Parliamentary questions
Rob Gibson
971 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions the Food Standards Agency has issued to wholesalers and retailers on what action they should take if genetically modified rice is detected in stocks of US rice.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency informsme that they have issued no suchinstructions.</p><p>Enforcement authorities willtake appropriate action if they find unauthorised GM products on the market, whichmight include monitoring, withdrawal or recall. If a food busine…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether instructions have been given to UK retailers and wholesalers of US rice in relation to testing for the presence of genetically modified rice in rice stocks.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency hasinformed me that they have reminded food business operators of their responsibilitiesto ensure that the food they sell complies with the relevant legislation. Food retailersand wholesalers are responsible for ensuring that the foo…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cargoes of rice have arrived from the United States of America (a) directly and (b) via other European Union members since the LL601 genetically modified rice contamination was first discovered in January 2006.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Information on the number ofcargoes is not available. I refer the member to the answer to questionS2W-27908 on 13 September 2006, which contains the most recent information onrice imports. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available onthe Par…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cargoes of rice have arrived from the United States of America (a) directly and (b) via other European Union members since the LL601 genetically modified rice contamination was first announced on 21 August 2006.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The requested information isnot available.</p>
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been informed that the Food Standards Agency or port health authorities hold rice cargoes at port until verification of any genetically modified content has been obtained from a reputable laboratory.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28149 on 19 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been informed by the Food Standards Agency that it will receive a definitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the LL601 variety of genetically modified rice from the European Union, the US authorities or Bayer CropScience.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am advised by the Food StandardsAgency that the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre have verified and publishedan event-specific detection method for identification of rice GM-event LLRICE601which uses a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ass…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been informed by the Food Standards Agency of any monitoring programme for cargoes entering the United Kingdom in order to ensure that only non-genetically modified rice is allowed into the market in Scotland and, if so, what sampling protocols have been recommended and whe…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency hasinformed me that Commission Decision 2006/578/EC, issued on 23 August 2006, requiresall imports of long grain or broken rice originating from the USA to be accompaniedby an analytical report from an accredited laboratory demonstra…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what quantity of milled rice is imported from the United States of America and through which ports.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-27908 on 13 September 2006, and to the question S2W-28147 answeredon 19 September 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can …
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the main UK ports of entry are for long grain rice imported to Scotland from the United States of America, either directly or via ports in EU member states.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand that most long grainrice imported into the EU from the United States of America arrives at Rotterdamin the Netherlands and, from there, most shipments enter the UK via English portssuch as Immingham, Felixstowe and London (including Tilbury).</p>
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the British Retail Consortium, or any of its members, following the contamination of US rice by unlicensed genetically modified LL601 rice.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency informsme that it held meetings with representatives of the British Retail Consortium onthree occasions between 1 and 5 September to discuss this incident.</p>
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether US rice has been contaminated by any genetically modified rice variety other than LL601.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The only type of GM rice thathas been reported to be found in US rice is LLRICE601.</p>
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what quantity of genetically modified rice has been inadvertently imported to Scotland in the last three years and what information it has on what quantity of genetically modified rice has been inadvertently imported to (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Union over the same perio…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There is no information on thequantities of GM rice that might have been imported inadvertently during this period.</p>
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with Bayer following the announcement of the contamination of the US rice by unlicensed genetically modified LL601 rice.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: As this is an EU-wide incidentpotentially involving many member states, the European Commission has taken thelead on this incident and has held meetings with Bayer CropScience. The Food StandardsAgency informs me that it has had no formal discussion with Baye…
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information does the Exec have on the levels of contamination of the US rice crop, by the unauthorised GM variety LL601.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The original announcement fromthe US was of a rice sample that contained an estimated 0.06% of LLRICE601. Theextent of the incident is under investigation by the US Department of Agriculture,which has not yet been able to release any further information.</p>
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the source of the unlicensed genetically modified LL601 rice, which recently contaminated US rice.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The US Department of Agriculturehas instigated a formal investigation but has not yet been able to provide any informationon the source of the incident.</p>
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the EU following the recent discovery of unlicensed genetically modified LL601 rice from the United States of America in cargo.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Food Standards Agency hasinformed me that it has taken part in discussions on LLRICE601 with the EuropeanCommission and other EU member states, at the Standing Committee on the Food Chainon 25 August and on 11 September.</p>
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland imports rice via the Netherlands and, if so, whether it has made any representations to the Dutch authorities following the recent discovery of illegal GM rice in a cargo from the United States of America.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: According to informationobtained from HM Revenue and Customs, no rice which originated outside the EUand which did not complete EU import requirements in the Netherlands was moveddirectly to Scotland within the last 18 months. Goods which complete EU importre…
29 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will launch a consultation on revised charges for water services to non-household customers.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-26175, answered on 31 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
28 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been put in place to secure sufficient training for rural and remote GPs.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is committedto ensuring that there is sufficient training for GPs in rural and remote areas.This is reflected in the distribution of GP registrar training places which havetheir highest concentration in the North of Scotland. Additional…
28 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when and on what matters it has consulted the Remote Practitioner Association Scotland (RPAS).
