Robin Harper

9 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how membership of the Lismore Seal Management Group is decided.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I understand the currentmembers of the Lismore Seal Management Group decide which organisations and individualsshould become members, with Scottish Natural Heritage consulting current memberson any individual or organisation requesting to join.</p>

9 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the status, remit and composition is of the Lismore Seal Management Group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Lismore Seal Management Group is convened by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and had its first meeting in December 2004. I understand it began as a meeting involving representatives of fish farm companies and relevant authorities and that the membership w…

9 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whose responsibility it is to decide which organisations and individuals may join the Scottish Seals Forum and its sub-group the Scottish Seals Working Group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish SealsForum and its sub-group, the Scottish Seals Working Group, were set up by the ScottishGovernment to bring stakeholders together to exchange information, relevant to the management ofScottish seal populations, and develop a co-ordinated appro…

14 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether plans produced by inshore fisheries groups are subject to strategic environmental assessment.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We do not currentlyconsider the localised management plans which Inshore Fisheries Groups will produceto be “qualifying plans or programmes” in terms of section 5 of the EnvironmentalAssessment (Scotland) Act 2005. However, we intend to encouragethe Inshore F…

11 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its consultation on proposed Scottish marine legislation and whom, other than the fishing industry, it considers to be relevant users.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As indicated in the answer to question S3W-3133 on 3 September 2007, it is my intentionto announce the Scottish Government’s plans for Scottish Marine Legislation in duecourse. At that point I will provide more information about the proposed consultation.</p>…

4 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have been held with the Scotland Office to discuss the devolution of further powers under UK marine legislation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is regular dialoguebetween the Scottish Government and a variety of UK Government Departments in relationto marine issues. In relation to the UK Marine Bill, officials attend the Department for Environment, Food and RuralAffairs’ Steering Group whichcon…

4 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what joint ministerial sub-committees have been formed with the UK Government; how often they have met, and whether proposals for forthcoming UK and Scottish marine legislation have been discussed at the meetings.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No new sub-committeeshave been formed from the Joint Ministerial Committee since 2002. Only one sub-committeecurrently meets, the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe), which meets four to five times a year, a few weeks in advance of the EuropeanCouncil meetin…

4 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers over marine planning it considers should be devolved under forthcoming UK marine legislation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I have already indicatedto the Parliament my support for the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy(AGMACS) recommendation on extending the Parliament’s powers over the marine environment.I am currently considering Departmentfor Environment, Food and R…

4 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the existing network of marine sites designated under Natura 2000 meets the relevant obligations and targets set under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic and the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Governmentis contributing to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) target ofestablishing marine protected areas by 2012 and the related target under the Oslo-ParisConvention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-E…

4 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Biodiversity Forum Implementation Plan will be finalised.

Answer · Michael Russell: I understand thatthe Scottish Biodiversity Forum Implementation Plan for 2008-10 is expected tobe finalised early in 2008. Consultation on the draft implementation plan andthe environmental report relating to the strategic environmental assessment of the impl…

13 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to respond to the report on outdoor education presented to the previous administration at the end of Session 2 of the Parliament and, if so, when it will do so.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Officials have beenworking in conjunction with outdoor providers, educationalists and Learning TeachingScotland in developing the programme of work on outdoor learning since 2005. Wehave decided to continue the funding for this project to take forward some of…

10 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what slaughter protocols and contingency plans are in place to deal with any future threat of foot-and-mouth disease in Scotland and how much vaccine is being held in readiness, expressed in terms of the percentage of the total number of cattle that could be vaccinated in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The ScottishExecutive contingency plan for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) sets out the basicdisease control strategy. The specific circumstances of each outbreak are takeninto account in refining that approach.</p><p>Vaccination wouldbe considered where appropr…

9 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer to question S3W-1057 by Michael Russell on 27 June 2007, whether plans for the transposition in Scotland of the EU environmental liability directive will be subject to further public consultation prior to the introduction of the necessary secondary legislation.

Answer · Michael Russell: Yes, a further publicconsultation, including draft regulations intended to transpose the Directive, willbe held in the autumn.</p>

9 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the responses to its consultation on the transposition in Scotland of EU legislation which affects the liability of those operators risking or causing significant environmental damage.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Executivereceived some 250 responses to its first public consultation exercise on the EnvironmentalLiability Directive.</p><p>Where consultees havegiven their consent to publication, our findings will be published on the Executive’swebsite shortl…

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations it intends to meet to discuss accreditation to issue energy performance certificates.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>In addition to continuingthe dialogue with many of the organisations listed in the answer to questionS3W-2682 on 23 Au…

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive with which organisations it has had discussions about becoming accredited to issue energy performance certificates.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>SBSA staff have haddialogue with the following organisations regarding the protocol arrangements:</p><p>Building Resea…

