Parliamentary questions
Peter Peacock
1,395 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance was given to local authorities, in taking responsibility for Business Gateway, to ensure best value is secured in the delivery of the Business Gateway services.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is a matter for the 12 lead local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area who from April 2008, have had responsibility for the management of the Business Gateway contracts. All local authorities have a statutory duty of best value in the discharge of…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that local authorities have all the necessary expertise to deliver business advice services in situations where they have just become responsible for Business Gateway.
Answer · Jim Mather: Yes. The transfer of the Business Gateway contracts to the 12 lead local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area in April 2008 has been very successful.</p> <p >Local authorities in the Highlands and Islands will take responsibility for local delivery of…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what compensation will be offered to companies losing extant contracts to deliver business advice under the arrangements to transfer Business Gateway to local authorities.
Answer · Jim Mather: None. Existing Business Gateway contracts let in October 2007 were transferred to local authorities in the Scottish Enterprise area in April 2008. Contractual compliance, amendment, renewal and termination arrangements pertaining to those extant contracts are…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether best value has been secured in the arrangements put in place to transfer business advice services under the Business Gateway transfer to local authorities.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is a matter for the 12 lead local authorities in the Scottish Enterprises area who have responsibility for the management of the 12 existing Business Gateway contracts. All local authorities have a statutory duty of best value in the discharge of their f…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advantages it considers there are in transferring some business advice services to local authority staff rather than the current arrangement where private sector contractors deliver that advice.
Answer · Jim Mather: In the Scottish Enterprise area, local business advice services provided by the Business Gateway are delivered by contractors (private sector and private/public sector consortia) under contracts let by Scottish Enterprise in October 2007. The management of th…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the decision to transfer the delivery of business advice to local authorities, what measures it put in place to protect private contractors that had secured contracts to deliver that business advice under the Business Gateway scheme.
Answer · Jim Mather: Currently the Business Gateway only operates in the Scottish Enterprise (lowland Scotland) area. 12 contracts for the local delivery of Business Gateway services were let by Scottish Enterprise in October 2007. Responsibility for the management of these exist…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the last date will be on which bulls can be hired from the Crofters Commission.
Answer · Michael Russell: The bulls hired in the 2008 season left the Stud Farm between February and June 2008. These are the last bulls to be hired under the Bull Hire Scheme, which will issue no bulls for hire in the 2009 season.</p> <p >The Crofters Commission will shortly be wri…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the ability to maintain quality bloodlines in bulls available to crofters following the disposal of the Crofters Commission stud farm.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 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…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Michael Russell on 1 October 2008 (Official Report c. 11309), what funds will be made available for building wintering facilities for bulls purchased by crofters and whether those funds will be guaranteed for bulls purchased by a croft enterprise or grazings c…
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17643 on 14 November 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…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an independent report or assessment has been made of the Bull Hire Scheme operated by the Crofters Commission since 2003.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 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…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are being put in place to give financial assistance to crofters who on more than one occasion in any year require to hire a bull as a result of an other bull not performing adequately.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17662 on 14 November 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/Ap…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether crofters in receipt of a bull at less than market price from the Crofters Commission will receive assistance to replace that bull.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17662 on 14 November 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…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make extra resources available to councils to enable them to harmonise the eligibility criteria for free school meals, clothing grants and music tuition fees.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Funding has already been provided for the period 2008 to 2011 in the local government settlement. Therefore additional resources do not need to be made available. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources avail…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are of increasing the entitlement to free school meals to include pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child and working tax credit for other local authority entitlements which are based on their free schoold meals entitlement.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The government is currently considering the implications of increasing the entitlement for the benefit of children.</p>
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what basis it used to estimate the cost to local councils of implementing free school meals from August 2009 for pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child and working tax credits.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16916 on 29 October 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/Apps…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what cash resources it has made available to (a) Highland, (b) Moray, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) Shetland, (e) Western Isles and (f) Orkney councils to implement free school meals from August 2009 for pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child and working tax credit…
Answer · Adam Ingram: The cash resource for councils to implement free school meals from August 2009 for pupils whose parents or carers are in receipt of both maximum child and working tax credit is contained within the local government settlement for 2008-11. I refer the member t…
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to include guidance to dog owners to avoid the use of animal training aids that inflict suffering or pain on a dog.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We intend to include guidance on the use of electronic training aids in the Dog Welfare Code of Practice which is expected to be issued early next year. This guidance will be based on user manuals issued with products approved by the Electronic Collar Manufac…
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the results of the consultation on the Draft Dog Welfare Code of Practice, which closed on 1 May 2008.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The responses to the Scottish Government''s consultation on the draft Dog Welfare Code of Practice have, where the respondents have agreed to their responses being made public, been placed in the Scottish Government library. A summary of these responses will …
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to ban the use of electric shock collars as avoidable punishment under section 19 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act (Scotland) Act 2006.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Section 19 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 makes it an offence for a person to cause a protected animal unnecessary suffering. There are no provisions in this section for Scottish ministers to ban or prohibit the use of any forms of punis…
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to make regulations under sections 26 and 27 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to ban the use of electric shock collars.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: A consultation seeking views and evidence on the use of electronic training aids was issued last year and the responses showed that the arguments were finely balanced but inconclusive. There is insufficient evidence at this stage to support a ban. The Departm…
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the results of its consultation on the use, sale, distribution and possession of electronic training aids, which closed on 30 November 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16565 on 9 October 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…
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sponsored or is aware of research on using excess heat from generation capacity to help enhance the growth of organic products that can be used as a fuel source.
Answer · Jim Mather: We have not sponsored, nor or we aware of any such research. However, we welcome innovative ideas to assist in energy utilization in new and different ways. More generally, we are keen to utilise all forms of energy sources to both ensure basic needs such as …
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has supported on the potential of growing algae for use as a fuel.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not directly supported such research. However, we are currently consulting on our Renewable Energy Framework for Scotland, which seeks views on a comprehensive range of proposals aimed at making Scotland a world leader in green ene…
15 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to, or interactions it has had with, the European Union or other governments on the question of the decline in honeybee numbers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The impact of pesticides on bee populations, and position of various member states, was discussed at a recent EU Working Group which meets regularly to review issues relating to the approval of pesticides. The UK has received information in response to a requ…
15 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any EU member state initiatives to limit the use of insecticides as a measure to combat the reduction in honeybee numbers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia have taken steps as necessary to restrict or prevent the use of certain pesticides. The information which is available indicates that these actions have been taken as a precautionary measure due to an association between ra…
15 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any international studies on the relationship between honeybee numbers and the use of insecticides.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are aware of a wide range of literature relating to bee populations and the use of pesticides.</p>
15 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who advises it on issues relating to honeybees.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture and the Scottish Agricultural College advise the Scottish Government on issues relating to honey bees in Scotland. Information is also shared with other administrations and the National Bee Unit.</p>
15 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to conduct research into any relationship between honeybee numbers and the use of insecticides.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have no plans to do so at present. We are however represented on the UK Honey Bee Research Funders'' Forum, which aims to maximise the coherence and effectiveness of research into health and other threats to the sustainability of honeybees in the UK. As pa…
15 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any studies have been conducted on the relative rates of honeybee number decline in areas that are free of insecticide use and areas that are not.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am not aware of any such studies.</p>
15 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that honeybee numbers are affected in any way by the use of insecticides.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Insecticides by their very nature have an impact on target insects, and if used improperly (i.e. not according to label instructions) can affect local bee populations. All agrochemical products have labels which detail the crops, rates of application and cond…