Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it considers a consumer would receive under a wider deposit return scheme to encourage recycling of drink containers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17643 on 1 November 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…
3 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will consider the feasibility of a wider deposit return scheme to encourage recycling of drink containers and whether it plans to make a statement to the Parliament on the matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I have asked Zero Waste Scotland to examine the feasibility of a Scotland wide approach to deposit-return, building on the current recycle and reward pilots, and engaging with key business and local authority stakeholders. I will be meeting with business and …
3 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with drinks companies regarding the potential for a wider deposit return scheme to encourage recycling of drink containers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I recently met with AG Barr to discuss the potential for a deposit return scheme in Scotland, and plan to meet with other companies shortly.
2 Oct 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports Fife's economy.
27 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions for cruelty have been made under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 for forcible removal of a dog’s microchip.
Answer · Lesley Thomson: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has prosecuted 1879 charges under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 in Courts across Scotland of which 1381 charges have been for causing unnecessary suffering to animals under section 19 …
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include guidance on the appropriate use of low emissions zones in reducing air quality issues in the final Scottish Planning Policy.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities, Transport Scotland, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and other partners to ensure that air quality objectives are achieved. We are currently developing a low emission strategy for Scotland …
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it will undertake on best practice when using the planning system to address air quality issues before finalising the Scottish Planning Policy and the National Planning Framework 3.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities, Transport Scotland, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and other partners to ensure that air quality objectives are achieved. We have no plans at present to commission new research into air q…
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of patients has been seen within the (a) four-hour and (b) 12-hour waiting time target at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, in each of the last 10 years and how this compares with the national average.
Answer · Alex Neil: Table 1 presents the percentage of attendances (new and unplanned returns) that were seen within four hours and within twelve hours at Victoria Hospital and in NHSScotland for 2005 to 2013. There is no HEAT Standard for patients to wait less than twelve hours…
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of referrals for cancer was treated within the 62-day cancer waiting time target for the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, in each of the last 10 years and how this compares with the national average.
Answer · Alex Neil: This information is not held centrally. Information Services Division (ISD) does not hold cancer waiting times information by hospital of treatment.
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been made regarding the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy in each of the last 10 years and how this compares with the national average.
Answer · Alex Neil: National annual statistics for NHS complaints are published by the Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland. The 2012-13 statistics were published on 24 September 2013 and are available at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topic…
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital beds have been available at (a) NHS Fife and b) the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy in each of the last 10 years and how the figure for NHS Fife compares with the national average.
Answer · Alex Neil: Table 1 presents the number of average available staffed beds for acute specialties in Victoria Hospital, NHS Fife and NHS Scotland for 2003-04 to 2012-13 and those in Victoria Hospital and NHS Fife as a percentage of NHS Scotland. Table 1 – Average availabl…
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many nurses have been employed at (a) NHS Fife and (b) the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, in each of the last 10 years and how the figure for NHS Fife compares with the national average.
Answer · Alex Neil: National average figures for nursing staff are not recorded, information on the total number of nurses working in NHSScotland can be found by following the link below: https://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2013-08-27/Nursing_an…
19 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to (a) NHS Fife and (b) the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, in each of the last 10 years and how the figure for NHS Fife compares with the national average.
Answer · Alex Neil: The baseline funding allocations for NHS Fife (also shown as a percentage share of the total allocation for NHSScotland territorial health boards) and the revenue expenditure at the Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy for the last 10 years are provided in the followi…
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many abattoirs there are in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Food Standards Agency Scotland is responsible for ensuring that abattoirs in Scotland meet the required regulatory requirements. FSA/S have advised that there are currently 30 approved red meat slaughterhouses and six poultry meat slaughterhouses in Scot…
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which levy board will promote and sell livestock born and reared in Scotland and slaughtered in England.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The English Beef and Lamb Executive and the British Pig Association respectively are responsible for the promotion of livestock processed in England.