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision to limit the right to issue energy performance certificates to members of specified chartered institutes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>The issue of EnergyPerformance Certificates (EPCs) has not been limited to chartered institutes. TheSBSA would be will…

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that delays experienced in England and Wales in introducing energy performance certificates caused by a shortage in the supply of accredited assessors will be avoided in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building StandardsAgency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:</p><p>Energy PerformanceCertificates are being introduced to Scotland in a phasedapproach. Energy Performance Certificates f…

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to ensure that there will be sufficient assessors qualified to issue energy performance certificates for all categories of accommodation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>The SBSA will enterinto protocol with a variety of professional organisations within the building,property and energy …

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many energy performance certificates it estimates will be issued annually once the energy performance of buildings directive has been fully implemented for (a) new homes, (b) existing homes sold on the private housing market, (c) rented accommodation and (d) non-domestic accommodation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building StandardsAgency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:</p><p>In the early years,the estimated the number of Energy Performance Certificates issued on an annualbasis following full…

4 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review the funding criteria whereby farms are not eligible for loans from Loan Action Scotland to install small to medium-size wind turbines, given that the scheme is not oversubscribed.

Answer · Jim Mather: There are no plansto review the criteria in this way. The Loan Action Scotland scheme does not normallysupport projects in the agricultural sector as these are excluded due to EU StateAid rules. In addition, the scheme supports projects which deliver good car…

4 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received on the conservation of sharks, skates and rays in Scottish waters; whether it believes that spurdog and beagle sharks are under serious threat, and whether it will consider calling for a zero total allowable catch on the resident shoal of spurdog.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Executive has receiveda number of representations concerning the conservation of sharks, skates and rays.</p><p>As regards spurdog, I do notbelieve that a zero total allowablecatch is the most effective measure to protectthis stock. I would prefe…

3 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had talks with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on whether the SQA intends to introduce the theory of intelligent design to the Scottish schools science curriculum; if so, what the conclusions of these discussions have been and, if not, whether the SQA will be ca…

Answer · Maureen Watt: There have been nodiscussions with the SQA as SQA does not have a remit for setting out the curriculafor schools. Neither are there any plans to include Intelligent Design as part of the Curriculum for Excellence review.</p>

3 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has had with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) regarding proposals for ship-to-ship transfers of oil and oil products in the Firth of Forth; whether it considers it necessary to further consult SNH in exercising the Scottish Ministers’ functions under paragraphs (1) to …

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is regular contactbetween officials of the Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)on a wide range of issues. I understand that SNH has provided advice to Forth Portsto assist in their consideration of the proposed transfers. The legislati…

3 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will direct Forth Ports plc, as harbour authority for the Firth of Forth, to send the Scottish Ministers copies of the proposals for ship-to-ship transfers of oil and oil products in the Firth of Forth for consideration under regulation 48A(1) of the Conservation (Natural Habitats…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I understand thatForth Ports’ appropriate assessment is on-going and we continue to monitor its progress.As I explained in Parliament the regulation of ship to ship oil transfer is currentlyreserved to the UK Government under Section 130 of the Merchant Shipp…

22 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what systems are in place to ensure that the reuse of white goods and electrical items is prioritised when the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive regulations are implemented in July 2007 and how they will be monitored to ensure that as many white goods as possible are reu…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Waste Electricaland Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006 place an obligation on producersto provide information on thereuse of their products when placing them on the market; place an obligation on compliance schemes establishedby producers to ful…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made for continuing student exemption from council tax for Scottish students who, after completion of a degree, immediately start a professional diploma course.

Answer · John Swinney: If there is no gapbetween the completion of a degree and the start of a professional diploma course,and all other qualifying criteria are met, the individual may be eligible for anon-going exemption from council tax for the full period of study. However, if t…

12 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that small firms bidding for PFI/PPP contracts, particularly in the waste industry, are not disadvantaged by the process and that what they have to offer in the way of sustainability, particularly in relation to transport impacts on the environment, is…

Answer · John Swinney: We said before theelection that it will be open to local authorities andother public bodies to choose between PFI and Scottish Futures Bonds for plannedand future projects. Work has already started on the detailed design aspectsof the Scottish Futures Trust a…

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to progress the recommendations of the Advisory Group on the Marine and Coastal Strategy, convened by the former Minister for the Environment and Rural Development, and what plans it has for Scottish marine legislation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As I previously indicated tothe Parliament, I am committed to taking action to address the need for change tolegislation for the management of Scotland’s marine and coastal environment. It is important thatthis action builds on the very useful work of the Env…

12 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities may use compulsory purchase orders to buy land owned by NHS Scotland for the sites of new schools.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Local Government (Scotland)Act 1973 do not contain provisions which would authorise the use of compulsory purchasepowers by local authorities on land owned by Scottish ministers used for the provisionof healthcare ser…