Peter Peacock

21 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms there are to support the restoration of ecosystem function.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Restoration of ecosystem function is a very broad objective. There is a very wide range of ecosystem types and a correspondingly diverse range of mechanisms which are potentially relevant to restoration of ecosystem function. It would not be practical to atte…

21 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what existing mechanisms there are for restoring the natural environment.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Restoring the natural environment is a very broad aim which may feature within the objectives of a wide range of bodies in the public voluntary and private sectors. There is a correspondingly wide range of mechanisms by which it may be achieved. It would not …

12 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many forest crofts have been created since 2007.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: To date no woodland crofts have been established on the national forest estate. A woodland crofts project officer is working with a number of communities across the crofting counties supporting them to develop their ideas and proposals.</b></p>

12 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to encourage estate owners to make starter units available for new agricultural tenants.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since 2007 the number of limited duration tenancies and short limited duration tenancies have increased by 25 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.</b></p> <p >In addition, the Scottish Government are working with the Tenant Farming Forum to achieve leasing…

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, what its assessment is of the impact on the long-term reputation of Scottish farmed salmon if the whole lifecycle of the salmon is not covered by a protected geographical indication designation that guarante…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Farmed Salmon has PGI status as approved by European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1195/2008. There is no indication that the reputation of Scottish Farmed Salmon has been negatively affected by this specification as approved by the European Commissi…

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers the protected geographical indication regulation on Scottish farmed salmon to cover only the seawater phase of salmon production and not the freshwater phase.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The specification for the Scottish Farmed Salmon PGI applies to the production of the fish from harvesting of the eggs up to distribution stage. The full specification can be viewed at: <a href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/industry/regional/foodname…

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers that, since the qualifying activity for the Scottish farmed salmon protected geographical indication (PGI) is the production of fresh fish, every stage of such PGI salmon production from…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The current specification of the PGI for Scottish Farmed Salmon is consistent with Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 which does not require that all stages of the production process must take place in the geographical area. </p>

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34479 by Richard Lochhead on 28 June 2010, whether it considers that the protected geographical indication regulation on Scottish farmed salmon must be read with and comply with the fundamental regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006, and, if…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A valid specification has been granted in relation to Scottish Farmed Salmon and it is this document that defines the terms of the PGI. This was done in compliance with Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 which lays down the rules on the protection of designa…

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33871 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 June 2010, whether the draft report into the Infectious Salmon Anaemia outbreak in Shetland has been published and, if not, when it will be published.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The <i >Report into the epidemiology and control of an outbreak of infections salmon anaemia in the Shetland Isles, Scotland</i> was published on 13 August 2010 and is available at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/science/Publicatio…

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) minimum and (b) maximum average daily flow of vehicles was on the A95 in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02, (iii) 2002-03, (iv) 2003-04, (v) 2004-05, (vi) 2005-06, (vii) 2006-07, (viii) 2007-08, (ix) 2008-09 and has been in 2010.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows a summary of the information requested for the trunk road section of the A95 (Granish to Keith). Information for the non-trunk section from Keith to Macduff is a matter for the Moray and Aberdeenshire Councils. The figures have been …

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the applications by the Pairc Trust to buy land and an associated lease on the Pairc estate under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The legislation prescribes a timetable for the right to buy process. In accordance with that timetablem ministers cannot make a decision on the applications submitted by Pairc Trust until 29 October 2010.</b></p>

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that colony collapse disorder is a threat to Scotland’s bee population

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Colony collapse disorder describes a number of symptoms rather than a disease with a single defined cause such as virus or bacterium. With our current limited understanding of colony collapse disorder in other countries we cannot say that it is a threat to Sc…

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any cases of colony collapse disorder reported with regard to Scotland’s bee population since 1999

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No cases of colony collapse disorder have been reported in Scotland''s bee population since 1999. </p>

24 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to continue or develop the Rural Homes for Rent scheme.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government intends to continue its Rural Homes for Rent Pilot Scheme by moving to a second bidding round. This further round will be expanded to permit landowners in rural areas to develop proposals for the renovation of empty properties as well …

24 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the targeted rate relief scheme announced in February 2010 to assist renewable energy generators.

