Parliamentary questions
John Scott
560 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Forward Scotland will produce revised guidelines and clear criteria on how applications under the Transforming Waste Scotland programme are judged.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As Transforming WasteScotland is a national lottery programme, funded by the New Opportunities Fund,it is for the New Opportunities Fund and their agents to consider whatguidelines and criteria should be provided to applicants.</p>
8 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why projects under the Transforming Waste Scotland Programme are precluded from generating revenue that could sustain their viability.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This programme is funded bythe New Opportunities Fund, one of the national lottery distribution bodies,and led by Forward Scotland. Given that the programme is funded by the nationallottery, it is not appropriate for the Scottish Executive to comment about de…
8 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on the strategic roads review and whether it will provide an indicative list of projects in the Ayrshire area being considered for inclusion.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are committed in thePartnership Agreement to beginning, by 2007, a strategic projects review whichwill examine all transport modes. It is too early to say which particularprojects will be considered in the review.</p>
5 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on developing a national strategy to tackle issues associated with seagulls in urban settings, as undertaken by the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development during the Members' Business debate in the Parliament on 7 November 2002 (Official Report,…
Answer · Allan Wilson: During the Member's Businessdebate, I agreed to the proposition that the Scottish Executive develop best practiceguidance on how to tackle the problems associated with seagulls, as proposed byDavid Mundell. As a result, my officials have already met with a nu…
4 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21643 by Ross Finnie on 23 January 2002, what method will be used to establish baseline figures in respect of the amount of controlled waste collected by, or for, local authorities for the purposes of meeting its obligations under the EU Landfill Dir…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive will shortly beconsulting on how it will allocate allowances to the 32 local authorities in Scotland in schemeyears. This allocation will not necessarily be based on the levels landfilled in1995. There are therefore no plans at present to publis…
1 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to address the difference in salary levels between middle grade doctors and junior training grade doctors.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have taken the term“middle grade doctors” to refer to non-consultant career grade (NCCG) doctors.The salary levels applied to non-consultant career grades and to juniortraining grade doctors, as for all medical staff, are recommended annually bythe Doctors’…
29 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Household Survey has cost in each of the last four years.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Expenditureon the Scottish Household Survey by the Scottish Executive in each of the last four financial years has been asfollows:</p><table class=MsoTableGrid border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0> <tr> <td> <p>1999-2000</p> </td> <td> <p>£547,000</p> <…
4 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there have been for (a) junior, (b) staff and (c) registrar grade NHS accident and emergency doctors in each NHS board area in each of the last three years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The number of vacant Accident and emergency staff grade posts in NHSScotland by NHS board area for each of the last three years is shown in the table.<p>Table 1: Staff Grade Vacancies Within Accident and Emergency, by NHS Board at 30 September.</p><table clas…
4 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) junior, (b) staff and (c) registrar grade NHS accident and emergency doctors have been (i) recruited and (ii) employed in each NHS board area in each of last three years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the number of staff <i>recruited</i> is not held centrally.</p><p>However, information on the number of (a) House Officers/Senior House Officers (Junior, non-Registrar), (b) Staff and (c) Registrar Grade NHS doctors <i>in post</i> is collected …
7 Jul 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase funding to Victim Support Scotland to deal with any increase in the number of referrals to it by the police following the recent relaxation in data protection regulations.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I am delighted that more victims are being referred to Victim Support Scotland (VSS) now that the Data Protection issue has been resolved. I am also pleased that we have been able to build the capacity of local victim services by increasing their core funding…
19 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has sufficient staff to administer the packaging waste recovery note scheme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency determines the level of resources that it allocates to the administration of this scheme, such that it can be effectively administered.
19 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether sufficient funding is in place to administer the packaging waste recovery note scheme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The packaging recovery note scheme is administered by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Its costs of administering the packaging recovery scheme as a whole are met by cost-recovery registration fees paid to it by companies with a packaging recovery …
19 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to issue operational guidance in respect of the packaging waste recovery note scheme; whether it consults or liases with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) when issuing any such guidance, and whether the Scottish Environmental Protection Agen…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive may issue guidance on the application of The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. It is currently liasing with DEFRA on the production of a joint "User's Guide" to those regulations to replace existin…
19 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's application of the packaging waste recovery and packaging waste export recovery note schemes is different from that of the environment agency and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The detailed administration of these schemes within Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which operates within the packaging regulations that are very similar in Scotland and in England and Wales.
