Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in view of the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy’s recent call for swift and decisive action in relation to the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, what advice it will give to farmers regarding their use on (a) oilseed rape and (b) other plants attractive to bees.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s position is based on the scientific advice it receives from the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP), its own scientists in SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture), and through other sources such as the European Food Saf…
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will compare the potential benefits of its high-speed rail proposals between Edinburgh and Glasgow against projects currently in the project pipeline.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Infrastructure Investment Plan published in December 2011 outlines the process for prioritising investment across the Scottish Government and the process for prioritising within sectors, including transport.
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will give potential developers notice of the additional capital works to be added to the programme in 2014-15 as a result of the £394 million in additional capital resources allocated in the 2012 Autumn Statement.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12852 on 4 March 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its timescale is for setting out details of the (a) termini, (b) route, (c) cost and (d) date of the works on high-speed rail between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Answer · Keith Brown: Outline business case appraisal will report in 2014. The outline business case will consider broad route alignment and indicative cost/benefits analyses of options. Those analyses will support the consideration of the decisions necessary to progress the sche…
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many projects of what value in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011 had been completed by the time the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011:Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2013) was published and how many additional projects of what value were added by the update.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Over 2012, nine of the major infrastructure projects included in the IIP, with a value of £644.5 million, have been completed and are now in use. These include: Three transport projects: the Paisley Corridor rail improvements, the Fife Intelligent Transpo…
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Glasgow to Edinburgh high-speed rail plans set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2013) have displaced as a priority any of the projects in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Glasgow to Edinburgh high-speed rail plans has not displaced as a priority any of the projects in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011.
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what new programme pipeline works were included in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2013) compared with the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There were no additions to the programme pipeline. The programme pipeline updates the programme information published in December 2011 as part of Annex C of the Infrastructure Investment Plan, for example in relation to costs and timeframes.
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects the remaining unallocated amounts from the £394 million in additional capital resources allocated in the 2012 Autumn Statement to accelerate the delivery of the (a) A9 dualling works, (b) A96 improvements, (c) Edinburgh and Glasgow to Inverness rail improvement works o…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-12852 on 4 March 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which projects have been accelerated in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline (January 2013) compared with the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011 as a result of the £394 million in additional capital resources allocated in the 2012 Autumn Statement.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12852 on 4 March 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
4 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) the dualling works on the A9, (b) A96 improvement works, (c) Edinburgh and Glasgow to Aberdeen rail improvement works and (d) Edinburgh and Glasgow to Inverness rail improvement works have been accelerated in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2011: Updated Programme Pipeline…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government wrote to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Statement on 5 December calling on the UK Government to provide an immediate targeted boost to capital investment to protect the recovery in the short term and provide the infrastructure nece…
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11998 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 January 2013, what resource is being made available in the police central government budget to deliver the savings.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As part of the Police Central Government budget, budget - of the order of £60 million in 2013-14 and £70 million in 2014-15 - is available to support police reform, including the delivery of savings.
