Peter Peacock

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements there are on wind farm developers to monitor invertebrates on site as well as in waterbodies and watercourses, following an initial baseline survey.

Answer · Jim Mather: Schedule 9 of the Electricity Act 1989 places on the applicant a duty to have regard to the desirability of preserving natural beauty of the countryside, of conserving flora, fauna and the geological and physiographical features of special interest and of pro…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is meant by the term “notable”, as it relates to invertebrates in the scoping guidance for wind farm developments issued by the Scottish Government.

Answer · Jim Mather: The term notable when relating to invertebrates in the scoping guidance refers developers to focus on significant species which may be impacted by the development, in particular protected and/or vulnerable species, including European Protected Species.</p> <…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, with regard to development proposals for the Cairngorm National Park, ministers and public bodies are meeting the requirements of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 as it relates to conservation of biodiversity.

Answer · Michael Russell: I have no reason to believe that the Cairngorms National Park Authority or other public bodies do not take full account of their duty to further the conservation of biodiversity in exercising any functions in relation to development applications.</p>

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will be liable for the costs of dealing with the contamination and loss of trial results from the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Answer · Michael Russell: This is a matter for the importer of the seed and the trials organiser. The Scottish Government understands that the costs of dealing with the contamination and loss of the trial results from the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seed privately run trials, will be…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to protect seed imports destined for commercial crop production following the discovery of GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Seed Marketing Regulations require that imports of over 2kgs of seed from Third countries, should be disclosed to Scottish ministers. In addition, the Scottish Government conducts a voluntary audit of companies importing seed directly into Scotland. Most …

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether other seed lots from the same sources and countries of origin as the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, have been tested for GM presence and with what results.

Answer · Michael Russell: Yes, nine additional seed lots of winter oilseed rape entered into commercial trials by the importing company have been tested for GM presence. Five of these were found to be contaminated with genetically modified herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape and the tria…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to prevent further GM contamination from the seed lot responsible for the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Answer · Michael Russell: Under guidance and advice provided by the Scottish Government''s GM Inspectorate, the trials at three sites in Scotland, two in Aberdeen and one in Arbroath, have been destroyed by the application of a contact herbicide. The Scottish Government GM Inspectorat…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds, found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, were planted before the results of GM scanning were available.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Seeds (National Lists of Varieties) Regulations 2001 prescribe the requirements for National Listing. However, the Regulations do not require seeds to be tested for accidental GM presence. The organiser of the trial arranged for a sample to be tested sinc…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of GM contamination was present in the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Answer · Michael Russell: The seeds sown in the commercial trial sites in Scotland, were found to contain very low levels (0.05%) of GT73 herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape.</p>

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, arose from an experimental release in their country of origin.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18432 on 10 December 2008. 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/App…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the nature is of the GM traits found in the contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, and which companies produced them.

Answer · Michael Russell: The contaminating GMO has been identified as GT73, a herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape owned by Monsanto Europe S.A.</p>

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the GM contamination of oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, arose from cross-pollination or as a result of co-mixing GM and non-GM seeds before sowing or after harvest.

Answer · Michael Russell: The contaminated seed was imported into the UK from Idaho, United States of America. It had been produced through a conventional breeding programme and it is not known how the original source became contaminated.</p> <p >A review will be carried out to exa…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures were used to prevent contamination of the seed used to produce the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, during cultivation and post harvest.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Deliberate Release Directive 2001/18/EC stipulates that no GMO may be released into the environment unless it has been authorised. The GMO in question had not been authorised for cultivation and the release represents a technical breach of the Directive.<…

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the location is of the seed production ground that produced the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008, and what its proximity is to any GM oilseed rape fields.

Answer · Michael Russell: The new varieties of oilseed rape seed were imported from a breeder who produced the seed at a site in Idaho, United States of America.</p> <p >A review of this incident will be carried out, to further investigate the circumstances of this case.</p>

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what type of plant breeding methods were employed to produce the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in National List and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Answer · Michael Russell: The contaminated seed originated from a conventional breeding programme undertaken in Idaho, United States of America.</p>

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the country origin was of the GM-contaminated oilseed rape seeds found in national list and variety trials in Scotland, as made public in September 2008.

