottish Government…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any initiatives in UK plans to halt the decline of honey bee numbers that are not included in its own strategies.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In addition to the Scottish Government''s and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs''s Bee Health Strategies, UK research funders, including the Scottish Government, are in advanced stages of planning a research initiative of significant size…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to secure effectively the biosecurity of honey bees in the long term.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government provides beekeepers with free training in bee husbandry and best practice as the most effective way to improve biosecurity. Beekeepers are also encouraged to be vigilant when sourcing new supplies of bees. Biosecurity is one of the ce…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regular liaison takes place with the Scottish Beekeepers Association and professional beekeepers on issues surrounding the decline of honey bee numbers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Meetings are held with beekeepers'' representatives both for the purpose of general updates and where and when specific areas of concern have to be addressed. One of the aims of the Honey Bee Health Strategy for Scotland is to promote dialogue with stakeholde…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address the decline of honey bees numbers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Implementation of the Honey Bee Health Strategy for Scotland is designed to promote the health of honey bees and so halt the decline in numbers.</p>
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any discussions with HM Government and the Welsh Assembly Government on the health of honey bees included the prospect of Scotland joining in the 10-year plan being rolled out in England and Wales to improve the health of honey bees.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22124 on 30 March 2009. 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/Apps2/…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with HM Government and the Welsh Assembly Government on plans to improve the health of honey bees.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: While responsibility for the health of honey bees is a devolved area, the GB administrations have constant dialogue on matters of common concern. All three administrations worked together to draw up the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Bee H…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to assist local authorities and community planning partnerships to undertake the environmental assessment of single outcome agreements in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · John Swinney: There are no plans to specifically assist local authorities and community planning partnerships to undertake the environmental assessment of their single outcome agreements. However, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Tool-kit, which includes SEA guid…
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivehow it plans to ensure that it complies with section 17 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 with respect to the National Performance Framework.
Answer · John Swinney: It will be for those bodies responsible for preparing the plans or programmes which sit below the National Performance Framework and contribute to progress towards the Purpose and National Outcomes which are subject to the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) …
19 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20729 by John Swinney on 4 March 2009, what action it plans to take to ensure that an environmental assessment of the National Performance Framework is carried out in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · John Swinney: The government takes the view that it is more meaningful, manageable and a more efficient use of public resources to ensure that specific initiatives, policies and programmes (including those of our partners) are considered individually for their environmenta…