Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government, (b) Dart Energy and (c) REACH Coal Seam Gas about the environmental impact of field development plans from 1997, 2006 and 2012 in relation to Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (i) 133, (ii) 159, (iii) 161 and (iv) 163 an…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13713 on 15 April 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/parliamentaryb…
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government, (b) Dart Energy and (c) REACH Coal Seam Gas about the environmental impact of Petroleum Exploration and Development Licence (i) 133, (ii) 159, (iii) 161 and (iv) 163 and when.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has had no specific discussions with the UK Government on the environmental impacts of unconventional gases. The Government is advised on environmental matters by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) who sits on a UK wide …
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many poisoned baits have been discovered and how many (a) birds and (b) other animals have been poisoned in this way since 2008, broken down by (i) year and (ii) species.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The available information on poisoned baits and the poisoning of birds and other animals is shown in the following table. Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, SASA, collate and publish data on animal poisonings information on a quarterly and annua…
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) investigations, (b) arrests and (c) convictions there have been for the offence of vicarious liability under the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since the vicarious liability provisions in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 came into force on 1 January 2012 there have been no arrests, prosecutions or convictions of people for vicarious liability for relevant offences. Vicarious l…
13 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many traffic accidents there have been on the A92 between Dunfermline and Dundee in each year since 2002, broken down by (a) severity and (b) location.
Answer · Keith Brown: The number of personal injury accidents on the entire length of the A92 between Dunfermline and Dundee (NB not numbers of casualties) is shown in the following tables. A92 Single Carriageway Accidents by Year/Severity Fatal Serious Slight Total 2002 …
12 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-00603 by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2012 (Official Report, c. 5771), when it will conduct its review of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Decisions on the form and scope of the review of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board have yet to be taken, but it is envisaged that towards the end of the year the consultation will be launched.
7 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Estates Charter introduced by the Scottish Executive in 1999 remains in force.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Yes. It is standard practice for the principles behind the Estates Charter to be taken into account when managing the Scottish Ministers’ estate, alongside other Scottish Government policies and the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
7 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-00603 by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2012 (Official Report, c. 5771), what issues will be discussed during its 2013 review of the role of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Decisions on the form and scope of the review of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board have yet to be taken. An assurance can be given that the key participants (NFUS, SLaE and Unite the Union) will be given an opportunity to present their views.
5 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to (a) remove or (b) consult on the removal of the obligation to fortify flour with (i) iron, (ii) calcium, (iii) thiamine or (iv) niacin.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has no plans to remove or consult on the removal of the obligation to fortify flour. The Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 set a legal requirement for all white and brown flour produced in Great Britain to be fortified with the four quo…
5 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the UK Government consultation on the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 will have in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Westminster Government consultation on this GB instrument may result in revocation of the Regulations as they apply in England but this would require agreement by both DEFRA and Department of Health Ministers. The Regulations would continue unchanged as t…
25 Feb 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on addressing concerns regarding horsemeat in the food chain.
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it expects retailers to take in identifying contaminated meat.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government expects the food industry, including retailers, wholesalers, food service companies, caterers and manufacturers, to co-operate with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and local authorities throughout the on-going horsemeat investigation. …
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a new food body for Scotland will be established.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The new food body will be established in primary legislation. The date of establishment is dependent on the timetable for Parliamentary business.
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects an audit of local authority food controls to be completed.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Food Standards Agency Audits by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) of local authorities’ food and feed enforcement services are ongoing and take place throughout the year. In Scotland, FSA typically carries out twelve audits every year. Audit plans and audit rep…
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all local authorities have completed investigations of all premises in their areas that manufacture processed meat products.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As requested by Scottish Ministers on 23 January 2013, Foods Standards Agency Scotland asked Scottish local authorities to carry out focused food standards inspections at all approved premises producing processed meat products in Scotland. Local authorities r…
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent advice has been given to public bodies regarding contaminated meat.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued advice on its website on the 10 February 2013 to public institutions (schools, prisons, hospitals, and the armed forces) and the businesses who supply them, including caterers. This advice: Reminded public institutions,…
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the consultation on the establishment of a new food body for Scotland will be published.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The consultation on the establishment of a new food body for Scotland was launched on 28 February 2013. The consultation was published with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) under Bib number 54763.