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what national label livestock born and reared in Scotland and slaughtered in England is marketed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Quality Meat Scotland advise that livestock born and reared in Scotland which are slaughtered in England would be marketed under either the red tractor scheme or the Quality Standard Mark, which is administered by EBLEX.
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much livestock born and reared in Scotland has been slaughtered in England in each of the last five years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Livestock movements from Scotland to England is complex because most animals move several times in their lifetime prior to slaughter, in addition production and movements are driven by market conditions, furthermore not all of the data requested is held by th…
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the reported £13 billion turnover for food and drink in 2011 came from (a) Scottish meat and (b) British meat sold in the (i) UK, (ii) rest of the EU and (iii) rest of the world.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The food and drink turnover figure of £13 billion was sourced from Scottish Annual Business Statistics 2011, which does not disaggregate the data down to this level of detail.
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been collected by Quality Meat Scotland in red meat levy in each of the last five years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Quality Meat Scotland collected red meat levy income totalling £4.43 million in 2012-13, £4.85 million in both 2011-12 and 2010-11, £3.85 million in 2009-10 and £3.93 million in 2008-09.
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with (a) the UK Government, (b) Quality Meat Scotland, (c) the Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board and (d) EBLEX regarding the red meat levy and what was discussed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I have discussed the red meat levy repatriation issue with Quality Meat Scotland and the UK Government on a number of occasions, most recently with David Mundell, Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office, on 12 September. As AHDB and EBL…
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of red meat reared in Scotland is sold (a) in the UK, (b) in the rest of the EU and (c) outwith the EU labelled as British meat.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not collect such data. However, the labelling of red meat is determined by the customers specification and marketing strategy, and these are commercial issues.
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many responses it received to its recent consultation on local air quality management and how many called for a Scottish air quality action plan.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The three month consultation period was due to finish on 6 September 2013 but has been extended to 20 September 2013, following requests from stakeholders for further time. An analysis of responses will be undertaken and published on the Scottish Government w…
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the new round of single outcome agreements will ensure that central and local government work together to ensure that air quality objectives are met.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities have statutory responsibilities for managing air quality in their areas under the Environment Act 1995 and associated regulations. These place clear expectations on local authorities to pursue air quality objectives. The Scottish Government …
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to include the need to meet air quality objectives in the National Planning Framework 3.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities, Transport Scotland, SEPA and other partners to ensure that the air quality objectives are achieved. The planning system has a key role to play in this process. The third National Planning Framewor…
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to include the need to meet air quality objectives in the Scottish Planning Policy.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government works closely with local authorities, Transport Scotland, SEPA and other partners to ensure that air quality objectives are achieved. The planning system has a key role to play in this process. The Scottish Government is currently rev…
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it considers food recycling can play in the rural economy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Food waste recycling in rural areas has a number of roles to play and can bring significant benefits. Local community composting groups for example can bring a number of benefits including much needed employment opportunities and enhanced community cohesion.…
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set targets for an increase in food waste recycling.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has a target to recycle at least 70% of Scotland’s waste by 2025. No specific target for food waste has been set, but the capture and recycling of food waste is recognised as being key to the achievement of our 70% target. The measure…
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what dialogue it has had with local authorities on food recycling initiatives in each year since 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There has been extensive dialogue with both COSLA and individual local authorities on food waste initiatives and on the development of our wider waste policy. This engagement continues both directly and through Zero Waste Scotland.
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its (a) current and (b) planned spend is on food recycling initiatives.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under the Food Waste Support Programme, delivered by Zero Waste Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, we have allocated £5 million for the 2013-14 financial year. A further £5 million has been allocated for 2014-15 for food waste recycling initiative…
6 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to the promotion of food recycling initiatives in each year since 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: To promote the recycling of food waste we have provided additional funding for a number of initiatives. In 2011 Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) launched its Food Waste Support Programme. This runs through to 2014-15 and will see councils receive in the region of £…