Tavish Scott

5 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have followed the advice set out in NPPG 17 Transport and Planning to set maximum as opposed to minimum numbers of parking spaces for new developments in their planning policies.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In July 1999, a questionnaire was sent to each local authority as part of research into current practice. Of the 19 responses, five councils confirmed that they included either actual or proposed maximum car parking standards within their Local Transport Stra…

5 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is now a standard or preferred methodology for transport assessments as specified in NPPG 17 that should be adopted by local authorities when determining planning applications.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Advice on the proposed scope and application of transport assessments was given in Planning Advice Note 57: Transport and Planning. This was published at the same time as NPPG 17. A number of research projects are underway and these will inform future guidanc…

5 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the use of taxi card schemes as means of addressing the mobility needs of disabled people.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Local authorities have the responsibility for determining and operating discretionary concessionary fares schemes. Taxi card schemes represent an important part of the concessionary travel schemes operated by many authorities. The Scottish Executive is commit…

1 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4654 by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000, what the annual cost is of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's comprehensive programme of monitoring environmental radioactivity.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency's environmental radioactivity monitoring programme is carried out under contract by the National Radiological Protection Board. The current contract which commenced in April 2000 runs for three years, with a possible…

1 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the annual income raised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency from charges paid by each of (i) United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, (ii) British Nuclear Fuels Ltd, (iii) British Energy and (iv) the operators of any other plants discharging significant quan…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The annual income raised by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency from charges paid for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 was:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(i) £186,000 from United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(ii) £47,000 from British …

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the costs currently borne by Scottish local authorities as a result of the work they undertake for the Crown Estate Commissioners in assessing planning applications for aquaculture developments off their coastlines and whether such costs should be refunded to loc…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No such assessment has been made. This is a matter for the individual authorities who have sought a greater role in decisions about the siting of aquaculture developments. The management of the Crown Estate is reserved to Westminster.

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the costs currently borne by Shetland Islands Council and Orkney Islands Council as a result of exercising their statutory planning powers over aquaculture developments in the sea around their islands and whether such costs should be refunded to Shetland and Orkn…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No such assessment has been made. This is a matter for the respective councils in Orkney and Shetland. The management of the Crown Estate is reserved to Westminster.

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Crown Estate Commissioners on proposals to transfer to Scottish local authorities full planning control over marine developments in Scottish coastal waters and what the outcome of any such discussions was.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Discussions have taken place on a number of issues including the procedures relating to marine aquaculture developments. These will help inform the future regulatory framework for such proposals.

25 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in preparing legislation to transfer to Scottish local authorities full planning control over marine developments in Scottish coastal waters.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Primary legislation will be required to introduce planning controls over marine aquaculture developments. I intend to issue a consultation paper later this year.

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all North of Scotland Water Authority waste water schemes which will discharge effluent into the sea and which are currently in the planning, design or construction stages, together with their estimated costs and completion dates.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I am placing a copy of the information requested in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 6647).

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Student Awards Agency on its policy for the payment of travel costs faced by students from the Scottish Islands.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive has had no recent discussions with the Student Awards Agency for Scotland about the arrangements for reimbursing excess travel costs to students in higher education, which have been in place for many years and in our view work well.<P A…

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has in Scotland and on what matters it makes representations to the JNCC.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the forum through which Scottish Natural Heritage and its sister agencies, English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales, deliver their statutory nature conservation responsibilities for Great Britain a…

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in developing an area based scheme of Hill Livestock Compensation Allowances to be implemented on 1 January 2001.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Proposals for a new Less-Favoured Area based scheme were put to the European Commission in late December as part of the Scottish Executive's Rural Development Plan. A response is now being prepared to points of principle and detail raised by the Commission.

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was represented at the Standing Veterinary Committee (Animal Health) meeting in Brussels on 10 May 2000.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Yes: the State Veterinary Service which represents the interests of all the GB Agriculture Departments, including the Scottish Executive's Rural Affairs Department, attended that meeting.