11 Feb 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on improvements to the Scottish Ambulance Service’s patient transport service.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Ambulance Service Patient Transport Service provides a vital service across Scotland. It enables patients who have a medical or mobility need for the support of an ambulance crew to get to and from healthcare facilities for their appointments. In…
23 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4T-00181 by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 December 2012 (Official Report, c. 14831), which local authorities have made requests for assistance under the Bellwin scheme; at what stage are these representations, and how much each authority has (a) asked for and …
Answer · John Swinney: Following the severe weather in December, potential claims for assistance under the Bellwin Scheme were notified to the Scottish Government by Aberdeenshire, Moray, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Highland and Angus councils. From the date of the emergency…
23 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Barnett consequentials arising from the 2012 Autumn Statement has been allocated to flood risk management.
Answer · John Swinney: The total funding allocated to local government by way of capital consequentials arising from the 2012 Autumn Statement is £46.2 million. Local authorities have the lead for flood risk management in their respective areas and the capital consequentials will b…
8 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in Fife who have been charged with (a) murder and (b) a knife crime have been (i) remanded in custody, (ii) granted bail and (iii) granted bail despite opposition from the Crown Office prosecutors in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what Marine Scotland's staff (a) budget and (b) complement has been in each year since its establishment.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland’s planned staff budget and staff complement in each year since its establishment are listed in the following tables:- 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 £000 £000 £000 £000 Staff Budget 26,683 27,882 28,927 28,328 2009-10 (…
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much Marine Scotland has spent on (a) staff redundancies, (b) staff costs and (c) research in each year since its establishment.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The amount spent by Marine Scotland on staff redundancies, staff costs and research since its establishment are outlined in the following table:- 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 £000 £000 £000 Staff Redundancies 0 0 0 Staff Costs 27,381 28,269 27,…
20 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) internships and (b) work experience places it has awarded in each year since 1999.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08723 on 20 August 2012. 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…
10 Dec 2012 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported increase in unconventional gas exploration.
7 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will have completed the 2012 single farm payments to farmers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As at 19 December, we paid 88% of expected claims, equating to some 16,590 farmers and a total of £382 million by value. In comparison with 2011, this is a 3% improvement in the number of farmers paid. This means some 2,300 claims are still to be processed. M…
5 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether independent evidence establishing a need to supplement a trap with a (a) Larsen Mate and (b) Elgeeco cage trap is required before a general licence for its use can be granted.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: No such evidence is required. It is the responsibility of anyone using a general licence to be satisfied that their actions are compliant with the terms of that licence. Scottish Natural Heritage proposes to work with practitioners in 2013 to develop a Code o…
5 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on issuing general licences for untested cage traps.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Species licensing functions, including the issue of General Licences was delegated to SNH in July 2011. The general licences list the types of traps that can be used for the purposes set out in the licence. SNH policy is that decisions made about the inclusi…
5 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what provision must be made for (a) food, (b) water and (c) shelter for (i) birds and (ii) other animals caught by a (A) Larsen Mate and (B) Elgeeco cage trap before a general licence for its use can be granted.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: No such provision is currently (or has previously been) made for any animals caught by any trap under the general licence. Scottish Natural Heritage is proposing to work with practitioners to develop a code of practice for use of traps under general licence …
5 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what independent testing has been carried out to evaluate the impact of (a) Larsen Mate and (b) Elgeeco cage traps on (i) protected species and (ii) species not targeted by the devices.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11729 on 21 December 2012. The Scottish Government are similarly not aware of any independent testing of the impact of these traps on protected species or any non-target species. Scottish Natural Heritage also …