Parliamentary questions

Robin Harper

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

26 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of reports that interim results from trials of genetically modified oilseed rape show that damage has been caused to the environment and what action it intends to take.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is aware of a newspaper report on this subject but understands that no interim results from the farm scale evaluation programme yet exist for any of the crops which are being assessed. The data from the three years of field trials will …

5 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Trade and Industry on the implications of any agreement Her Majesty's Government has entered into in relation to the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade and its effect on the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has not made any such representations.

30 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many discharge consents were issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in 2001 for chemicals used in the treatment of sea lice at salmon farms and whether levels of discharge of such chemicals increased in 2001 compared with 1999 and 2000.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We do not hold this information in the Scottish Executive. Consenting discharges is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. However, the need to use such treatments within their consented limits will vary from year to year in response to sea …

28 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, or any other bodies on its behalf, have conducted any assessment of any job losses expected to arise from its proposal to withdraw water charges relief for charities and voluntary organisations.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No specific assessment has been carried out for this purpose. The Executive has set out an exemption scheme, to target small and locally funded organisations, which will provide that charitable organisations currently receiving relief from water charges with …

28 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of the five priority areas identified by the First Minister in respect of potential spending decisions, what assessment it has made of any impact of phasing out water charges relief for charities and voluntary organisations on (a) employment, (b) health, (c) education, (d) crime …

28 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the impact on voluntary arts organisations of its proposals to remove water charges relief for charities and voluntary organisations and any consequential impact on achieving the objectives of its National Cultural Strategy.

20 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include the costs of water rates in any recalculation of care home costs in any updated version of the Report on care home costs for older people in Scotland by the National Review Group.

Answer · Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33275 today. 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/webapp/sear…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether one of the genetically modified oil-seed rape plants being grown in the field trial at Roskil Farm on the Black Isle has flowered several months ahead of the normal flowering time and, if this has happened, whether it was the result of genetically insta…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Following a site visit, the Scottish Executive can confirm that a plant within the GM oil-seed rape crop growing at Tullich field has flowered, as has an oilseed rape plant among the non-GM control crop. On the GM side of the field, this represents one plant …

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4268 by Ross Finnie on 6 December 2001, whether it will make representations to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission seeking a scientific opinion as to whether the differen…

Answer · Ross Finnie: No. The reported difference in height between crops at Munlochy does not raise any safety or regulatory issues of concern to the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment. The conduct of the farmscale evaluations is determined by an independent Scient…

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4268 by Ross Finnie on 6 December 2001, whether the genetically modified oil-seed rape being trialed at Roskil farm on the Black Isle is based on a different variety to the non-GM crop it is being compared with in the trial and, if so, why, and wheth…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The farmscale evaluation programme does not compare the GM crop with a non-GM variety. It is designed to compare the effect on biodiversity of the agricultural practices required to grow herbicide-tolerant GM crops with conventional agricultural practices. Th…

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4268 by Ross Finnie on 6 December 2001, why there is a difference in heights between the genetically modified oil-seed rape and the normal oil-seed rape it is being compared with in the trial at Roskil farm on the Black Isle.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The relative heights of crops at farmscale evaluation sites is not a matter of safety or regulatory concern and is not measured by the Scottish Executive or our GM Inspectorate. The scientists who are overseeing these trials will consider whether any differen…

10 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-4268 by Ross Finnie on 6 December 2001, whether the difference in height between the genetically modified oil-seed rape and the normal oil-seed rape it is being compared with in the GM field trial at Roskil Farm on the Black Isle may itself cause dif…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The scientists overseeing these trials across the UK will note any major differences between crops over the entire cropping cycle and will consider these as part of their final analysis.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what species of eider duck are found in (a) the Shetland Islands, (b) the Orkney Islands, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) the Western Isles and (e) the Highland Council area.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The species of eider found in all parts of the UK is the common eider (Somateria mollissima).

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the eider duck population; how many and what proportion of these are found in (a) the Shetland Islands, (b) the Orkney Islands, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) the Western Isles and (e) the Highland Council area, and what the local population changes in each of the…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The most recently published estimate of the eider duck population - 77,500 wintering in Great Britain, including 66,000 in Scottish inshore coastal waters - is for the period 1986-92. The totals and proportions for Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles, Moray F…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, when considering licence applications to kill or remove eider ducks in order to protect mussel farms, what assessment it gives to alternative measures to protect mussel farms and how it determines whether these alternatives are successful.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Non-lethal deterrents must have been employed before a licence is granted. Historical evidence, or that seen during a site inspection, is considered. Advice on non-lethal methods is provided to applicants and may be followed up if subsequent applications are …

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what tests it applies in relation to licence applications to kill or remove eider ducks to protect mussel farms and what scientific advice it has received as to determining the level of damage which could be caused to such farms.

