Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to start collecting pesticide usage data from farms and, if so, whether the data will be made available for scientific analysis.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Pesticide usage data has been collected by SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) from farm records as part of regular surveys since the mid-1970s. Survey results can be found at: http://www.sasa.gov.uk/pesticides-usage-survey-reports.
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to meet the Scottish scientists who gave oral evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee on 21 and 28 November 2012.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials have already had contact with scientists who gave evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee, on a number of issues. The Scottish Government also has extensive contact with scientists on issues relating to bees and bee health…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings in the European Food Safety Authority report, Conclusion on the peer review of the pesticide risk assessment for bees for the active substance clothianidin (EFSA Journal 2013;11(1):3066), whether it will (a) continue to allow the use of neonicotinoid insecticide…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12316 on 25 January 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/parliamentar…
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the European Food Safety Authority report, Conclusion on the peer review of the pesticide risk assessment for bees for the active substance clothianidin (EFSA Journal 2013;11(1):3066).
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government welcomes the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) conclusions on the risks associated with neonicotinoids and bees. We have asked the UK’s Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) to look urgently at EFSA’s evidence. On receipt of the…
8 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what changes it has made to the teaching of history in secondary schools since 2007.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Curriculum for Excellence is giving educators the flexibility to teach history in creative and engaging ways. Children and young people are able to learn in a wide range of contexts; Scottish, British, European and worldwide and this breadth is reflected in a…
7 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communications it has had with Serco NorthLink regarding its plans to (a) extend the peak season and (b) reduce low fare periods in 2013.
Answer · Keith Brown: In developing proposed peak and off-peak timetables for their Northern Isles ferry services tenders, all bidders were required by the Scottish Government to analyse current and projected future demand and to design a timetable structure to meet and manage thi…
7 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Serco NorthLink’s decision to increase the length of the peak season by two weeks and decrease the low season by one constitutes an additional increase in fares above the expected annual increase.
Answer · Keith Brown: In developing their peak and off-peak timetables for their Northern Isles ferry services tender, all bidders, including Serco, were required to analyse current and projected future demand and to design a timetable structure to meet and manage this demand. Und…
7 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Serco NorthLink's contract allows it to change the length of the (a) peak and (b) low season.
Answer · Keith Brown: The peak and low season periods established under the current Northern Isles ferry services contract were included in Serco’s original tender bid proposals. Therefore, the current contract has not been subjected to any variation in this regard.
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many voluntary redundancies in each police force have been agreed in the current financial year and how many are pending prior to 1 April 2013.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested. This is a matter for the Police Authorities.
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where the (a) human resources and (b) finance function of the Northern Constabulary will be carried out once the Police Service of Scotland comes into operation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter for the Scottish Police Authority and the Police Service of Scotland.
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Northern Isles and Western Isles are not included in the introduction of 43 ward plans by the Police Service of Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Police Service of Scotland announced on 16 November 2012 that every council ward in Scotland will have its own annual local policing plan in order to deliver greater accountability to its local communities at a local level and to better serve their needs.…
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Police Service of Scotland will decide whether to adopt the regulations affecting the transfer of officers adopted by the Northern Constabulary.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: From 1 April, 2013, the transfer policy for officers to vacancies within the service will be a matter for the Police Service to determine.
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation has taken place on using 101 as a national telephone number for non-emergency calls to the police and what the implications are of such a change for local civilian staff.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The development of plans for the introduction of the new 101 non-emergency number is being taken forward by the Police Service of Scotland. The Scottish Government does not, therefore, hold the information requested.
