Parliamentary questions

Rob Gibson

971 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses have fair access to public sector contracts.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s Economic Recovery Programme states that it will do all it can to help Scottish businesses. The government is committed to ensuring that small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have fair access to public sector contracts in Scotland…

20 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects responsibility for crofting development to transfer from the Crofters Commission to Highlands and Islands Enterprise and how much resource it proposes to transfer with it.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Responsibility for crofting community development will transfer from the Crofters Commission to Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 1 April 2009 and a baseline transfer of £175,000 will be made from the crofting assistance budget to the budget for Highlands a…

6 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for the establishment of a new marine management organisation in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following consideration of the responses on the recent consultation exercise on Sustainable Seas for All a Consultation on Scotland''s first Marine Bill and related delivery arrangements, we plan to establish new integrated marine management arrangements for …

20 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Soil Association to discuss alternatives to the commercial pesticides of which the European Parliament has agreed to restrict the use.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have not met the Soil Association to discuss this matter. It is not yet known whether currently-available pesticides will become unavailable in future. Decisions will only be taken as individual products are assessed for re-authorisation when their current…

20 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific advice it has received on finding organic means to combat crop damage.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We receive scientific advice on topics relating to crop health from the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and from Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA). Non-chemical control measures under investigation to reduce the impact of pests and diseas…

20 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has on the relationship between the use of pesticides and the decline in bee populations.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am not aware of any evidence which proves a causal link between the use of pesticides and the decline in bee populations. That decline has been fairly recent, whereas insecticides have been used for many years with a fairly static usage pattern.

20 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific advice it has taken on the effects on invertebrates of pesticides used in farming.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We must recognise that invertebrates make up around 98 per cent of Scotland''s animal species, and within that broad category are many species which can either be beneficial or harmful to farming. However, all pesticides used in the UK are strictly regulated …

26 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to securing additional marine responsibilities out to 200 nautical miles, as supported by the Parliament in its debate on Scotland’s Marine Environment on 20 March 2008.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am pleased to announce that Scotland will be granted executive devolution of marine planning and nature conservation out to 200 nautical miles. This follows the First Minister successfully pressing for the resurrection of the Joint Ministerial Committee as …

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had in advance of the forthcoming EU Commission discussions to relax regulations governing the shape, size and appearance of fruit and vegetables.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government have been working with officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to monitor and contribute to developments on the reform of the Marketing Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, which were first raised in …

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it can play in re-examining the EU regulations governing the shape, size and appearance of fruit and vegetables.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The European Commission has already announced proposals for simplifying the Marketing Standards Regulations for fruit and vegetables. The Scottish Government fully supports this simplification. We will continue to work with officials in the Department for Env…

29 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its bee health strategy for Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I am pleased to announce that, following detailed discussion with representative bodies, the draft Honey Bee Health Strategy for Scotland has been issued to interested parties for comment today. The strategy seeks to address the challenges facing bee…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has powers to ensure that art works currently on public display can be retained.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The National Institutions have very limited powers of disposal with regard to the objects in the National Collections. The exercise of these powers is a matter for the Board of Trustees of each of the National Institutions. Objects on loan to the National Col…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any deals have been made to retain on view in Scotland art works that are on loan to the national collections and, if so, what those deals are.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Decisions on the works of art that are to be loaned and displayed on view in the National Galleries of Scotland are an operational matter for the National Galleries. There are hundreds of loans in operation at any one time, and it is for the National Gallerie…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between it and relevant UK departments on issues arising from art works on loan to Scotland’s national collections when lenders re-assess their estates in anticipation of death duties.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government liaises regularly on the Acceptance in Lieu scheme with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, the UK Government''s advisers on museum and gallery matters, which acts on behalf of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The A…

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the current value of works of art on loan to the national collections to be.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I have referred this question to the national collections and they will respond direct to the member on this matter.

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any owners of art currently on loan to the national collections have suggested that National Galleries of Scotland should purchase any of these works.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Discussions between lenders and the National Galleries of Scotland are an operational matter for the National Galleries. The information is not held centrally. I have asked the chief executive of the National Galleries to respond directly.

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many owners of art currently on loan to the national collections have discussed the circumstances of their return with National Galleries of Scotland.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: This is a matter for the National Galleries of Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally. I have asked the chief executive of the National Galleries to respond directly.

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many works of art currently on loan to the national collections are (a) on display and (b) in storage.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: This is a matter for the National Museums of Scotland, National Galleries of Scotland and National Library of Scotland. The information requested is not held centrally. I have asked the chief executives of the three bodies to respond directly.

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many works of art in the national collections were in storage on 1 July 2008.

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many works of art in the national collections were on display on 1 July 2008.

14 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to conduct a review of the Game Acts and, if so, when the review will commence, what its timescale will be and what opportunities will be available for stakeholders to make a contribution.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government does intend to conduct a review of the Game Acts, which will commence before the end of the year. Early tasks will be to assess the scope of work required and to set a realistic timeframe. Part of the process will be a public consultat…