Parliamentary questions

Robin Harper

759 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

2 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned at the 86% decline in white fish landings to Clyde ports between 1987 and 2001 and what measures, other than those already taken, it will take to address the situation

Answer · Ross Finnie: Landings of whitefish into the Clyde ports (defined as those creeks from Campbeltown to Stranraer but not including Crinan, Islay, Tayinloan and Tayvallich) have declined by 81%.<table class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=206> <…

17 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6286 by Allan Wilson on 15 March 2004, what action it is taking to prevent the accumulation of toxic chemicals in (a) freshwater fish, (b) saltwater fish and (c) shellfish.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Through the Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency, the Executive limits discharge of toxic chemicals to themarine and freshwater environment where they can be taken up by fish andshellfish. Other regulatory measures taken to protect the consumer from theeffec…

23 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult the Association of British Dispensing Opticians to resolve any anomalies concerning its funding and status.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No. The Scottish Executive has no responsibility for the funding or status of professional representativebodies such as the Association of British Dispensing Opticians.

15 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the UK Sustainable Development Commission's report, Shows promise - But must try harder.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive welcomesthe Sustainable Development Commission's report as a contribution to the debateon sustainable development. The report looks mainly at the activity of the UK Governmentand at progress against its indicators, but includes brief me…

14 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to ensure that aggregates levy funding to environmental projects, in particular to geodiversity audits, is in line with the funding available to such projects in England and Wales.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Half of the aggregates levy fundingin Scotland during 2002-03 and 2003-04 was allocated to the CommunityEnvironmental Renewal Scheme (CERS), supporting a range of environmental projects.The scheme’s design reflectedScottish concerns and priorities. Com…

31 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been committed to the proposed Scotscorps initiative in the next three years and how youth work and other voluntary organisations will be able to access these resources in order to develop the volunteering opportunities that they offer to young people.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is providing £1.9/£3.5/£3.5 million to Project Scotland overthe next three years. Project Scotland will shortly initiate discussions with potential partnerorganisations about the development of specific volunteering programmes.

31 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that the proposed Scotscorps initiative will be a good use of taxpayers' money and will support, rather than compete with, existing volunteer-involving organisations.

Answer · Margaret Curran: A key principle of Project Scotland concernsthe need to complement rather than compete with existing volunteering organisations.The proposals are grounded in discussions with stakeholders in the private, voluntaryand public sectors, and these will continue as…

31 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how any resources committed for 2003-04 to the proposed Scotscorps initiative for young people have been spent and what the outcomes of this expenditure have been.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The working groupfor Project Scotland (previously referred to as Scotscorps) developeddetailed proposals for a ground-breaking youth volunteering initiative involvingthe public, private and voluntary sectors. These proposals were subsequently endorsedby Minis…

29 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in introducing regulations to amend the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Following the close of theconsultation Safer Sludge last year the Scottish Executive is still indiscussions with interested parties. We hope to lay Regulations in the Scottish Parliament later this year.

26 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue definitive guidance to education authorities on the circumstances in which parents may choose to educate their children at home, following the end of the consultation process on the revised draft guidance, Guidance on the circumstance in which parents may choose to educ…

Answer · Peter Peacock: We hope to issue theguidance this month.

16 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what tests have been carried out, and how often, for the accumulation of toxic chemicals in (a) freshwater fish, (b) saltwater fish and (c) shellfish, in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This is a matter for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Food Standards Agency. The informationis not held centrally.

26 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it received, either directly or through Her Majesty's Government, from the European Commission to review its Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance programme to increase its share of the #2.6 billion European funding to offset the impact of reduced fishing and to …

Answer · Allan Wilson: The European Commission haspublicly reminded all member states of the provision for socio-economicmeasures under its financial instrument for fisheries guidance (FIFG) andencouraged their use to offset the impacts of reduced fishing opportunities. Thescope to…

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in updating the calculations in the original national review group recommendations on the costs of care in care and nursing homes, it has been able to calculate the additional cost per resident of water supply to such homes and, if so, whether it will publish these calculations.

Answer · Tom McCabe: A working group has been establishedto consider a mutually acceptable framework for assessing the cost of providingnursing and residential care for older people from 2005-06. The working groupconsists of representatives from COSLA and the independent care sec…

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the "right si'ing" programme being implemented by Scottish Water is providing appropriate technical and pricing solutions to the normal and emergency water needs of owners and managers of care and nursing homes.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water. I will ask the Chief Executive to write to you onthis matter.

20 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1744 by Hugh Henry on 19 August 2003, what the responsibilities of the registered care or nursing home manager are in determining the pipe si'e and water hydrant pressure requirements in care and nursing homes.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Care services registeredwith the Care Commission under the Regulation of Care (Scotland)Act 2001 (the Act) are required by statute to use only premises which are fitto be used for the provision of such a service. This would include taking intoaccount any fire…

13 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the 12 locations outlined by Nirex in 1988-89 on its shortlist of possible sites for intermediate-level radioactive waste repositories are in Scotland and, if so, where.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This is a matter for Nirex.

8 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-16309 by Sir David Steel on 29 June 2001, whether the environmental certification details referred to have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and whether details of all timber used since July 2001 will be placed there.

Answer · George Reid: The Convener of the HolyroodProgress Group has now written to the member with the details requested, andplaced a copy of that letter in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

11 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities can require the provision of sustainable development measures, such as recycling facilities, energy efficiency standards, cycle parking and renewable energy sources, within the process of building or refurbishing schools under public private partnership (PPP) con…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Local authorities can, andshould, require the provision of sustainable development measures within theirschools PPP project. The long-term and integrated nature of PPP incentivisescontractors to consider the synergies between the design of an asset and itsult…

30 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the responsibilities of the (a) Care Commission, (b) local firemaster and (c) registered care or nursing home manager are in determining the pipe si'e and water hydrant pressure requirements in care and nursing homes.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The firemaster, on behalf of the Fire Authority, has a general responsibility with regard to the supply of water for firefighting by virtue of section 13 of the Fire Services Act 1947. When provision of water hydrants for firefighting purposes is being recomm…