Rob Gibson

15 Nov 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to end overcrowding at HM Prison Inverness.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: <a name="se_IndexHeading"></a>Justice Department</p><p><b> Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): </b>To ask the Scottish Executive <a name=QuestionText>whatplans are in place to end overcrowding at HM Prison </a>Inverness.</p><P>(S2O-11138)</p><br clear=a…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-29271 by Lewis Macdonald on 10 November 2006, when it wrote to (a) local authorities and (b) ports about possible importation of contaminated rice.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food StandardsAgency in Scotland that it contacted local authorities (both inland andat ports) about possible importation of contaminated rice on 25 August 2006. Follow-upletters were also sent on 8 September, 26 October and 13 November 20…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28653 by Lewis Macdonald on 24 October 2006, why the Food Standards Agency has not instructed local authorities to test for unauthorised LL601 rice in products already on the market, including on supermarket shelves, in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the Food StandardsAgency that the issues raised in this question are currently subject to proceedingsfor judicial review.</p><p>I refer the member to Rule 7.5.1of the Standing Orders which states “A member may not in the proceedings of the Pa…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who in Scotland is legally responsible for upholding Article 3 of Commission decision 2006/578/EC.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Commission Decision2006/578/EC was revoked and replaced by Commission Decision 2006/601/EC on 5 September 2006.</p><p>The enforcement of the equivalent Article in the current Commission Decision is for the relevant localauthority as provided in The Rice Produ…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who in Scotland is legally responsible for upholding Article 4 (2) of Regulation EC 1829/2003.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food StandardsAgency that, in Scotland, local authorities are responsible for upholding Article4 (2) of Regulation EC 1829/2003.</p>

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it started to arrange for the transfer of the planning powers in respect of marine fish farms from the Crown Estate to local authorities.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Following Lord Sewel’s commitmentin 1997 that planning controls should be extended to marine fish farming, the Executivepublished the consultation paper <i>The Extension of Planning Controls to MarineFish Farming</i> in 2000.</p><p>In light of the provisions …

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when planning powers in respect of marine fish farms, currently held by the Crown Estate, will be transferred to local authorities.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A finalised timetable has yetto be confirmed but it is intended that the provisions extending planning controlsto marine fish farming will come into effect during 2007.</p>

10 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often helicopters were used for air ambulance duties using pick-up points in (a) Argyll and Bute, (b) the Western Isles, (c) Orkney and (d) Shetland in each year since 1999 and which pick-up points were used.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isdetailed in the table: Information requested for question S2W-29773 a copy of whichhas been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 40994).</p>

10 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11463 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 November 2004, how many air ambulance journeys were carried out from within the Highland Council area in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06, detailing where such journeys originated.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isdetailed in a table entitled Information requested for question S2W-29772 a copyof which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.number 40992).</p>

10 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-28931, S2W-28932 and S2W-28933 by Rhona Brankin on 30 October 2006, what domestic funding mechanisms are available to meet the protection, promotion and management needs of Natura 2000 sites and how it intends to deploy these mechanisms.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The key domestically funded mechanismssupporting the protection, promotion and management of Natura 2000 sites in Scotland areScottish Natural Heritage (SNH) management agreements and Natural Care schemes.Domestic funding for Natura 2000 is also a component o…

30 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how and by whom the project work supported by the Energy Saving Trust is monitored to review its effectiveness in meeting the Executive’s policy objectives

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Energy Saving Trust (EST)in Scotland is funded by the Energy Division of the Executive’s Enterprise, Transportand Lifelong Learning department.</p><p>In December each year the ESTsubmit a draft annual workplan for discussion and approval by Executive offi…

30 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the projects supported by the Energy Saving Trust that have been completed in (a) Scotland and (b) the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: As of 10 October 2006, throughthe Scottish Community and Household Renewables Initiative (SCHRI) the Energy SavingTrust (EST) has provided grant assistance to 1,207 householders across Scotland. Informationon recipients is not held centrally. Sixty-eight comm…

30 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what noise levels are experienced at ground level from (a) short haul jet aircraft, (b) long haul jet aircraft and (c) fighter jets flying at (i) 100 metres, (ii) 500 metres and (iii) 1,000 metres.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive does nothold the information requested.</p>

30 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the emissions of CO2 and particulate matters by (a) jet aircraft engines on average (i) short haul flights from Glasgow to London and (ii) long haul flights from Glasgow to New York and (b) jet fighters on bombing range exercises and returns from Norfolk to Easter Ros…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive does nothold the information requested.</p><p>The amount of carbon dioxide(CO₂) and particulate matters emissions produced by civilianaircraft vary by model and type of aircraft and according to factors such as journeylengths…