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the last consultations with the agricultural industry over the proposed changes to Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances took place.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive discussed its proposals for the scheme that will succeed Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances with a wide range of parties with an interest in agriculture in the run-up to the submission of the Rural Development Plan. Further discussi…

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what areas of the Highlands and Islands are currently included in the "Initiative of the Edge" designation; whether there are any plans to add to these areas, and what assessment of the initiative has been done or is due to take place.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Iomairt aig an Oir (Initiative at the Edge) was introduced as a means of assisting a number of areas in the Highlands &amp; Islands which have endured particularly severe, long-term economic and social decline. The eight areas covered by the Iomairt are: Uig …

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee have in monitoring oil developments in Scottish coastal waters.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) do not have a remit to monitor oil developments in Scottish coastal waters. This is a matter for the UK Government. SNH and JNCC may however assist oil companies develop monito…

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise is promoting the production of photovoltaic cells in Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Although Scottish Enterprise does not promote the production of photovoltaic cells in Scotland, it was a sponsor of the recently held European Photovolaic Conference in Glasgow, and my officials were able to use the opportunity to discuss their manufacturing …

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the use of active solar heating systems in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is committed to the promotion of renewable sources of energy. There is, however, no monitoring of the use of active solar heating systems in Scotland, but we are keen to see solar energy play a part in contributing to the use of renewab…

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the use of passive solar designs in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is committed to the promotion of renewable sources of energy. Although the use of passive solar power in the design and construction of buildings in Scotland is not monitored, we would expect that it would play a part in meeting Scotlan…

19 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets are in place for the generation of solar energy in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The consultation exercise currently under way on the Scottish Climate Change Programme prepossess that between 2003 and 2010 the share of Scotland's energy consumption met from renewable sources will increase by 5%. This will take the form of an obligation on…

17 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency will play in the policing of Regulated Fishing Orders.

Answer · John Home Robertson: Responsibility for enforcement of any controls or conditions of a Regulating Order rests with the grantee of the Order. The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency has no role in such Orders, although it is ready to offer advice on any proposals relating to the …

4 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4698 by Mr Jack McConnell on 14 April 2000, what locations are being considered for the relocated offices of the Local Boundary Commission for Scotland and how it will ensure that this relocation meets its policy objectives set out in the answer to q…

Answer · Jack McConnell: The last Policy and Financial Management Review (PMFR) of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland (LGBC) took place in 1995 and the recommendation that it be relocated to premises of its own was implemented that same year. The lease on the LGBC'…

3 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4698 by Mr Jack McConnell on 14 April 2000, why Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd are not covered by a Policy and Financial Management Review.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) is a nationalised industry and a private limited company under the Companies Act 1985. Policy and Financial Management Reviews (PFMR) require to be conducted for<B> </B>NDPBs and Agencies of the Scottish Executive onl…

3 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which agricultural operations will be affected by the National Waste Strategy for Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: One of the main messages of the National Waste Strategy: Scotland is that we need to reconsider, as individuals, how we deal with waste. We must try to apply the waste hierarchy wherever appropriate to reduce, reuse and recycle. Farmers, as producers of waste…

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with Her Majesty's Government how the disposal of surplus Ministry of Defence property in Unst will be handled and what action will be taken to protect the interests of the Unst community during this process.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Yes. The Executive has been assured that MoD officials will be discussing with the local community the disposal of surplus MoD property in Unst and participating in discussions on other relevant issues such as the options for economic development on the islan…

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the satellite monitoring system as it applies to the Scottish fishing industry and to fishing vessels registered outwith Scotland but fishing in Scottish waters.

Answer · John Home Robertson: Satellite monitoring of fishing vessels over 24 metres became mandatory from 1 January 2000. All Scottish vessels in this category subject to the requirements of the satellite monitoring regulations are now equipped with onboard terminals. The majority of the…

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to allow pelagic fishing boats to carry on board both North Sea and west coast fishing licences at the same time.

Answer · John Home Robertson: Single area licensing for herring fisheries was introduced in the UK in 1996 to safeguard North Sea stocks and discourage misreporting of catches.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A review of pelagic management arrangements in the UK was undertaken jointly by the industry a…

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding pelagic fishing vessels being unable to carry herring licences covering both the North Sea and west coast fishing areas at the same time.

Answer · John Home Robertson: I have received representations from the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">As I have made clear in response to earlier questions (S1W-5701 and S1W-6384) and in a related answer (S1W-6449), the review of pelagic management arrangement…

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to change the role or composition of local health councils.

Answer · Susan Deacon: While there are no current plans to change the role or composition of local Health Councils, the Executive is committed to improving patient and public involvement in the NHS and is currently examining how effective involvement can best be ensured. In recogni…