Parliamentary questions
Robin Harper
759 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to stop the publication of school league tables of examination results.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: School league tables are not published in Scotland. School examination performance results for the 2000 post-appeal and 2001 pre-appeal diets will be published together this November.
23 Jul 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what steps are being taken to make the Parliament more environmentally sustainable in the light of the "Do a Little - Change a Lot" campaign of the Scottish Executive, whether there is any member of staff with responsibility for promoting environmental sustainability and, if so, what their…
Answer · David Steel: The Parliament's Procurement Office is developing an environmental procurement policy which aims to minimise the adverse impacts on the environment through effective environmental purchasing. The Facilities Management Office is currently developing an environ…
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a detailed breakdown of how the #500 million investment over the next three years in public transport referred to in its announcement of 18 June 2001 will be spent.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Spending Review 2000 provided an additional £500 million to the overall transport programme. The reference to public transport in the Press Release of 18 June was incorrect. <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The additional funding overall was incorporated in the Executive's…
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce teeth cleaning schemes in all nursery and primary schools to reduce dental caries until drinking-water fluoridation plants, if approved, come into operation.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland, published last August, highlighted the range of preventative programmes in development and the need for health boards to monitor and expand toothbrushing schemes in nurseries. Given recent findings of research …
6 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the statement by the UK Minister for the Environment on Newsnight on 3 July 2001 that toxic fly ash from incinerators that is used in construction materials could be a ha'ard to human health and his subsequent instruction to the Environment Agency to determine where s…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Fly ash from incinerators is classified as special waste under the Special Waste Regulations 1996 and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) must be notified prior to all movements of the waste. The transportation and disposal of special waste is c…
4 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise or the local enterprise companies carry out any analysis of the number of jobs resulting from their assistance to forestry and related businesses and what the findings have been of any such analyses.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The Scottish Executive does not hold this information centrally.
4 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any analysis of the efficacy of enterprise company assistance for forestry and related businesses was carried out to provide information for either the Forestry Industry Cluster Strategy or the enterprise networks review.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The Scottish Executive does not hold this information centrally.
4 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether employment in forestry and related businesses declined by 25% between 1989 and 1999; whether any such decline was particularly marked in rural areas, and whether there was an expansion of forests and an increase in the amount of timber felled and processed over the same time perio…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Forest Employment Survey, carried out by the Forestry Commission, collects information on employment in forestry and primary wood processing industries. It has shown a decline from 15,245 full-time equivalent jobs in 1988-89 to 10,694 in 1998-99. However,…
4 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the figure of 44,000 people employed in forestry in Scotland, as quoted in Roots for Growth - A Strategic Framework for Action for the Scottish Timber Industries by Scottish Forest Industries Cluster, was calculated and why it differs from the Forestry Employment Survey 1999 figure of…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The figure quoted in Roots for Growth was calculated using data from the Annual Employment Survey in Scotland. In addition, some allowance was made for those who were self employed, those who worked in related activities in the construction and service indust…
3 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to progressively reduce and eliminate any radioactive contamination of the Scottish coastline caused by the nuclear reprocessing plant at Sellafield.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Control of radioactive discharges from Sellafield is a matter for the Environment Agency and the UK Government.
3 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be sending a representative to the 23rd biennial international conference of the International Union for Land Value Taxation, being held in Edinburgh on 9 and 10 July 2001.
Answer · Angus MacKay: No.
22 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to both the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology's report, Management of Nuclear Waste, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) board paper 32/00, which make reference to changing SEPA's powers relating to the control of radioactive waste,…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The response of the UK Government and devolved administrations to the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology Report on the <I>Management of Nuclear Waste</I> was announced to the Scottish Parliament on 25 October 1999. A copy is available i…
20 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution is being made to the development of citi'enship and global values in education by the teaching of Modern Studies.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Modern Studies is one of a range of subjects which contribute to the development of citizenship and global values. Along with the development of a good school ethos, Modern Studies can make a valuable contribution to pupils' learning in relation to these issu…
20 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the Action Plan for a Sustainable Scotland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is on course to deliver the Action Plan by January 2002 as previously announced.