Answer · Michael Russell: The seed originated from Idaho, United States of America.</p>

27 Nov 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to support improvement in the health and quality of cattle in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Michael Russell: High quality livestock is one of the great selling points of the Scottish food industry. We are therefore supporting individuals and industry through the Scotland Rural Development Programme, the Scottish beef calf scheme, support for crofters in accessing ve…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the change to Highlands and Islands Enterprise funding arrangements, whether additional funds have been provided to local authorities in the Highlands and Islands parliamentary region to allow the authorities to offer additional financial support to voluntary sector organisatio…

Answer · Jim Mather: Councils, along with their community planning partners and the Scottish Government, will continue to have an important role in supporting the work of the third sector in the Highlands and Islands.</p> <p >For its part the Scottish Government has committed £9…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the change to Highlands and Islands Enterprise funding arrangements, whether it believes that Highlands and Islands councils have an increased role in funding of the voluntary sector.

Answer · Jim Mather: In line with the reforms to the enterprise agencies, HIE will increasingly focus its strengthening communities interventions on the most remote and fragile areas and on activity which will promote the sustainable economic development of those areas. This incl…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the change to Highlands and Islands Enterprise funding arrangements, whether it anticipates that it will have an increased role in funding of the voluntary sector in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government expects all community planning partners to take into account the role and potential of the third sector in delivering public services, in helping to stimulate growth in the Scottish economy and in supporting community action at grassro…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the change to Highlands and Islands Enterprise funding arrangements, what importance it places on providing adequate funding to the voluntary sector in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government places great importance on strong support to the third sector. This is why we have increased funding levels to the support networks of Volunteer Centres and Councils for Voluntary Service over this spending period, and why we are worki…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has put in place to ensure that voluntary organisations are aware of where they may seek alternative project funding, in the circumstance where the organisation was previously eligible to apply for funding through the Highlands and Islands Enterprise but is no longer …

Answer · Jim Mather: In line with the reforms to the enterprise agencies, HIE will increasingly focus its strengthening communities interventions on the most remote and fragile areas and on activity which will promote the sustainable economic development of those areas. This incl…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funds Highlands and Islands Enterprise made available in the form of grants under the Strengthening Communities budget for distribution to the voluntary sector in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09.

Answer · Jim Mather: Distribution of grants to the voluntary sector is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked its chief executive to write to you on this matter.</p>

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations at European Union level on the question of the future of cross-compliance provisions.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: EU negotiations on the CAP Health Check, including the future of cross-compliance, have been taking place since May 2008. During that time the Scottish Government has expressed its position on cross compliance in various forms, including in collaboration with…

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met representatives of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to discuss cross compliance and any developing view within the European Union on future provisions.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: During the course of the CAP Health Check, officials from the Scottish Government have met with and held teleconferences with their counterparts in Defra and the other national authorities, regarding cross-compliance. The European Commission''s plans for cros…

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to seek to ensure cross-compliance measures remain available for governments in Europe to deploy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has expressed its views on cross-compliance throughout the discussions and formal negotiations on the CAP Health Check since the publication of its Green Paper by the European Commission in November 2007.</p>

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it perceives any threat to its ability to continue to use cross-compliance measures.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has a statutory requirement to implement cross-compliance legislation. To do otherwise would jeopardise the £400 million payments made to farmers annually under single farm payments and a proportion of the £1.6 billion which is planned…

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes cross-compliance provisions are a useful tool at the disposal of ministers to assist in addressing issues of concern.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: All single farm payments are conditional on a farmer meeting the requirements set out under cross-compliance. Cross-compliance is therefore a very useful tool to address key issues directly linked to farming activities.</p>

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often it has used cross-compliance provisions to address questions of persecution of birds and other species.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has, on three separate occasions, reduced support scheme payments under cross compliance for incidents relating to the persecution of birds and other species. It remains committed to such action where necessary.</p>

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was suggested to local authorities taking over Business Gateway services that they should consider continuation of existing contracts for the delivery or part delivery of those services.

Answer · Jim Mather: The transfer of responsibility for the local delivery of the Business Gateway in the Scottish Enterprise area to local authorities, was a transfer of the management of 12 extant and continuing Business Gateway contracts to 12 lead local authorities.</p> <p …