Parliamentary questions

Rob Gibson

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

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Food Standards Agency tests for unauthorised genetically modified products in the Scottish food supply.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the FoodStandards Agency that it has not undertaken tests for genetically modifiedproducts in the Scottish food supply. Routine sampling and testing of foods isthe responsibility of the local authorities.

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28201 by Lewis Macdonald on 20 September 2006, what the legal basis is for the statement that “The need for widespread testing for any contaminant or unauthorised ingredient cannot be defined on the basis of a numerical threshold, but is determined o…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency advises me that the official food and feed control regulation (EC)882/2004 requires that official controls on food are carried out at a frequencythat is proportionate to the risk.

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Food Standards Agency instructs local authorities to test for unauthorised LL601 rice; who pays for the testing, and whether the cost can be reclaimed from Bayer CropScience.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the FoodStandards Agency that it has not instructed local authorities to test forunauthorised GM LL601 rice. Such testing may be undertaken as part of the localauthority’s own sampling programme.The agency has reminded…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities can reclaim the costs of testing for unauthorised LL601 rice from Bayer CropScience.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-28651 on 24 October 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Food Standards Agency can reclaim the costs of testing for unauthorised LL601 rice from Bayer CropScience.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the FoodStandards Agency that the Official Food and Feed Controls (Scotland)Regulations 2005 give the powers to allow local authorities to claim the costsincurred from the person responsible for the consignment. However, there is no provision…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding local authorities receive to test for the presence of genetically modified products in the Scottish food supply.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the FoodStandards Agency that it provides funding to UK local authorities forsampling and analysis of contaminants in imported food. In 2006, £32,429 hasbeen awarded to local authorities in Scotland. The agency sets certain priorities for samp…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding the Food Standards Agency receives to test for the presence of genetically modified products in the Scottish food supply.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the FoodStandards Agency that it funds a programme of food surveys which includes testsfor contaminants and unauthorised ingredients. In addition, the Agency receivescentral funding for sampling and analysis of contaminants in imported food a…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding local authorities receive to test for contaminants and other unauthorised ingredients in the Scottish food supply.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the FoodStandards Agency that it provides funding to local authorities for sampling andanalysis of contaminants in imported food. In 2006, £32,429 was awarded tolocal authorities in Scotland.In addition, it is open to localauthorities t…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding the Food Standards Agency receives to test for contaminants and other unauthorised ingredients in the Scottish food supply.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the FoodStandards Agency that it funds a programme of food surveys which includes testsfor contaminants and unauthorised ingredients. In addition, the agency receivescentral funding for sampling and analysis of contaminants in imported food at…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it is taking following the arrival in the United Kingdom of a consignment of unauthorised genetically modified rice which had been originally certified as being GM-free.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that it is not aware of the consignment mentioned in the member'squestion. Tests by the Dutch authorities showed the presence of GM rice insamples from two barges they had in Rotterdam at the end of August on a ship …

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27912 by Rhona Brankin on 19 September 2006, what appropriate measures have been undertaken, including random sampling and analysis, to verify the absence of LL 601 rice in the products referred to in Article 1 of EC Decision 2006/578 which are alrea…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that it is undertaking a survey of batches of American long grain riceat the level of UK rice mills.

14 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what potential sites have been identified for the further development of run-of-river hydro-electric schemes.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: It is a matter for developersto identify potential sites. However, the Executive continues to support hydropowerin Scotland, including the further development of run-of-riverschemes. We are currently considering the benefits of commissioning a study toprovide…

14 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what sites are in use by run-of-river hydro-electric schemes.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This information is not heldcentrally. Under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, Scottish ministers’ consentis required to construct and operate a hydro electric generating station over 1megawatt (MW) in size. Where a hydro development is below this thres…

14 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what laboratories in (a) Scotland, (b) the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) the European Union have the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing equipment necessary for a specific test for LL601 rice.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A number of laboratories have the type of equipment necessary to carry outreal-time PCR including the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, which is partof the European Network of GMO Laboratories. The European Commission has circulateda list of private labor…

