Parliamentary questions

Robin Harper

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

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14827 by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2008, for what reason a suitable central register for energy performance certificates for existing non-domestic buildings and the underlying data has not yet been identified, given that such a register has been i…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A similar approach to that adopted for dwellings is being carefully considered. This will allow a body (Keeper of the Register) access to information to target those buildings with the poorest ratings.

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when sufficient information is available, the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) can be used to create a more accurate energy performance certificate (EPC) for existing dwellings and conversions and whether such EPCs, with the underlying data, will be registered on the Homes Ene…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are required for new construction and on sale or rental, not conversion. An EPC could be produced using full SAP as enhanced information for building owners and tenants, in addition to the reduced data SAP EPC that follo…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason energy performance certificates (EPC) without data for new dwellings will be registered by local authorities as scanned computer files, given that the Homes Energy Efficiency Database can register both EPCs and the underlying input data for new buildings.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The submission of an energy performance certificate (EPC) for new dwellings calculated using the UK Government''s Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) forms part of the building warrant completion certificate process. The maintenance of such records is set out…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what influence the public has in respect of the management, conservation and exploitation of fish stocks held in Scotland’s waters.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Within the current framework of international fisheries governance, the Scottish Government aims to promote the sustainable management, conservation and exploitation of fish stocks in Scottish and international waters. Scottish ministers are subject to normal…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what public benefit is derived from commercial fishing in inshore waters.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Sustainable exploitation of commercial fish stocks in inshore waters contributes to the achievement of the government''s strategic objectives for a wealthier and fairer, as well as a healthier and greener Scotland. It makes a valuable contribution to Scotland…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who has ownership of the fish in (a) Scotland’s inshore waters, (b) Scotland’s offshore waters and (c) international waters.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Ownership of fish in inshore waters is mixed. Insofar as fish, including salmon, are on the foreshore, or comprise mussels or native oysters, they are vested in the Crown. Unless otherwise regulated under statute, wild salmon and white fish are res nullius…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a public right to fish in Scotland and, if so, (a) on what legal and historical basis it was established and (b) who has ownership of it.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Subject to certain restrictions and exceptions, the public has a right to fish in Scotland. The right to fish is provided for in the Fisheries Act 1705, which empowered Scottish subjects to take buy and cure herring and white fish in all sundry and seas, chan…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects all inshore fisheries groups to have produced and published management proposals.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25673 on 29 July 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/Apps2/B…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which inshore fisheries groups have produced and published management proposals.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No inshore fisheries group has yet produced and published management proposals to date. We would expect an inshore fishery group to have produced and published its management proposals within approximately 12 months of its establishment.

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how inshore fisheries groups balance any issues of conflict between the conservation and exploitation of fish stocks; what guidance groups have been given to assist them in this, and from whom.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The first three inshore fisheries groups have only recently been formed and are intended to operate as a pilot. No guidance has been issued about how they might best contribute to sustainable economic growth through the conservation and exploitation of fish s…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the conservation-related aims and duties are of inshore fisheries groups.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Inshore fisheries groups are tasked with the establishment of management plans for the fisheries in their respective areas. These plans must accord with wider national strategic biological, environmental, economic, social and governance objectives. For instan…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any organisations or individuals have been excluded from becoming members of any inshore fisheries group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No organisations or individuals have been excluded from becoming members of any inshore fisheries group.

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) public and community and (b) non-governmental organisation (NGO) representation there is on each inshore fisheries group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22586 on 8 May 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/Apps2/Bus…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of each inshore fisheries group.

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations or individuals were consulted prior to the conception and establishment of Scotland’s inshore fisheries groups and in what way.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Stakeholders were consulted through the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group. In 2007, a series of open public meetings were held around Scotland to enable the public to put forward their views.

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations or individuals were involved in the conception and establishment of Scotland's inshore fisheries groups.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group (SIFAG) was involved in the conception and establishment of Scotland''s inshore fisheries groups. SIFAG was established in 1999. The group comprises a range of industry representatives, statutory bodies (SFPA, SNH…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who manages Scotland’s Inshore Fisheries Groups.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25664 on 29 July 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/Apps2/B…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory powers inshore fisheries groups have.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Inshore fisheries groups aim to improve the management of Scotland''s inshore fisheries and to give commercial inshore fishermen a strong voice in wider marine management developments. They have been established by Scottish ministers on a non-statutory basis …

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many infractions of inshore fisheries regulations have been reported in each of the last 10 years, broken down by regulation, and, of these, how many resulted in (a) temporary loss of licence for the infractor, (b) permanent loss of licence for the infractor or (c) a fine or other pun…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Details of breaches of inshore related fisheries regulations reported by front line officers to the headquarters of the then Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA), for consideration of formal enforcement action, in each of the last 10 years is provided …

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which inshore fisheries group has responsibility for the area covered by the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran and whether the local community or the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) is a member of, or is represented on, that group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The newly formed Clyde Inshore Fishery Group has responsibility for the area covered by the no-take zone. Membership of an inshore fishery group (IFG) is open to commercial fishermen who operate in the IFG area. COAST has the ability to be involved in the IFG…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) has been given in respect of the management of the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25660 on 29 July 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/Apps2/B…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the local community has been given in respect of the management of the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The local community has input into the management of the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran through the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST). COAST is a member of the Lamlash Bay Implementation Group and the Lamlash Bay Working Group. These t…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any person has been caught contravening the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition on Fishing) (Lamlash Bay) (Scotland) Order 2008

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There have been no detected breaches of the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition on Fishing) (Lamlash Bay) (Scotland) Order 2008.

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vessel monitoring system-equipped vessels have entered the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran since it was established.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A total of 13 vessels fitted with satellite-based vessel monitoring systems (VMS) have entered the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay since it was establish. This includes 11 VMS equipped fishing vessels and two fishery protection vessels which are also equipped wit…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any scallop dredgers have operated inside the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran since they were banned from doing so in September 2008.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Three scallop dredgers have entered the no-take zone in Lamlash Bay since the restriction was introduced however these vessels appear to have been on transit through the area as no speeds of less than 5 knots (fishing speeds) were recorded.

7 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20470 by Fiona Hyslop on 19 February 2009, how many young people were not in education, employment or training and in need of additional support to be able to move into learning or employment in the last year for which information is available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: All young people are entitled to support in moving into positive and sustained destinations beyond school. We are doing this by rolling out 16+ Learning Choices, formally launched in November, with the aim of giving every young person an appropriate offer of …

7 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20470 by Fiona Hyslop on 19 February 2009, how many young people were not in education, employment or training in the last year for which information is available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Annual Population Survey is the official source for national estimates of the numbers of people aged 16 to 19 who were not in education, employment or training. In 2008, 31,000 people aged 16 to 19 were not in education, employment or training. …

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to increase the contribution that farming can make to reducing the impact of greenhouse gasses on climate change; what relevant strategies it is introducing or supporting, and when it will introduce a coordinated strategy for agriculture with reference to climate …

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Chapter 6 of the Scottish Government''s Climate Change Delivery Plan, published in June, sets out the Government''s intentions in relation to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farming and other rural land uses. As the delivery plan makes clear, m…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to organic farming through the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Funding for organic producers is available through the Scottish Rural Development Programme under Rural Priorities and the Food Processing Marketing and Cooperation Grant Scheme.

18 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted on the use of routine post mortem testing for mercury and aluminium traces as a useful way of aggregating evidence in relation to the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and, if so, what the responses were.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No. We have not consulted on this. To ensure a coordinated approach to dementia research in Scotland we launched the Dementia Clinical Research Network in August 2008 with funding of over £1 million over three years.