Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what further steps it is planning to address wildlife crime.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: On 1 July 2013 the Scottish Government announced new measures aimed at tackling wildlife crime. These are: The Lord Advocate has instructed the specialist prosecutors in the Wildlife and Environmental Crime Unit to work with Police Scotland to ensure that la…
18 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the vicarious liability provisions in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 are (a) understood and (b) enforced.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 inserted provisions relating to vicarious liability for certain offences into the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The new provisions came into force in January 2012. The Scottish Government has work…
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that sentencing limits for people convicted of wildlife crimes are an adequate deterrent.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government announced on 1 July 2013 that a group would be set up to carry out a review to report to ministers on how wildlife crime is treated within the criminal justice system, including examining whether the penalties available for wildlife cr…
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the robustness of vicarious liability under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 to deal with the persecution of birds of prey and their nests and what advice it has sought on the matter.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 inserted provisions relating to vicarious liability for certain offences into the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The new provisions were the subject of careful consideration by the Scottish Governme…
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing further legislation to protect birds of prey and their nests from persecution.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15766 on 18 July 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/parliamentarybu…
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place to protect birds of prey and their nests from persecution.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15765 on 15 July 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/parliamentarybu…
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing further legislation to protect white-tailed eagles and their nests.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not believe that further legislation to protect white-tailed eagles, or any other bird of prey, and their nests is necessary and therefore, at this time, has no plans to introduce any further legislation in this respect. However o…
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place to protect white-tailed eagles and their nests.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, birds of prey, including white-tailed eagles, are protected. The provisions of the Act make it an offence if a person recklessly or intentionally kills, injures or takes a bird of prey. It is also an offence under…
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) tracks the location of eagle nests and (b) informs landowners and occupiers when an eagle is nesting in their area.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not track the location of eagle nests directly, however Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee fund periodic surveys of all known golden eagle territories in Scotland. The surveys are undertake…
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was advised of Forestry Commission Scotland's decision to transfer land to Glenfeshie Estate, and what its response was.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Forestry Commission Scotland has delegated authority from the Scottish Government to manage the National Forest Estate (via Forest Enterprise Scotland). This includes purchase, sale or exchange of land. Therefore there was no requirement for Forestry Commiss…
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when (a) it and (b) Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) entered discussions with Anders Holch Povlsen or his representatives regarding the recently reported land swap between Mr Holch Povlsen and FCS.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government through Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) began discussing the land swap with representatives of Glenfeshie Estate in February 2010. There were no discussions prior to that although the estate asked FCS to consider an off-market sale …
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings (a) it and (b) Forestry Commission Scotland has had with Anders Holch Povlsen or his representatives since 2007, and what was discussed.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government through Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) began discussion with representatives of Glenfeshie estate regarding the land swap in February 2010. There were no discussions prior to that although the estate asked FCS to consider an off-ma…
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with the Land Reform Review Group; when these took place; who attended, and what was discussed.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has met with the Land Reform Review Group on seven occasions. These are as follows: 23 August 2012 - Visit and photo opportunity at Neilston Development Trust with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the …
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it has in the work of the Land Reform Review Group.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Land Reform Review Group was announced in July 2012, by the First Minister. It was set up by the Scottish Government to develop innovative and radical proposals that will contribute to Scotland’s future success. Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary Rural …
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce legislation based on the recommendations of the Land Reform Review Group’s final report and, if so, when.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill is currently proceeding and any relevant recommendations that the review group can make within the Bill timescale, will be taken forward as part of that Bill. The Bill team and review group are liaising closely to en…
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) remit, (b) timescale and (c) membership will be of the group carrying out the review of agricultural tenancy legislation.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As stated on 28 May 2013, in my speech to the NFUS Conference-A Shared Vision for Land Tenure, I will make an announcement after the summer break indicating how we will carry out the review of agricultural holdings legislation.
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14141 by Richard Lochhead on 7 May 2013, what the qualifying criteria are for receiving the aid; how much has been paid, and when the first payment was made.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Farmers will be eligible to receive financial aid if they have used a fallen stock collection service during the period 1 March 2013 to 31 May 2013. The financial aid will be administered by the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo). Farmers who are members …
12 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14139 by Richard Lochhead on 13 May 2013, what the qualifying criteria are for receiving the aid; how much has been paid, and when the first payment was made.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Weather Aid Scheme opened for applications on 3 June 2013 and detailed notes for guidance are available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/grants/WeatherAidScheme. The eligibility criteria take…
10 Jun 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its 2011 climate change target.
3 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to its consultation on a plastic bag tax.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not consulted on a plastic bag tax. Our safeguarding Scotland’s resources consultation on efficient use of materials included a proposal for regulations requiring retailers to charge at least 5p for all single use carrier bags, reg…
16 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of landlords had lodged all eligible deposits with tenant deposits schemes by 15 May 2013.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: Not all landlords take deposits from tenants. In addition, letting agents acting on behalf of landlords will have lodged a proportion of the deposits now with one of the three approved tenancy deposit schemes. As such, we cannot confirm what percentage of all…
15 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take with regard to landlords that did not register their tenants’ deposits with the tenancy deposit protection scheme by the deadline of 15 May 2013.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government continues to work with the scheme providers and other stakeholders such as Citizens Advice Scotland and Shelter Scotland to encourage compliance with the law. The Scottish Government recently introduced the Tenant Information Pack whi…
15 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many landlords registered their tenants’ deposits with the tenancy deposit protection scheme by the deadline of 15 May 2013.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: Up to the end of April this year, over 140,000 deposits with a total value of £89 million had been lodged with one of the three approved tenancy deposit schemes. Of these, more than 25,000 deposits had been submitted directly by landlords. Information on the …
14 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial journeys of (a) one to two miles and (b) one mile and under have been completed (i) by car, (ii) on foot, (iii) on bicycle and (iv) using public transport since 2007 and what impact it expects its recently launched campaign, Not Far? Leave the Car, to have on such jo…
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested at point (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) could only be obtained at disproportionate costs. The recently launched Active Travel campaign aims to encourage the Scottish public to reduce the number of short journeys made by car. The campaig…
14 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Richard Lochhead on 12 March 2013 (Official Report, c. 17558), how many meetings of the Still Hungry for Success working group have been held; who attended; what issues were discussed, and what future meetings are planned.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Still Hungry for Success working group met for the first time on 14 March 2013 and again on 8 May 2013 The following table shows working group membership and attendance Name Organisation 14 March 2013 8 May 2013 Hugh Fraser (chair) Association of …
13 May 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the Educational Psychologists Workforce Planning Group.
8 May 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Scotland regarding the decision to cancel the Dunfermline-based Sheds Hairdressing’s contract to provide hairpieces.
2 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it produces on the sustainable culling of mountain hares.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish government has not issued guidance on the sustainable culling of the mountain hare as the only published information on the population level of the species is an estimate of 350,000 which dates from 1995 and is subject to a 50% margin of error. F…
2 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce further regulation relating to the culling of mountain hares.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As there has been no evidence of non-compliance in respect of the mountain hare closed season, the Scottish Government has no plans at present to introduce further regulation on this subject. However, the Scottish Government remains vigilant regarding all for…
2 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what evidence there is of compliance with the mountain hare closed season under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There is no current evidence of non-compliance with the mountain hare closed season. To date, there have, therefore, been no prosecutions for non-compliance, and there have been 10 licence applications to date for shooting hares during the closed season.