19 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent any double accounting in the packaging waste recovery note scheme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
3 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who the members will be of the Stakeholder Advisory Group which will facilitate the forward management and direction of the national waste plan.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested is given on page 82 of the <I>National Waste Plan 2003</I>, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib number 26101).
3 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when local authorities can begin bidding for funding under the Strategic Waste Fund, as referred to in the executive summary of the National Waste Plan 2003, and when the first round of funding will be awarded.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The fund has been in existence since 2001. For details of awards made to date, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33419 on 3 February 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the searc…
3 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown of the target of (a) recycling and (b) composting 25% of municipal waste by 2006
Answer · Ross Finnie: The expected contributions of recycling and composting to the achievement of the target are set out in table 4.1 on page 40 of the <I>National Waste Plan 2003</I>, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 26101).
3 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the 35% increase by 2010 in the operating costs for collecting, treating and disposing of municipal waste, and further 5% increase by 2020, as referred to in the executive summary of the National Waste Plan 2003, is reflected in its spending proposals to 2005-06.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The <I>National Waste Plan 2003</I> provides a broad estimate of the overall operating costs of the proposed best practicable environmental option for municipal waste in 2010 and 2020 (£340 to £370 million and £360 to £420 million respectively). Following the…
3 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to encourage the procurement of new infrastructure for municipal waste processing through the private sector.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Strategic Waste Fund has been established by the Executive to support the procurement of the new infrastructure and services by local authorities. It can provide support for capital or revenue expenditure including public private partnership projects. It …
3 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its aim of 'ero growth in the amount of municipal waste produced by 2010, contained in the National Waste Plan 2003, is achievable without an increase in the level of public and local authority participation in waste minimisation, given the projected increases in waste produced.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The <I>National Waste Plan 2003 </I>makes it clear that local authority and public participation in waste minimisation will need to be developed and sustained to achieve the target of zero growth in municipal waste by 2010.
24 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what will be funded by the (a) #6.0, (b) #8.3 and (c) #6.8 million for related waste initiatives announced in its spending proposals for 2003-06, with particular regard to its Do a Little, Change a Lot campaign.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Several waste-related initiatives will be funded by these resources. £2 million, £1.5 million and £1.5 million was allocated for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to carry forward implementation of the National Waste Strategy and improved wast…
23 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the construction industry under the (a) New Deal only and (b) modern apprenticeship scheme only.
Answer · Iain Gray: There are around 5,500 modern apprentices training towards Construction Industry Training Board MA frameworks.<P>The data on New Deal cannot be provided, as Jobcentre Plus does not gather information on specific occupations entered by clients on New Deal prog…
22 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many defaults there have been on loans granted under the Loan Action Scotland scheme since the scheme was established.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There have been four defaults since the scheme was established in 1999.
22 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any change in the criteria for receiving a loan under the Loan Action Scotland scheme since the scheme was established.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes. The upper-limit of loans increased in November 2002 from £25,000 to £50,000.
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development will present the National Waste Plan to the Parliament.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I intend to launch the National Waste Plan on Monday 24 February. A copy will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 26101).
1 Jan 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend Part 5 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A number of proposals have been made by the British Medical Association to facilitate the operation of Part 5 of the act. I intend to consult on these proposals, while recognising the need to ensure that the interests of this vulnerable group of adults are pr…
19 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding any replacement of the landfill tax credit scheme and whether it is aware of whether the current scheme will be replaced from 1 April 2003.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with colleagues in Whitehall departments about a wide range of waste-related issues, including the reform of the landfill tax credit scheme.<P>As stated in the Chancellor's pre-Budget report 2002 Her Majesty's …
11 Dec 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its plans for developing the National Waste Strategy are proceeding.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The implementation of the National Waste Strategy is progressing well. Eleven draft Area waste plans were published for public consultation earlier this year and are now being finalised, along with preparation of a National Waste Plan. The Executive has alloc…
26 Nov 2002 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer what the temporary accommodation costs of the Parliament have been to date and what accommodation costs have been projected for the period until the Parliament moves into its accommodation at Holyrood.
Answer · David Steel: Temporary accommodation costs, comprising rent and rates, are shown in the following table. Projections for total accommodation costs, until the Parliament moves to Holyrood, cannot be accurately calculated until firm dates for the move have been agreed.<P>Th…