Ms Rosemary Byrne

13 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding in each local authority area has been allocated through Sure Start.

Answer · Tavish Scott: GAE (Grant Aided Expenditure) allocations for each local authority in Scotland for Sure Start are shown in the table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Council</p> </td> <td> <p>2004-05 Allocation </p> <p>(£ Mil…

13 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether proposed changes to the shared care scheme for drug users in Glasgow comply with the legislation relating to the change of an NHS service.

Answer · Hugh Henry: It is for local health authorities to check on such issues. However, a one year agreement on the funding of these services has already been reached, and current service users would be consulted on any future changes beyond that period.</p>

12 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tighten the system of pollution monitoring for the pollution emissions register.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Environment ProtectionAgency (SEPA) is currently implementing systems and business processes to managethe collection of data included in the agency’s pollution emissions inventory. Thesewill include the verification by SEPA’s inspectors of the ac…

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what (a) planning and (b) environmental regulations peat extraction may take place.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Peat extraction is regulatedthrough the planning system. <i>National Planning Policy Guideline 4: Land forMineral Working</i> states “that commercial peat extraction is only likely tobe acceptable in areas of low conservation/archaeological interest.”</p>

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to determine which peat sites are protected from extraction.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Selection criteria for peatlandSpecial Areas of Conservation (SACs) in Scotland.</p><p>The selection criteria for allsites proposed as candidate SACs throughout the UK follow the principles set outin Annex III (Stage 1) of the Habitats Directive. The guidance…

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many peat sites are currently protected from extraction.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There are 77 candidate ScottishSpecial Areas of Conservation, designated under the EC Habitats Directive forthe peatland habitat types blanket bog, active raised bog, and degraded raised bog.Together these sites provide international protection for over 220,0…

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many peat extraction sites there are and where each site is located.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The British Geological Survey’s Directory of Mines and Quarries indicates that there were 32 active sites in Scotland in 2002:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>Aberdeenshire</p> </td> <td> <p align=right>3</p> </td> </tr> <tr…

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the peat extraction industry.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This information cannot be released,to prevent the disclosure of data relating to individual enterprises.</p>

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual economic value is of peat extraction.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In 2001, the peat extractionindustry in Scotland generated £4.5 million in turnover, or £1.8 million ofgross value added.</p>

7 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much peat is extracted annually from peat extraction sites.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally.</p>

6 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to discuss potential changes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regarding dairy farming in the light of the accession of the 10 new member states to the European Union with (a) farming community, (b) the retail sector, (c) Her Majesty's Government and (d) the Europe…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is not aware ofany potential changes to the CAP dairy regime following the accession of the newmember states. The CAP agreement reached in Luxembourg in June 2003 took accountof enlargement and has yet to be fully implemented.</p><p>In the longe…

6 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the present implementation of EU competition laws with regard to dairy farming.

Answer · Ross Finnie: EU competition law is a reservedmatter, being the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.</p><p>The Executive maintains regularcontact with all relevant interests, including other Government Departments andfarmers’ representatives, on a range …

6 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist family dairy farms in respect of the application of EU competition laws.

Answer · Ross Finnie: EU competition law is a reserved matter, being the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.</p><p>The Executive offers advice, including relevant contact points in other government departments, on a range of issues affecting dairy producers.</p>

6 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the voluntary Retailer Code of Conduct with regard to dairy products.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the Supermarket Code of Practice.</p><p>However, following a recent reviewof the operation of the Code, the Office of Fair Trading has announced that furtherwork, including a compliance audit of the super…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7360 by Ross Finnie on 27 April 2004, what the monitoring arrangements are in respect of discharges made by nuclear site operators.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for the ScottishEnvironment Protection Agency but the arrangements are described in the report referredto in my earlier reply.</p>

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners who served sentences for drug-related offences since 1999 was offered drug rehabilitation services on release and how many took up this option.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Since the introduction of transitionalcare in 2002 all prisoners serving less than four years requesting drug rehabilitationservices on rel…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners currently serving sentences for drug-related offences will be offered drug rehabilitation services on release.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>All prisoners admitted tothe Scottish Prison Service (SPS) with a substance misuse issue who requestsupport on release will be offered a refe…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners currently serving sentences for drug-related offences has previous drug-related convictions.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In 2002, a total of 791 personswere sentenced to custody on at least one occasion where the main offence was adrugs offence. Of these, 59% had a previous conviction in the period since 1989where the main offence involved was also a drugs offence.</p>

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of female prisoners serving sentences for drug-related offences is aged (a) less than 18 and (b) 18 to 20 years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7940 on 17 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on t…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of male prisoners serving sentences for drug-related offences is aged (a) less than 18 and (b) 18 to 20 years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The available information we have on the age and sex of sentenced prisoners in custody on 30 June 2003, where the main crime was a drug off…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners is currently serving sentences of (a) more than 12 months and (b) 24 months or under for drug-related offences.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7937 on 17 May 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners is currently serving sentences of (a) more than six months and (b) 12 months or under for drug-related offences.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-7937 on 17 May 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of prisoners is currently serving sentences of six months or less for drug-related offences.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The available information we have on the sentence length of sentenced prisoners in custody on 30 June 2003, where the main crime was a drug…

26 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish details of the use of the new Single Farm Payment Scheme, including the operation of the national reserve, under Common Agricultural Policy reform.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department will write to producers in June with provisional information on qualifyingactivity for the Single Farm Payment Scheme. More refined information will be providedin the autumn. By that time, we exp…

26 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish details of the use of coupled support, including protein crops, starch potatoes and energy crops, under Common Agricultural Policy reform.

Answer · Ross Finnie: General details were providedto producers in the Scottish Executive’s News Release of 14 January 2004and in a letter sent to all arable producers on 23 February 2004. We await thedetailed European Commission Implementing Regulations which are due to be votedo…

26 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish details of the use of modulation under Common Agricultural Policy reform.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Proposals for the use of modulatedmoney will need to be incorporated into the Scottish Rural Development Programmeand approved by the European Commission. The intention is to put forward proposalsfollowing consultation with stakeholders and after taking into …

26 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish details of the Integrated Administrative Control System under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The text for the integrated administrationand control system covering the new CAP schemes has just been agreed by the EC andwill be published in the <i>Official Journal of the European Union</i> shortly.</p>

26 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish details of provisions concerning cross-compliance controls under Common Agricultural Policy reform.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The public consultation on draftconditions for Cross Compliance (Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition)opened on 19 February 2004 and closes on 21 May 2004. </p><p>I will announce the final shapeof Cross Compliance (Good Agricultural and Environmental…

23 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the consultation report on proposals for a Crofting Development Programme.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The report on the responses tothe consultation on the Crofting Development Programme has been placed in the Parliament’sReference Centre (Bib. number 32087) and on the Crofters Commission website. Thosewho cannot access the website can obtain a paper copy of …

23 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the final report of the review of the Crofters Commission Livestock Improvement Schemes.

Answer · Allan Wilson: A copy of the evaluation reporton the Livestock Improvement Schemes has been placed in the Parliament’s ReferenceCentre (Bib. number 32088) and on the Crofters Commission website. Those who cannotaccess the website can obtain a paper copy of the report on req…