Richard Lochhead

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas’ proposals in relation to conserving herring and mackerel stocks.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Advice on the management ofmackerel is due in October 2006.</p><p>The current advice on North Sea herring, published on 9 June 2006, is complex and will require careful study before decisions are taken inconjunction with other EU member states and Norway late…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had to discussions with the European Union in respect of changing the timing of the annual fishing quota negotiations that currently take place prior to Christmas and what progress these discussions have made.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Commission has recently publisheda Communication on <i>Improving Consultationon EU Fisheries Management</i>. The documentcan be found here:</p><p><ahref="http://ec.europa.eu/comm/fisheries/doc_et_publ/factsheets/legal_texts/docscom/en/com_06_246_en.pdf">h…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any submission to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management’s consultation on the committee’s interim recommendations and, if so, whether it will provide a summary of the submission and also place a full copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has not madeany submissions to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) followingthe publication of its draft recommendations on 27 April 2006.</p><p>The Executive is a jointsponsor of CoRWM and is looking forward to receiving the C…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times have been in each of the last three years for (a) assessments and (b) fittings for digital hearing aids (i) nationally and (ii) broken down by NHS board, showing also the number of patients on each waiting list and expressed as a ratio per 1,000 of populatio…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information iscurrently not held centrally. However, as part of the Audiology ModernisationProject, the Scottish Executive has asked the Information and StatisticsDivision of NHS National Services Scotland to establish a national datacollection programme…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all applications submitted in relation to flood prevention schemes in Moray, including those where decisions have yet to be taken, showing (a) the outcome or status of each application, (b) the level of funding awarded in each case and (c) where decisions have yet to …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland)Act 1961 (the 1961 Act), the Moray Council submitted the <i>Lhanbryde FloodPrevention Scheme</i> for confirmation in December 2003. After the withdrawalof the only objection on 24 March 2004, Scottish ministers considered …

11 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the capacity threshold used by HM Inspectorate of Education and other authorities in relation to the viability of rural schools is 60%; if so, what the status is of this figure, what its origins were, what criteria were used in determining it and whether there are any plans to abo…

Answer · Peter Peacock: In 1995, the Accounts Commissionpublished <i>Room for Learning – Managing Surplus Capacity in School Buildings.</i>One of its focuses was on assessing the potential for rationalisation of schoolswhich were less than 60% occupied. At no time though has the com…

11 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been, and will be, taken to support the development of a supply chain for the emerging offshore wind sector to ensure that Scotland derives maximum economic benefit from commissioned projects.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are committed to providing£3 million support to the deep-water off-shore wind demonstrator project being developedby Talisman in the Moray Firth. Substantial elements of this project are being sourcedfrom manufacturers based in Scotland. More generally, bo…

11 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards developing strategic planning for the emerging offshore wind sector.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: On 24 May, I announced that weshall be undertaking a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for offshore windgeneration in Scotland.</p>

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 21 and (c) 22 to 25 have been registered as unemployed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

20 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fair trade products it has purchased in each of the last five years, detailing individual products and the quantities purchased.

20 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that public money is spent ethically.

20 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to fund the creation of new competition-standard swimming pools.

20 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many competition-standard swimming pools are located in Scotland and what information it has on how this number compares with other European nations.

17 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what emphasis the Parliament’s procurement strategy places on purchasing fair trade products.

Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The Parliament’s commitmentis to purchase responsibly, taking account of social, ethical, economic andenvironmental considerations. Our procurement procedures have been recently developedto ensure that these issues are considered at every stage of the procure…

17 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what plans it has to increase the number of fair trade products supplied by the Parliament’s catering services.

Answer · Nora Radcliffe: A number of fair tradeproducts are currently supplied and the SPCB is considering extending the rangeof confectionary items available for sale. The SPCB is always on the look outto increase the fair trade range whenever possible but needs to take account ofli…

17 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many fair trade products are supplied by the Parliament’s catering services.

Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The following fair tradeproducts are currently available at the Parliament:</p><p>All tea and coffee servedthroughout the campus</p><p>Orange juice served forhospitality</p><p>A choice of red and whitewine in the Members’ Restaurant and Bar</p><p>Confectioner…

15 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had to the appointment of Sir Ken Collins, Chair of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency board, to the EU High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and Environment and, if it had input, to what extent the Parliament was consulted on this issue.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: On 25 January 2006 Sir KenCollins was invited by Gunter Verheugen, Vice-President of the EuropeanCommission, to become a member of the High Level Group on Competitiveness,Energy and the Environment.</p><p>Sir Ken was invited to takeup this position in a perso…

15 Mar 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to ensure that all areas receive adequate ambulance cover.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive HealthDepartment continually monitors and reviews the performance of the Scottish AmbulanceService. We take a particular interest in the emergency ambulance service and howthe service is performing across Scotland against its response t…

14 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what guidelines are set for the sourcing of Scottish products in respect of catering within the Parliament.

Answer · Nora Radcliffe: The SPCB is required tocomply with European procurement law that requires us to be fair, transparentand non-discriminatory in our treatment of suppliers. Within these parameterswe have set requirements for the contractor to supply fresh, seasonal producewhich…

13 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Wi-Fi networks are operational and what the extent is of existing Wi-Fi coverage.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>

13 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop wireless internet coverage across Scotland and, if so, whether it will give details in respect of the level of coverage and timescale.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We currently have no such plans.</p>

13 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what proportion of energy consumption is accounted for by electronic devices on standby.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information provided by the Departmentfor Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’, Market Transformation Programme estimatesthat in 2004 electricity consumption of equipment on stand-by in households andcommercial premises such as offices, retail and hotels, was…

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23466 by Mr Andy Kerr on 3 March 2006, how many out-patients on the out-patient waiting list had an availability status code at each census date for which information is available, expressed also as a percentage of all out-patients on the list.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isshown in the table.</p><p class=nhsrecipient>Since2004, Information Services Division (ISD) has collected data on a national basiscomprising an out-patient waiting list. This is a monthly census which includesinformation on all pat…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when and how the Deputy First Minister was made aware that the Milltimber leg of the proposed route for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route was to be included, or was under consideration for inclusion, in the proposals for the route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I shall reply to the member as soon as possible.

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the (a) UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and (b) European Union regarding the EU Landfill Directive in respect of the proposal for field stones to be classified as commercial waste.

Answer · Ross Finnie: None as we are not aware ofany such proposal.  I understand that the Scottish Environment ProtectionAgency, which is responsible for the enforcement of waste legislation in Scotland, doesnot consider field stones to be waste unless they are actually disposed …

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that vaccination of birds could help prevent the spread of avian flu.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Preventive vaccination is only permitted under EU legislation when a country is at high risk of disease incursion. This is not currently the case in Scotland. The advice I have received from the Chief Veterinary Officer (Scotland) is that given the efficacy o…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any legal issues which would prevent the introduction of a tenant farmer’s right to buy where the tenant’s landlord lives, or is based, outwith Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No.</p>

1 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it make representations to the supermarkets in respect of the pressures experienced by the pig industry to ensure that the sector can compete on a level playing field.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I constantly stress, tosupermarkets and to others in the supply chain, the importance of healthytrading relationships, with good communication and co-operation throughout thesupply chain. Product sourcing decisions are, however, a matter for thesupermarkets t…

1 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce new measures to help the pig industry compete with cheaper and inferior imported products stocked by supermarkets.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish pig industryhas received £4.75 million of financial support from the UK Pig IndustryRestructuring Scheme. The terms of the scheme, agreed with the EuropeanCommission in January 2001, prohibit further assistance to the sector for aperiod of 10 yea…

1 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much commercial building space is currently heated from renewable sources and what percentage of all commercial space this represents.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>