Answer · John Swinney: The renewable energy generators business rate relief scheme was implemented on 1 April 2010 and welcomed by the industry. The introduction of the new scheme has been widely publicised by the Scottish Government and any business who considers it may be eligibl…

24 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support island communities facing challenges of cost in the disposal of sewerage sludge from septic tanks.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Water is required to provide a septic tank emptying service to island communities. The charges for this are calculated on a Scotland-wide basis, with the full costs of providing this service recovered from customer charges.</p> <p >Those living in i…

24 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to incentivise individuals to invest in non fossil fuel dependent heating systems.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has already supported over 4,600 individuals to invest in non fossil fuel dependent heating systems through its Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme. Demand for this hugely successful scheme has been such, that all fundi…

24 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to assist communities with the costs of the infrastructure necessary to allow the extraction of local timber supplies.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Grant incentives to assist communities for the support of forestry infrastructure are available through the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme.  </b></b></p> <p >The options available through SRDP include th…

24 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grant incentives are available for forestry planting in order to provide a source for local wood burning for climate change reasons, and whether it is satisfied enough is being done to encourage a switch to wood burning technology.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Grant incentives for forestry planting for local wood burning are available through the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). These include the woodland creation option of rural priorities and the option for establishment of short rotation coppice crop…

23 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) non-fatal casualties occurred on the A95 in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows a summary of the information requested:</p> <p >A95 Casualties by Year and Severity</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=297 colspan=5 valign=top > <p align=center >Trunk Road (Grani…

23 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to the A95 are planned in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A carriageway realignment scheme is proposed for Lackghie, east of Drumuillie. The scheme consists of the widening, horizontal and vertical realignment of 2km of single carriageway, bringing it up to current design standards through the investment of £3.2 mil…

23 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to the A95 are planned in 2010-11.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Structural maintenance works were completed at A95 Poppin Brae, Craigellachie during May 2010. These works, to the value of £0.36 million, were necessary to address a geotechnical failure of the carriageway foundations and earthwork slopes.</p> <p >Improvem…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Standing Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources now has responsibility for the ongoing welfare of bees and, if so, when this change took place.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Representatives of the National Standing Committee (NSC) on Farm Animal Genetic Resources (FAnGR) responded to a request from the Scottish Government for advice on conservation of honeybees, in line with their role.</p> <p >Policy responsibility for honey be…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new outbreaks of (a) European and (b) American foulbrood disease have been found in Scotland since the start of 2010 and, if so, in what areas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Ten colonies in five apiaries were found positive with European foulbrood (EFB) in West Lothian in July 2010.</p> <p >Two colonies from one apiary were found positive with American foulbrood (AFB) in February and April 2010 in the Stranraer area and two colo…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the position is regarding the monitoring of the (a) European and (b) American foulbrood outbreak in the bee population in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The monitoring of European foulbrood (EFB) consists of a European Foulbrood 2010 Control Plan, which was drawn up and agreed with beekeeping stakeholders. All apiaries where EFB was confirmed in 2009 were re-inspected and any cases were removed to quarantine …

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise is seeking to recover the funding that it awarded to Essentially Scottish Botanicals due to the company terminating its work on the project.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.</p>

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 are for Scottish port authorities that currently allow ship-to-ship oil transfers.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The UK Government announced a review of the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfer) Regulations on 8 July 2010.</p> <p >This action will defer the entry into force of the Regulations from 1 October 2010 to <br> 1 April 2011 but the announcement made clear …

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there were or have been ministerial visits to the Cromarty Firth Port Authority in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and, if not, whether any such visits are planned before the end of the current parliamentary session.

Answer · John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 51386).</p>

16 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the secondary schools that act as receiver schools from Gaelic-medium primary units and whether it will provide details of how many subjects are taught at each of these schools through the medium of Gaelic at (a) S1, (b) S3 and (c) Higher Grade stages.

Answer · Michael Russell: The available information on secondary schools that provide Gaelic medium education according to the 2009 pupil census and information on pupils presented for SQA examinations in Gaidhlig (Gaelic for Gaelic speakers) in 2009, is given in the following table:<…

3 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans to change the status of the accident and emergency unit at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin and, if so, what the implications would be of any change.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Grampian has confirmed that it has no plans to change the status of the Accident and Emergency Unit at Dr Gray''s Hospital. It will maintain a service that is safe, efficient and sustainable for the people that it serves in Grampian and beyond.</p>