Claire Baker

7 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S3W-38670 by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2011, whether it remains committed to the UK shared framework for sustainable development.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government remains committed to sustainable development as defined in the 2005 UK shared framework, One future, different paths. The key principles identified in the framework are reflected in our Government Economic Strategy and other key policy…

7 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who it has consulted on its definition of sustainable economic growth and how it has taken responses into account.

Answer · John Swinney: The Government Economic Strategy sets out our approach to supporting sustainable economic growth in Scotland, with an update of the strategy published in September 2011. We engaged widely in the development of the update of strategy with key partners from acr…

7 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it defines sustainable economic growth and where it publishes this definition.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government defines sustainable economic growth as building a dynamic and growing economy that will provide prosperity and opportunities for all, while ensuring that future generations can enjoy a better quality of life too. This definition was se…

7 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce financial incentives that (a) promote and (b) reward energy efficiency.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to the promotion of energy efficiency throughout its activities. Most recently the Scottish Government announced £30 million of financial incentives for energy efficiency measures in the recent budget. This is made up …

7 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what money has been made available to it from the UK Government to help meet its (a) climate change and (b) fuel poverty targets; whether it considers that this is sufficient and, if not, whether it plans to raise money from the private sector.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: At present, all funding for climate change activity and almost all for fuel poverty activity in 2012-13 and 2013-14 is funded by the Scottish Government through the funding settlement, with the exception of a £16 million transfer from the Department of Energy…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost will be of testing ash trees for Chalara fraxinea and who will be responsible for meeting this.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Testing for Chalara fraxinea is currently being carried out by Forest Research and the Food and Environmental Research Agency. Both are primarily funded by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Until the likely scale of testing requirements i…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial assistance (a) it and (b) Forestry Commission Scotland will provide to landowners who have to destroy ash trees affected by Chalara fraxinea.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In line with the policy of successive Governments, the Scottish Government does not currently plan to pay compensation for plants and trees lost through pest and diseases or the measure required to eradicate them. Nursery owners are advised of the need to ens…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the cases of the Chalara fraxinea fungus found in Scotland are related to imported ash trees or native species.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As at 9 November the majority of the confirmed cases in Scotland related to new planting sites, mostly likely related to imported ash trees. However there were two sites in the wider environment; for one of these sites the cause is unclear while in the other …

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it and (b) the Forestry Commission Scotland took on becoming aware of the confirmed cases of the Chalara fraxinea fungus in England in light of its potential to be transmitted via wind and birds.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Chalara fraxinea fungus was first identified in England in February 2012 and confirmed in March 2012 and the first signs of the disease were picked up in Scotland on 9 July 2012. Between March and the beginning of July, Forestry Commission Scotland undertook …

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action (a) it and (b) the Forestry Commission Scotland took between first learning about the threat of the Chalara fraxinea fungus and the first confirmed case in Scotland.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Chalara fraxinea fungus is one of a number of new tree and plant health threats which have emerged as significant risks over recent years. In 2011 Forestry Commission and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs published an Action Plan for Tre…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when (a) it and (b) the Forestry Commission Scotland first became aware of the potential threat of the Chalara fraxinea fungus.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Forestry Commission scientists have been aware of ash dieback as one of a number of potential threats to tree health for a number of years. Ash dieback symptoms were first observed in Poland in 1992 and since then the disease has spread to other parts of Euro…

26 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received assurances from the (a) European Commission or (b) Law Officers that Scottish farmers would automatically qualify for acceptance to the common agricultural policy if Scotland separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is the clear view of the Scottish Government that on independence Scotland would remain part of the EU as it is at present, fulfilling the responsibilities which membership brings, and maintaining its political, economic and social links to Europe. A Scotl…

26 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what economic analysis underpins the statement of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment reported in the Farmers Guardian on 23 October 2012 that every farm in Scotland would receive £6,000 extra from the common agricultural policy if Scotland separated from the rest…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The European Commission’s draft Direct Payment Regulation includes a convergence proposal that would see Member States with average per hectare payment rates below 90% of the EU-27 average rate per hectare have one third of the gap between their current level…

25 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many indictments have been registered at Kirkcaldy Justice of the Peace Court in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

25 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for how many days Kirkcaldy Justice of the Peace Court has sat in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

25 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many indictments have been registered at (a) Kirkcaldy and (b) Dunfermline Sheriff Court in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

25 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for how many days (a) Kirkcaldy and (b) Dunfermline Sheriff Court has sat in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

25 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many jury trials have taken place at (a) Kirkcaldy and (b) Dunfermline Sheriff Court in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

17 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's finding that (a) Heads of Ayr and (b) Stonehaven beaches did not achieve a mandatory pass rating for the 2012 summer season and what action it will take to help ensure that bathing waters do not breach safety limits or …

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: SEPA investigates when pollution occurs at any of the 83 designated bathing waters in the bathing water season. The failure at Heads of Ayr appears to have been due to agricultural pollutants, such as livestock manure or slurry, that were mobilised by heavy r…

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09018 by Richard Lochhead on 30 August 2012, whether arrangements for the meeting with retailers have been finalised and, if so, who has been invited.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Unfortunately, discussions between the European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki and the Icelandic, Norwegian and Faroes Fisheries Ministers on the 3 September failed to secure agreement on mackerel quota sharing. Given this outcome we are seeking to con…

27 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the evaluation of directly elected NHS boards will be completed and made public.

Answer · Alex Neil: The London School of Economics in association with the University of St Andrews is conducting the independent evaluation of the pilot health board elections. Their report is due to be completed and laid before the Parliament during the autumn of 2012.

6 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08516 by Richard Lochead on 1 August 2012, who will be invited to the meeting with the supermarkets and when it will be held.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In view of the discussions on the mackerel situation which took place yesterday, 3 September, between European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki and the Icelandic and Norwegian Fisheries Ministers, arrangements for the meeting with retailers have not been…

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place between the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and retailers on the suspension of Scottish mackerel’s Marine Stewardship Council certificate before 30 June 2012.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has established regular contact with retailers on several issues, and I have personally raised my concerns over the sourcing of seafood on many occasions. I have urged retailers to be aware of the behaviour of Faroes and Iceland in rel…

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has met retailers to discuss the suspension of Scottish mackerel’s Marine Stewardship Council certificate.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08516 on 1 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/parliamentarybus…

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and retailers on the suspension of Scottish mackerel’s Marine Stewardship Council certificate.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08516 on 1 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/parliamentarybus…

30 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle water pollution.

16 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the draft National Marine Plan will be published.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Draft National Marine Plan will be published for consultation later this year. The Statement of Public Participation will be updated to reflect the publication date when it has been confirmed. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/seamanagement/nation…

2 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06594 by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2012, whether the stakeholders will include Scotland-wide organisations with an interest in rural affairs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes, the Scottish Government has already sought the views of national organisations. These include the Scottish Community Alliance, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Carnegie UK, COSLA, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Dev…

27 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to limit commercial exploitation of Atlantic salmon in Scottish coastal waters.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Salmon fishing rights in Scotland are private heritable rights. Coastal salmon fisheries are regulated through gear restrictions, weekly and annual close times and geographical limits to the area within which they can legally fish.

20 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill will include provisions to ensure that fish genetic samples are produced from salmon fisheries where necessary.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This issue was included as part of the recent consultation on an Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill. The 1,400 responses received are now being analysed and we will bring forward proposals for a bill in due course.