18 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts it, its agencies or non-departmental public bodies have with Esso or other subsidiaries of Exxon-Mobil.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and Fisheries Research Services purchase some of their marine gas oil requirements from Esso under the terms of a contract put in place by the Ministry of Defence. Other areas of the Executive occasionally purchase sma…
15 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15749 by Rhona Brankin on 29 May 2001, whether Scottish Natural Heritage referred to the issue of damage to nest sites outwith the breeding season in its response to The Nature of Scotland and, if so, what Scottish Natural Heritage's comments were.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Consultation on <I>The Nature of Scotland</I> ended on 29 May and responses are now being analysed. Scottish Natural Heritage's (SNH) response did refer to the issue of damage to nest sites outwith the breeding season and will be taken into account by ministe…
15 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15749 by Rhona Brankin on 29 May 2001, whether the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime has considered the issue of damage to nest sites outwith the breeding season or received any advice related to the issue from either the Joint Nature Conservation C…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Neither the UK Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, or its Scottish Working Group, has considered the issue of damage to bird nest sites outwith the breeding season as part of the proposals for legislative change set out in <I>The Nature of Scotland…
15 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15749 by Rhona Brankin on 29 May 2001, how the phrase "while [a] nest is in use or being built" from section 1 (1) (b) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 can be interpreted as applying "outwith the breeding season" as specified in Article 5 (b)…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have previously indicated that the Scottish Executive considers that section 1 (1) (b) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 fully implements the provisions of Article 5 (b) of the Wild Birds Directive as it protects all nests in use. Ultimately, of cour…
15 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a summary of responses to its consultation on new guidelines and policy for mobile phone masts and when it expects to bring forward new legislation and/or guidelines as a result.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The regulations have now been laid and will come into force on Monday 23 July. We will publish an overview of the responses to the consultation paper during July.
15 Jun 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether internal timber finishing and furnishings for the Holyrood Parliament buildings will be procured from an environmentally certified source.
Answer · David Steel: The specifications for timber furnishings for the Holyrood building have not yet been produced, however, an "environmental purchasing policy" is currently being drafted to cover this area of procurement, and will be made available to members when co…
15 Jun 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what remaining orders for timber or components including timber for Holyrood Parliament buildings are yet to go out to tender.
Answer · David Steel: Timber elements will be included in the following trade packages which have still to be tendered:<P>1.	Assembly Building Timber Flooring<P>2.	Assembly Building Carpentry and Specialist Joinery<P>3.	Queensberry House Carpentry and Specialist Joinery <…
15 Jun 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what type and volume of timber, or components including timber, for Holyrood Parliament buildings are currently the subject of orders out to tender and how the ecological sustainability of this timber is assured, giving relevant extracts from tender documentation.
Answer · David Steel: There are currently three Trade Packages out to tender which include elements of oak timber totalling 752m<SUP>3</SUP>. The individual packages are as follows:<P>Trade Package				Volume<P>1.	Assembly Building Specialist Glazing		270m<SUP>…
15 Jun 2001 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what type and volume of timber, or components including timber, have been ordered to date for the Holyrood Parliament buildings and what the origin and environmental certification was of all such timber.
Answer · David Steel: The procurement of approximately 50m<SUP>3</SUP> of Scottish oak timber for the Holyrood Project, from suppliers throughout Scotland, is nearing completion. All of the suppliers concerned are licensed by the Forestry Commission, which ensures that the timber …
6 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet representatives of the Scottish Advisory Group for Outdoor Education to discuss the establishment of a teaching qualification in outdoor education.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education was involved in proposals developed in early 2000 for a teaching qualification on outdoor education. Decisions on those proposals were deferred pending the outcome of the discussions on the McCrone report. I i…
29 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14961 by Ross Finnie on 16 May 2001, what research into genetically modified fish it or the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department directly or indirectly funded; what the purpose, length and cost of any such research was, and which inst…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any such research.
29 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will send a representative to the meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation in Mondari', Spain, from 4 to 8 June 2001 to participate in the negotiation of an international agreement on the containment of genetically modified fish.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Officials from the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department attended the annual meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation in Mondariz, Spain from 4 to 8 June 2001 as members of the European Union Delegation.
29 May 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 19 March 2001. The main issues discussed were the Health Spending Programme, the consultation on sustainable development indicators and responses to the Renewables Obligation Scotland consultation.<P>A…
21 May 2001 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether a ban will be placed on rearing genetically modified fish in sea cages in light of the Royal Society's recommendation in its report published on 21 May 2001 and, if so, how soon such a ban would be implemented.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The rearing of genetically modified fish in marine pens would require consent under the GM Deliberate Release Regulations.<P>If the regulators were not satisfied that marine pens could be deployed without posing a threat to the environment, they would reject …
11 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether section 1(1) (b) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 implements in full Article 5(b) of the EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409) in relation to the deliberate destruction of, or damage to, nests and nest sites outwith the breeding season; what advice it has…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive considers that section 1 (1) (b) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 fully implements the provisions of Article 5 (b) of Council Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds, in relation to the deliberate destruction of…
23 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the functions and responsibilities of all those involved in waste minimisation.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Details of all those involved in waste minimisation are not held centrally. There are many waste minimisation initiatives in Scotland organised by a variety of groups including local authorities, local enterprise companies, universities, water authorities, pr…