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are for an external survey of public satisfaction with the Police Service of Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will undertake the next Scottish Crime and Justice Survey in 2014-15. This survey, as in previous years, will collect information about people’s experiences of, and attitudes on, a range of crime and justice related issues, including i…
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what savings target has been set for the Police Service of Scotland in 2013-14.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The draft budget for the Scottish Police Authority, as set out in the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2013-14 and laid in Parliament on 20 September 2012, reflects savings expected through Police Reform of £42 million in 2013-14. To support the delivery of…
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have had their single farm payments delayed in two successive years through no fault of their own.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The European Commission has legislated for a payment window that opens on 1 December 2012 and closes on 30 June 2013. Payments are made within this window and cannot be classed as late. The Scottish Government has a good record of performance in making all pa…
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much notice farmers are given if their December single farm payments are delayed due to administrative errors.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I regret that the various pieces of information required to answer this question are either not held in a readily accessible form or not held at all. My officials have examined what would be required to extract the basic information, review the relevant claim…
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what compensation will be offered to farmers who incur costs while waiting for single farm payments that are delayed through no fault of their own.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11923 on 25 January 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/parliamentar…
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have not yet received their 2012 single farm payments as a result of clerical errors.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I regret that the various pieces of information required to answer this question are either not held in a readily accessible form or not held at all. My officials have examined what would be required to extract the basic information, review the relevant claim…
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers have not received their single farm payments due in December 2012.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS) does not have a date set in legislation when payments must be made, rather a payment window that, for each scheme year, opens on 1 December 2012 and closes on 30 June 2013 the following year, in accordance the European re…
12 Dec 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its reasons are for not changing the regulations governing new pharmacy applications to allow a NHS board to consider any applications submitted rather than applications in sequence.
11 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the project to dual the Kincraig to Dalraddy section of the A9 was first added to its capital spending programme; what changes have since been made to its place in the programme; when the detailed design work will be completed, and by what date it will be shovel-ready.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment announced the intention to start construction on a dual carriageway between Kincraig and Dalraddy on 26 June 2012. Design work is now underway with the intention of publishing draft orders in su…
7 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many rail services between (a) Glasgow and Inverness and (b) Edinburgh and Inverness will have a reduction in journey time of less than 17 minutes from 9 December 2012; on what days and at what times these services operate, and what percentage of all services between Glasgow and Edin…
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11774 on 24 December 2012. 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/Apps2/Busin…
7 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many rail services between (a) Glasgow and Inverness and (b) Edinburgh and Inverness will have a 17-minute reduction in journey time from 9 December 2012; on what days and at what times these services operate, and what percentage of all services between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Inve…
Answer · Keith Brown: The following tables show details of the rail services operating between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Inverness which have journey time reductions which were introduced in the Winter 2012 timetable on 9 December 2012. In answer to your question, table 2 details …
27 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the initial scientific case for a special area of conservation (SAC) in the Sound of Barra was not considered to be sufficient to make a decision on designation and whether there are plans to revisit any of the existing marine SAC designations to ensure that the same issu…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers considered the scientific case worthy of public consultation in August 2011. Having completed the consultation process, Scottish Natural Heritage has recommended the designation. However in light of the volume of scientific objections recei…
27 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the independent review to examine the scientific case for a special area of conservation (SAC) in the Sound of Barra will set a precedent for future SAC designations and what the reason is for its position on this matter.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The merits of every proposal for a special area of conservation are considered on an individual basis. As part of that process the potential need for an independent review will be considered. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11584 on 11 Decem…
27 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the independent review to examine the scientific case for a special area of conservation in the Sound of Barra will be completed; when a decision will be taken on the designation, and what impact the independent review has had on the timescale.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The independent review will be completed by the end of 2012 with a decision to be made as soon as possible after receipt. The decision to conduct an independent review will have delayed the decision on whether or not Sound of Barra will be designated as a SAC…
27 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the independent review to examine the scientific case for a special area of conservation in the Sound of Barra will reconsider any aspect of socioeconomic impact on the area or the non-science-based objections by members of the local communities.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Lappel Bank judgement of the European Court of Justice has made it clear that the designation decision must be based on the scientific evidence only. If designated, any future management will take full account of the social, economic, and cultural require…
27 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) non-governmental and (b) other organisations (i) have been and (ii) are involved in reviewing the scientific case for a special area of conservation in the Sound of Barra.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Natural Heritage has an independent scientific committee which reviews any protected area proposals before they are submitted to Scottish Ministers. Those who responded to the public consultation also had the opportunity to review the scientific cas…
27 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the basis is of the independent review to examine the scientific case for a special area of conservation in the Sound of Barra and what the reason is for choosing this rather than other areas.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The consultation produced a significant number of scientific objections and we saw value in reviewing the scientific evidence.