John Scott

30 Jan 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what percentage of food served in the Scottish Parliament is sourced in Scotland.

Answer · Alex Johnstone: The SPCB is committed to increasing the amount of Scottish produce used within the Scottish Parliament and we are currently working with our catering partner to achieve this through the provision of fresh and seasonal food items. </p> <p >It is not possibl…

30 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of food served on its premises is sourced in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s catering provision seeks to maximise the use of local, seasonable produce whenever possible. Depending on the season, around 75% of all perishable produce is sourced in Scotland.</p>

20 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the study on economic impact of recreational sea angling will be published.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I anticipate that the results of the study will be published by Easter.</p>

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the take-up of the bluetongue vaccine in England, broken down by region.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have kept the Scottish Government informed on the take up of vaccine across England. These figures are subject to continual change and the Scottish Government does not routinely receive updates be…

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the take-up of the bluetongue vaccine has been.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Veterinary practices are providing the Scottish Government with information on their sales of bluetongue vaccine to animal keepers. From the information provided up to 20 January, 1.8 million doses have been dispensed and 28% of cattle and sheep holdings have…

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many animals have been imported into Scotland from mainland Europe since October 2008, broken down by species.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In total 382 live animals were imported into Scotland from mainland Europe during the period 1 October to 31 December 2008. No figures are currently available for 2009. The following table details the imports by species.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 ce…

15 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the provision of specialist Parkinson’s disease nurses.

Answer · Shona Robison: The planning of the workforce, including Specialist Parkinson''s Disease Nurses, is a matter for NHS boards who are responsible for planning services in their area based on clinical need.</p> <p >In doing so they are required to consider the role of both sp…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much local authorities spent on public analysts working on food quality and safety in each year since 1995.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following table shows provisional outturn net revenue expenditure by local authorities on public analysts from 1996-97 to 2007-08. The Scottish Government does not hold final outturn data confirming these figures. The table does not include figures for 19…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many public analysts have been employed in each year since 1995.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.</p>

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many public analyst laboratories there have been in each year since 1995.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally. However, we understand there are currently four public analyst laboratories: in Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh.</p>

20 Nov 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to actively engage tourist businesses in Ayrshire and across Scotland in the Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrations to ensure that the tourism industry achieves the maximum benefit from the celebrations and that Scottish businesses are better marketed abroad.

Answer · Jim Mather: Homecoming Scotland''s principal aim is to attract additional visitors to Scotland in 2009. Doing so will yield benefits to many tourism related businesses in Ayrshire and across the rest of Scotland, including those providing accommodation, food, transport s…

18 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why licences to kill game are required in Scotland but not elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17955 on 26 November 2008. 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/App…

18 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether and when it intends to abolish licences to kill game and, if so, when.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is currently reviewing the efficiency and effectiveness of a number of areas of wildlife and natural environment legislation. We will consult in the New Year on options for reform of legislation including the provisions of the game law…

18 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a risk assessment has been carried out on the implications of the spread of the varroa mite on pollination levels.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not received and is not aware of any reports or suggestions of any reduction in crop production due to declining honeybee populations as a result of varroa infestation. It has, therefore, not been considered necessary to carry out …

18 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the reduction in the honeybee population as a result of the spread of the varroa mite poses a threat to the pollination of agricultural crops.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has received no reports or suggestions to date of any reduction in crop production due to any decline in the honeybee population in Scotland.</p>

18 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has conducted into the control of the varroa mite.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: While the Scottish Government has not, as yet, funded any research into the control of the varroa mite, the UK Government''s investment in research on varroa exceeds £2.2 million over the past 12 years.</p> <p >There is also active research in many countries…

18 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of closing dates per annum for applications to the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Rural Development Contracts “ Rural Priorities Scheme is constantly open to new applications. There are no closing dates for applications.</p> <p >It is currently intended to hold at least three assessment rounds per year for this scheme. Two assessment …

18 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why there is only one closing date for applications to the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Rural Development Contracts “ Rural Priorities Scheme is constantly open to new applications. There are no closing dates for applications.</p> <p >It is currently intended to hold at least three assessment rounds per year for this scheme. Two assessment …

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which 20 roads have had the highest number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities in each of the last five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following tables provide statistics requested and includes estimates per km of road.</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=428 > <thead> <tr > <td width=428 nowrap colspan=6 valign=bottom > <p align=center >2003</p> </td> …

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a report on the economic benefits to south and east Ayrshire of upgrading the A70 between Ayr and the M74.

Answer · John Swinney: I see no need for action by the Scottish Government given that the matter is currently being addressed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and their member councils of South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and South Lanarkshire. SPT have already identifie…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the importance of strengthening links between southern Ayrshire and the M74 as part of the National Planning Framework 2.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is taking careful account of representations from Ayrshire in preparing a Proposed National Planning Framework and the Strategic Transport Projects Review is considering the need for improved strategic road and rail links to enhance th…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many road traffic accidents resulting in (a) injury and (b) fatality there have been on the A70 within the (i) south Ayrshire and (ii) east Ayrshire local authority areas in each of the last five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following tables show the number of reported accidents on the A70 within the South and East Ayrshire areas by severity of the accident.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap colspan=3 valign=bottom > <p al…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it next intends to commission a traffic survey on those sections of the A70 between Ayr and Cumnock and between Cumnock and the M74.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Traffic survey work of this nature is the responsibility of local authorities. However, I understand that some survey work has been undertaken by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport as part of their Regional Transport Strategy and I would refer the member t…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when traffic was last surveyed by it or on its behalf on those sections of the A70 between Ayr and Cumnock and between Cumnock and the M74 and what the results were.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Traffic survey work of this nature is the responsibility of local authorities. However, I understand that some survey work has been undertaken by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport as part of their Regional Transport Strategy and I would refer the member t…

17 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it next intends to review the national system of routes for through traffic in terms of section 5(2) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2872 on 23 August 2007. 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/…

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what date it expects to have paid 96.14% of the value of claims under the single farm payments scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The significance of paying 96.14% of Single Farm Payment expenditure is that we must reach that figure by 30 June 2009 in order to avoid late payment penalties being levied by the European Commission. I think Scottish farmers will find it more relevant to kn…

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of this year’s single farm payments it expects to have paid by 25 December 2008, broken down by (a) value and (b) claimants.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I can confirm that payments under the 2008 Single Farm Payment Scheme will start to arrive in bank accounts from 1 December. This means that we will have paid 13,800 producers a total of £223 million from the first date possible. With this good start to the s…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what animal husbandry techniques are available and recommended by it to keep the tick population under control on the hills and uplands.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Techniques available to control ticks in particular areas of grazing include fencing of woodland and exclusion of wild animal tick hosts, application of acaricidal treatments to grazing livestock, control of bracken and traditional moorland burning. Ideally a…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards the regular dipping of sheep flocks on hills and uplands to be a desirable and effective method of tick control.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The <i >Sheep - Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock</i> published by the Scottish Executive, February 2002, recommends that where ticks are likely to occur, sheep should be protected by dipping or the use of other effective treatments. Regul…

7 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what medical research is being carried out in the United Kingdom or Europe to address the problems of tick-borne diseases and how they affect humans.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is funding the Centre of Excellence in Epidemiology, Population Health and Infectious Disease Control at the Macaulay Institute, to study tick ecology to identify places most at risk of ticks, the effect of climate change and land use …