Answer · Allan Wilson: An assessment is made of the site development, including standing stock, production levels, staff presence on site and site situation. Records of predation, and evidence of non-lethal measures and anti-predator devices used are considered. Applicants are requ…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures for site inspection and local consultation are used in the determination of whether to issue licences to kill or remove eider ducks for the protection of mussel farms.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Site inspections are carried out on every occasion when the application is the first in respect of an area. They are undertaken by a representative of the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory and the local Scottish Natural Heritage officer.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted any site visits or local consultations in regard to licences to kill or remove eider ducks in (a) the Shetland Islands, (b) the Orkney Islands, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) the Western Isles and (e) the Highland Council area during 2001 or whether any such visits or c…

Answer · Allan Wilson: One site visit has been carried out in 2001. Such visits are always made on the first occasion an area is the subject of an application.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many licence applications to kill or remove eider ducks in order to protect mussel farms have been (a) received from and (b) granted to (i) the Shetland Islands, (ii) the Orkney Islands, (iii) Argyll and Bute, (iv) the Western Isles and (v) the Highland Council area in each year from …

Answer · Allan Wilson: No applications have been received from the Orkney Islands, the Western Isles or the Highland Council Area since 1998.One license has been applied for and issued to the Shetland Islands in 2001-02. In Argyll and Bute, the following figures apply:<TABLE …

28 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to any difference in growth between the genetically modified (GM) oil-seed rape and the normal oil-seed rape with which it is being compared at the GM field trial at Roskil farm on the Black Isle.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The farm scale evaluation programme is concerned with effects on biodiversity. The relative rate of growth of the GM and conventional crops is not one of the key indicators of the programme.However, scientists overseeing these trials across the UK note any…

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill will enable implementation of Article 5 of the United Nations Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters relating to the collection and disse…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Implementation of Article 5 of the United Nations Aarhus Convention is already being delivered through existing administrative and legislative means. The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill is therefore not needed to enable implementation of Article 5.

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill will facilitate implementation of the United Nations Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters and, if so, how any such implementation will …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill will, if enacted, facilitate implementation of the United Nations Aarhus Convention. This will be achieved through the power in the bill to introduce regulations compliant with the convention.

21 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the United Nations Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters and whether it has been in communication with Her Majesty's Government over the United Kingdom's ratification of the co…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive fully supports the United Nations Aarhus Convention, and it is in close contact with Her Majesty's Government over the UK's ratification of the Convention, including the timing of ratification.

19 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to ensure that the Scottish Science Library does not close.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The future of the Scottish Science Library is a matter for the Board of Trustees of the National Library of Scotland.

8 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question SIW-16313 by Lewis Macdonald on 29 June 2001, when it intends to publish an overview of the responses to its consultation on new evidence and policies for mobile phone masts.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The overview of responses is now on the Scottish Executive's website at www.scotland.gov.uk/planning.

26 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of any breaches by it of European environmental law currently being investigated by the European Commission and what action it is taking both in respect of any such breaches and to prevent any in future.

Answer · Ross Finnie: All member states of the European Union are currently the subject of investigations by the European Commission regarding breaches of European environmental law. The United Kingdom has a good record on such matters.There is one breach of European environ…

17 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is liable for damage to organic farms and crops resulting from field trials of GM crops.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are currently no provisions in Scots or UK law expressly covering liability for damage caused specifically from fields of genetically modified crops. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, there are powers to prosecute a consent holder where the c…

12 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the research projects to be funded from the #19 million funding awarded to the Scottish Crop Research Institute on 10 September 2001.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The £1.9 million pounds awarded to the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) will fund the following eight new projects:Ecological management and biotechnology;Computational Biology, andFunctional analysis of novel genes from potato and barley.D…

29 Aug 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland was last convened; what was discussed; when it will next meet, and what will be on the agenda.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Ministerial Group on Sustainable Scotland last met on 31 July. Summaries of its discussions are placed on the Sustainable Scotland website: http://www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk/. The group will meet again on 12 September to discuss its work programme fo…

1 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken or plans to take in relation to the distribution to schools by Scottish Enterprise of Your World: Biotechnology & You which is sponsored by pro-GM organisations including Monsanto.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I understand that the distribution of Your World: Biotechnology & You on a pilot basis was arranged by Scottish Enterprise after discussion with Learning and Teaching Scotland (the umbrella organisation for the Higher Still Development Unit) and He…