Parliamentary questions

Robin Harper

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

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what means of monitoring bycatch were used from 1984 to 2009.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29456 on 9 December 2009. 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/Apps…

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of fishing boats using static nets was visited by independent observers from 1984 to 2009.

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was made available for monitoring the incidental capture and killing of animals listed in Annex IV(a) of the EU habitats directive from 1984 to 2009.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage fund a number of projects that provide data on incidental capture and killing of animals listed in Annex IV (a) of the Habitats Directive. Details are provided in the following table: <table border=…

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements were made for ensuring that the incidental capture and killing of animals listed in Annex IV(a) of the EU habitats directive did not have a negative impact on the species in question from 1984 to 2009.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29459 on 15 December 2009. 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/App…

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements were made for monitoring incidental capture and killing of animals listed in Annex IV(a) of the EU habitats directive from 1984 to 2009.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Habitats Directive came into force in 1992. Since 1994 two reports have been submitted by the UK Government to the EC as required by Article 17 of the Habitats Directive which include information on monitoring arrangements. These are: The First …

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many boats in the set net fishery were (a) within the six mile limit, (b) from six to 12 miles and (c) offshore of the 12-mile limit in each year from 1984 to 2009; what type of nets were used; how many kilometres of net were set, and what the main target species were in each area.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information on length of net deployed is insufficiently complete for reliable information to be provided on how many kilometres of net were set. The other data requested is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49869).

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seals have been killed as bycatch in bottom set nets in Scottish waters in each year since 1999.

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many porpoises have been killed as bycatch in bottom set nets in Scottish waters in each year since 1999.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The UK cetacean bycatch monitoring scheme (UKCBMS) is designed to meet UK and Scottish Government responsibilities under the EU Habitats Directive by monitoring incidental bycatch of cetaceans in UK fisheries. The scheme is a UK scheme funded at UK level but …

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment has been carried out under section 6(3) of the EU habitats directive as to whether the Firth of Lorne fishery can be reopened and, if so, what species and what net usage have been included in this assessment.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation is currently closed to scallop dredging while research is carried out into the possible impact of scallop dredging on the reefs for which the site was designated. There are presently no plans to reopen the site t…

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted Scottish Natural Heritage or any conservation, wildlife tourism or diving NGOs regarding the reopening of crawfish fishing in the Firth of Lorne special area of conservation (SAC) and other SACs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29452 on 14 December 2009. 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.parlia…

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken to ask the European Union to lift the use of bottom set nets in the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas area V1a and, if not, whether the Scottish Government will consult Scottish Natural Heritage, environmental NGOs, the wildlife touris…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The prohibition of Tangle Nets in the West Coast of Scotland ICES Area VIA was agreed by the European Union Council of Ministers in December 2008 as part of a package of emergency measures to protect Cod, Haddock and Whiting in 2009. The measure had a 12 mont…

30 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the prohibition of bottom set nets in the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas area V1a being lifted would result in bottom set net fisheries being reopened.

18 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers that colleges transferring funds from discretionary and childcare funds to bursary funds will have on the poorest students and their parents over the coming year.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Colleges are best placed to identify the particular needs of their student cohort. Against that background, increased flexibility within further education student support funds (between bursary, childcare and discretionary elements) will enable them to best m…

18 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of colleges and student groups to discuss problems with student support funding.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government meets regularly with representatives of colleges and student groups including NUS, Scotland''s Colleges, further education bursary officers and the Scottish Funding Council to discuss a wide range of issues including student support fu…

27 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communications its Energy Consents Unit has had with Ayrshire Power regarding the requirements for carbon capture and storage technology to be fitted to the proposed multi-fuel power station at Hunterston.