30 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any ongoing issues in NHS Western Isles which would explain why Angus MacNeil MP has had no substantive reply to his letters of 9 August, 19 September and 6 October 2006 to the NHS board regarding his constituent, Mr John MacLeod of the Isle of Lewis.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This is a matter for NHS WesternIsles.</p>

26 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland to check that supermarkets are not selling food containing LL601 rice, following advice issued by the Food Standards Agency to retailers on 5 October 2006.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29272 on 9 November 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

26 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that no Bt 63 rice is on sale in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by theFood Standards Agency that the European Commission has been liaising with Greenpeaceand the Chinese authorities regarding reports of unauthorised GM material beingfound in a survey of rice products imported from China. Thissurvey was carrie…

26 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on why the Food Standards Agency did not decide to withdraw unauthorised GM material on sale in the United Kingdom until 5 October 2006.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food StandardsAgency has no powers to withdraw food from sale. I am advised that it has remindedfood businesses of their responsibility to ensure that the food they sell complieswith the law, and of the need to withdraw any products from sale that are fou…

26 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland to check that food businesses are not selling food containing LL601 rice.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by theFood Standards Agency that enforcement of legislation on GM food is the responsibilityof local authorities, who are responsible for taking the necessary actions to ensurethat food on sale in Scotland complies with the requirements of food l…

26 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that the law that no unauthorised GM material is present in food on sale is enforced in Scotland, following advice published by the Food Standards Agency in respect of rice contaminated with GM material.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by theFood Standards Agency that it oversees local authority enforcement activities forfood law, which includes the regulations governing the sale of GM food. It setsand monitors standards and audits local authorities’ activities to ensure enforc…

18 Oct 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what final proposals have been agreed to replace the interim bull hire arrangements for crofters and when they will be published.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The interim bull hirearrangements for crofters will continue during 2007. We have just receivedconfirmation that our proposals for a Crofters Cattle Quality ImprovementsScheme have been given state aid clearance. We will publish details of the revisedscheme i…

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether research it has commissioned on the allocation of land for housing has been completed and, if so, whether it will be published.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive commissionedTribal Consulting to conduct research into the Allocation of Land for AffordableHousing. This report is close to completion and we anticipate that it will be publishedas part of the Social Research Findings series.</p>

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether minutes of the meetings of the Affordable Housing Working Group will be published.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Minutes of the AffordableHousing Working Group have not been published but I intend to ensure that, withthe assistance of COSLA, the main conclusions from the Group’s discussions areshared with a wider audience.</p>

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to widen the remit and membership of the Affordable Housing Working Group.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The remit of the AffordableHousing Working Group is “to establish means of securing the more effectivesupply of affordable housing in areas of greatest need.” The group is at anearly stage in its deliberations and there are no plans at this stage to amendeith…

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates and at which venues each meeting of the Affordable Housing Working Group have taken place.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The first meeting of theAffordable Housing Working Group took place on 17 July 2006, at theMacdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh. The next meeting of the Group is scheduled for 8 November 2006 atthe Thistle Hotel in Edinburgh.</p>

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what Highland-representation there is on the Affordable Housing Working Group.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: he Affordable HousingWorking Group includes representation from various local authorities across Scotland, aswell as other organisations including the Scottish Federation of HousingAssociations, Homes for Scotland and COSLA. In the event that the Highland Cou…

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many rail passengers with first class tickets from Inverness have been denied first class seating since January 2006.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Provision of first classaccommodation is a matter of commercial discretion for First ScotRail and isnot required under the terms of the rail franchise agreement. Passengers are advised it is possible to reserveseats in advance to secure a first class seat. Wh…

5 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will maintain, from 2007 to 2013, Scotland’s record of implementing effective biodiversity conservation projects co-funded by the LIFE scheme for funding the environment, particularly in the light of the new arrangements under the scheme.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Arrangements for the implementationof the European Commission’s proposed LIFE+ scheme have still to be finalised bythe European authorities.</p><p>Scotland has had significant success in securing funding fromprevious LIFE programmes and the Executive and Scot…

5 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the recently published guidance on funding the Natura 2000 network, including the recommendation that structural, cohesion and fisheries funds should be incorporated as part of Natura funding arrangements, and, if so, what procedures it has put into place to ensure…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I can confirm that the ScottishExecutive has received the recently published EC Financing Natura 2000 GuidanceHandbook.</p><p>The focus of Structural Fundsfor 2007-13 will be on the contribution to the EU’s Lisbon Jobs and Growth Agenda.There will be a signif…

5 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to meet its obligations to secure sound management and favourable conservation status for Natura 2000 sites during the funding period 2007 to 2013; which funding sources will support each component of the action to be taken, and how it will ensure that these oblig…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is fullyaware of its obligations under the EC Habitats and Birds Directives and is committedto ensuring that these are met.</p><p>A range of European and domesticfunding mechanisms will continue to be available to meet the various needs…