14 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what testing is taking place of produce on sale in Scotland for unauthorised genetically modified rice.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency informsme that any long grain rice being imported to the UK from the US must eitherbe certified as free of LLRICE601, or if not so certified, must be detained untiltesting is carried out to demonstrate that it is free of this materia…

14 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it would take if unauthorised genetically modified rice was found in any produce previously bought in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the FoodStandards Agency that its independent scientific experts have considered thedata on this material and have concluded that there is no food safety risk.Therefore the agency is advising consumers who have long grain rice from the US at h…

14 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would require the withdrawal of any produce on sale in Scotland found to contain unauthorised genetically modified rice.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency informsme that any produce on sale in Scotland that has been found to contain unauthorised geneticallymodified rice should be withdrawn from sale.

12 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what skills will be sought from candidates in the recruitment process for a new chairman of the Crofters Commission.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: A person specification for thepost of chair of the Crofters Commission is being prepared for clearance byministers and the assessor appointed by the Office of the Commissioner for PublicAppointments in Scotland. Once agreed, a copy will be placed in the Parli…

12 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacant consultant posts were filled by locums on (a) 1 September 2005 and (b) 1 September 2006, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on the number ofvacant consultant posts is collated annually at 30 September. The following tableprovides information on vacant consultant posts by NHS board that were filled bya locum at 30 September 2005:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpa…

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the costs to US agriculture arising from contamination incidents involving genetically modified (a) Starlin maize, (b) Prodigene soya and maize, (c) Bt10 maize and (d) LL601 rice.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: None.

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communication it has had with the British Retail Consortium following reports of unauthorised genetically modified rice from China in the UK food supply chain.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agencyhas informed me that it has had no communication specifically relating toreports of genetically modified rice from China with the British Retail Consortium.

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had about taking legal action against food importers whose products contain unauthorised genetically modified varieties.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agencyinforms me that it has had no discussions on this issue. Enforcement of foodlaw is the responsibility of local authorities, who take appropriate actionagainst food businesses when they find cases of non-compliance with food law. Theac…

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to ensure that food importers do not import unauthorised genetically modified rice from China, following reports of contamination in the UK food supply.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that reports of unauthorised geneticallymodified material being present in rice products imported from China are being investigatedby the FSA in co-operation with the European Commission.

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with China, the European Union and the UK Government following reports of unauthorised genetically modified rice from China entering the UK food supply chain.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agencyinforms me that it discussed these reports with the European Commission andother member states at a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chainand Animal Health on 11 September. The agency has been informed of a report ofgenet…

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much testing it carries out for unauthorised varieties of genetically modified rice.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency has informed me that sampling and testing of foodis undertaken by local authorities. Information on the number of tests carried outfor specific purposes is not held centrally.

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has available a test for the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) variety of genetically modified rice.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency has advised me that sampling and testing offood are undertaken by local authorities, and that any tests for geneticallymodified ingredients will be carried out by public analysts. Bt rice will bedetectable using non-specific tests fo…

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has authorised any testing of rice to establish whether it has been contaminated with the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) variety of genetically modified rice.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Sampling and testing of foodis undertaken by local authorities under their own authority, without referenceto central government.

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage level of detection it considers necessary to trigger testing for genetically modified contaminants in the Scottish food supply.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The need for widespreadtesting for any contaminant or unauthorised ingredient cannot be defined on thebasis of a numerical threshold, but is determined on the basis of the risk toconsumers.

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will meet the cost of any testing for the LL601 variety of genetically modified rice in Scotland and what information it has about who will meet the cost of such testing in the (a) rest of the United Kingdom and (b) European Union.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The cost of testing will bepaid by the person arranging the test, unless they have made arrangements foranother party to cover the costs.

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend the use of the strip test for the LL601 variety of genetically modified rice, developed by Strategic Diagnostics Inc and recently verified by the US Department of Agriculture’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The method validated byGIPSA on 31 August 2006 has a reported sensitivity of 2%, which is notsuitable for samples containing the low levels of LLRICE601 that have beenreported in the USA.