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has relating to maximum broadband speeds and not-spots across Shetland and how often this information is updated.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As part of the project to procure next generation broadband across the Highlands and Islands, Highlands and Islands Enterprise obtained data from suppliers that indicated where there is no current or planned (within the next three years) commercial deployment…
24 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Shetland will benefit from the (a) £120 million announced in June 2012 for Highlands and Islands digital connectivity and (b) £5 million fund announced in August 2012 to help bring next generation broadband to some of Scotland's most remote communities.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The £120 million announced in June 2012 for the Highlands and Islands and Next Generation Broadband project will deliver significant next generation broadband coverage throughout Shetland. Procurement of this project, which is being managed by Highlands and I…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment's letter to Tavish Scott MSP of 17 January 2013, for what reason 10% of businesses did not receive their single farm payment before the end of 2012 and when they will be paid.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: By the end of December 94% of all farmers had been paid. By 25 January, almost 98% of farmers had been paid - 18,420 from an estimated population of 18,855. The expenditure at 25 January stood at £436,857,618.76. The EC has legislated for a payment window of…
21 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers (a) have met (b) are to meet UK Government ministers to discuss the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12418 on 6 February 2013. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
21 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to work with the Groceries Code Adjudicator to ensure a fair and consistent approach to the food supply chain throughout the UK.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government fully supports the appointment of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). Scottish Ministers have long pressed for the need for an independent GCA to police the Groceries Supply Code of Practice. I have therefore written to the newly app…
21 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the accuracy of Audit Scotland’s evidence to the Public Audit Committee on 16 January 2013 (Official Report, c. 1114), that "It is not a given that a national IRMP will draw resources from the Highlands and Islands down to the central belt." following the creation…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Decisions on the allocation of resources are currently a matter for the eight Scottish Fire and Rescue Services, and from 1 April 2013 will be the responsibility of the single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). It will use the IRMP as a business plannin…
17 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether comparative research into neonicotinoids and alternative products should be carried out anonymously by independent laboratories.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under the European regulatory process for approving pesticides, decisions on pesticide approvals are based on a dossier of evidence submitted by the company. The dossier can include published scientific evidence from independent sources, as well as evidence f…
17 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investigations are taking place to (a) identify alternative products to neonicotinoids for use as insecticides and (b) compare the toxicity of neonicotinoids with alternative products.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under its agency agreement with Scottish Ministers, the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) is carrying out work designed to help to better understand the likely consequences of possible regulatory options for neonicotinoids, including the implications of …
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change the (a) financial arrangements and (b) responsibilities of retained firefighters after 1 April 2013.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Retained fire fighters will transfer from their current service to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) on 1 April 2013 under their current terms and conditions. Any changes to the financial arrangements and responsibilities of retained fire fighters a…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the budgets for fire and rescue services will continue to be made available, broken down by the current board areas after 1 April 2013.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No, the budget for the new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) will not be broken down by current board area. It will be for SFRS to determine how it manages local budget allocation.
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) Scottish Police Authority has and (b) Police Service of Scotland will have (i) human resources and (ii) finance functions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 makes it clear that the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has a duty “to maintain the Police Service” and that the Chief Constable “is responsible for the day to day administration of the Police Service.” Decision…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what input local authorities will have into how the policing budget is spent in their areas once the Police Service of Scotland becomes operational.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Each local authority area will have a designated Local Police Commander, who will work with locally elected councillors and Community Planning Partnerships to shape local services and prioritise local needs. This includes a statutory requirement to prepare a …
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the Scottish Police Authority should have control of the Police Service of Scotland or hold it accountable for its actions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In terms of The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, The Scottish Police Authority’s main functions are: (a) To maintain the Police Service, 15 (aa) To promote the policing principles set out in section 32, (b) To promote and support continuous impr…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it understands the effects of neonicotinoids on bees to be and on what evidence.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government scientists have reviewed both published and regulatory scientific data and also keep this issue under constant review. Some studies in certain conditions demonstrate sub-lethal effects of neonicotinoids, which includes impairment of forag…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is planning to increase the number of insect pollinators.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has contributed £0.5 million of co-funding to the Insect Pollinators Initiative (IPI) which is a research initiative led by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The aim of the IPI is to aid understanding and miti…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence on yields has been attributed to the use of neonicotinoids on oilseed rape in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Neonicotinoid seed treatments are aimed at two groups of pests on oilseed rape, flea beetles and aphids. It is difficult to estimate the average yield loss from feeding damage caused by various flea beetle species as crop establishment depends on how favoura…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it had to discuss independent scientific evidence and advice regarding the (a) use and (b) availability of neonicotinoids from 2007 to 16 January 2013.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has regular on-going discussions on pesticide issues with its own scientists in SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture), our Scottish assessor on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, with Scotland’s Rural College and offici…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the availability is of oilseed rape that is not pretreated with neonicotinoid products; what the reason is for this, and whether it plans to take action on this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are no statutory rules to say that oilseed rape seed must be treated with neonicotinoids. According to the Scottish Government’s Pesticide Usage Surveys, virtually all commercially available non-organic oilseed rape seed is pre-treated. Farmers can obt…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in relation to the availability of detailed information on the methodology of safety testing carried out by the insecticide industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The methodology of safety testing, the studies and guidance required, for an insecticide to be evaluated are available from the Chemicals Regulation Directorate at: http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/topics/pesticide-approvals/pestic…