Answer · Jim Mather: Ayrshire Power Ltd formally requested a scoping opinion on their outline design for the Hunterston plant from the Scottish Government. This was issued on 20 March 2009 and published on the Scottish Government Energy Consents webpages. Scottish Government offi…

27 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the requirements for carbon capture and storage technology to be fitted to any new thermal power station in Scotland will be the same as the requirements set by the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government will issue its final thermal guidance following the completion of the UK consultation process. This thermal guidance will set out policy on the introduction of CCS technology to new and existing power plants in Scotland, and will take …

27 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what dialogue it has had with the Department for Energy and Climate Change regarding the requirement for carbon capture and storage technology to be fitted to all new thermal power stations.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government have been working closely with the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) on their clean coal consultation, including discussions around proposals for the basis on which coal fired power stations will be required to operate in…

9 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has recently issued guidance to the demolition industry or landfill operators to ensure that construction waste containing special or hazardous materials, such as plastic foam insulation containing ozone-depleting substances from steel-cl…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) published guidance in July 2008 on the current legal requirements for the disposal of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) material. This can be found at : <a href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/waste/w…

9 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been involved in or had input into any recent stakeholder meetings organised by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to discuss and promote solutions to dealing with construction waste containing special or hazardous materials such as plastic foam insulati…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government continues to work with the UK Government, SEPA, industry and other stakeholders to assess methods for recovery and/or disposal of materials containing ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) from buildings that are being demolished. Official…

7 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the outcome of a recent application of the Rush system of analysis to the likely need for drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Scotland, for what reason many of the beds available for such treatment are unoccupied.

Answer · Shona Robison: The provision of services is for each local area to consider, taking account of local needs, circumstances and resources. It is for individual NHS boards, local authorities and alcohol and drug partnerships (ADPs) to ensure that appropriate health care servic…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make the collected and collated data used in producing energy performance certificates available anonymously for the purpose of analysis and policy development.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans to publish this information.

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms it has in place to collect, collate and analyse the underlying data used in preparation of energy performance certificates for new buildings.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: New buildings are required to meet the most demanding energy standards in the UK. There are no plans to require local authorities to provide such an analysis.

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following its consultation on improving the energy performance of existing buildings, whether assessments of carbon and energy performance will be registered on a central register alongside energy performance certificates.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No decision has been taken in relation to the registration of such certificates.

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of concerns raised in England and Wales, whether energy software approved (protocol) organisations will be told not to use unqualified data gatherers except with regard to affordable housing stock.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials wrote to all Approved Organisations on 2 July 2008 and again on 25 February 2009 regarding this issue. Responsibility for the production of energy performance certificates for existing buildings lies with the Approved Organisation members who must b…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it will make available to local authorities to enable them to check the accuracy of the inputs and calculations used to prepare energy performance certificates for new buildings when these are not issued by an Approved Certifier of Design (Section 6 - Energy).

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities …

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it has put in place to ensure that all energy performance certificates for new buildings are either produced by an Approved Certifier of Design (Section 6 - Energy) or that the inputs to the calculation and the calculation itself are checked by a similarly qualified expert…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Production of the energy performance certificate (EPC) is part of the building warrant compliance process. Building warrant applications are checked for compliance with the standards by the verifiers, prior to being granted. Deviations from original proposals…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the view of the Scottish Property Federation that investors may limit their property investments in Scotland if equivalent buildings in England and Wales achieve a better energy rating.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26802 on 10 September 2009. 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/Ap…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will address the situation whereby, under the Simplified Building Energy Model used to create an energy performance certificate for non-domestic buildings, an identical building can be rated G in Scotland and C in England and Wales.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no hard evidence to indicate that this occurs. However, it is clear that an important difference between the EPC regimes is that in Scotland a direct assessment of emissions is given, which is indexed against an absolute scale. In England, the emissi…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an energy performance certificate will be required for non-commercial buildings when a lease is assigned, as is the case in England and Wales.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Responsibility for compliance with legislation lies with the building owner who should consider the transaction situation with specific regard to regulations 3 and 5 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it will implement to ensure that the default values used in assessing existing non-domestic buildings are not routinely used to minimise the time required to produce energy performance certificates at the expense of an accurate rating.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Energy performance certificates (EPCs) for existing buildings may only be produced by members of Approved Organisations. The protocols entered into by Approved Organisations require that their members act in a professional manner when carrying out assessments…