Answer · Andy Kerr: A Remote and Rural SteeringGroup has been established under the direction of the North of ScotlandPlanning Group to develop a framework for remote and rural health care asrequired by <i>Delivering for Health</i>. The Remote Practitioner AssociationScotland is…
28 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the recent recommendations of the Remote Practitioner Association Scotland (RPAS) it has implemented or intends to implement.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Remote PractitionerAssociation Scotland has not published any recent recommendations or reports. Weare aware of its on-going involvement in the work to develop a framework forremote and rural health care as required by <i>Delivering for</i> <i>Health</i>a…
25 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to ban the sale in Scotland of GM potatoes grown elsewhere.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: If a GM potato has received aconsent under the Food and Feed Regulation 1829/2003 to allow it to be used as foodor feed then it cannot be banned anywhere in the European Union. They would however,under the same Regulation, have to be labelled as genetically m…
25 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to prohibit the planting of GM potatoes in Scotland.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive does nothave the legal powers to ban the planting of any GM crop which has received Europeanapproval for cultivation. GM legislation requires that approved GMOs move freelyin the single market. Under the legislation a country can take o…
25 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in respect of the application by BASF Plant Science to seek permission to grow GM potatoes in trial sites in England and, if so, whether it will provide details of the consultation.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: No.</p>
25 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government about potential monopoly issues in respect of supermarkets in Scotland's island communities.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No, we have not made representationsto Her Majesty’s Government about this. The Competition Commission is, however,currently investigating competition issues in the UK grocery retailmarket. In the course of its investigation the Competition Commission will be…
25 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or will make to the Co-operative Group regarding the future of cash-and-carry services in the Western Isles, with particular reference to ensuring the continued availability of an adequate cash-and-carry service for small retailers in the islands.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has no plans tomake representations to the Co-operative Group regarding cash-and-carry servicesin the Western Isles. Whilst I regret any change that may disadvantage small retailersin remote areas, it must be recognised that these are commercial…
25 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on the continued existence of small shops in Scotland’s most remote communities, particularly in terms of their role in maintaining the viability and cohesiveness of such communities.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive recognises thatshops can play an important role in helping to sustain thriving communities in Scotland’s remoterural areas. Successful shops that are adapted to changing patterns in people’slifestyle, work and travel are a mark of a flourishing …
22 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is of unusual additional numbers of cetaceans in sea areas adjacent to the Northern and Western Isles during the period of naval exercises around Cape Wrath when advanced sonar equipment is in use.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand that there is noevidence to suggest that there are unusualnumbers of cetaceans in sea areas adjacent to the Northern and Western Isles duringthe period of naval exercises around Cape Wrath.</p><p>All matters relating to the defenceof the United K…
22 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether cetaceans are displaced from the sea area around the Cape Wrath firing range during naval exercises.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand that there is no evidence to suggest that cetaceans are displaced from the sea areaaround Cape Wrath during naval exercises.</p><p>All matters relating to the defenceof the United Kingdom remain the direct responsibility of the UK Government.Nava…
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has put in place to protect consumers and livestock from unlicensed genetically modified rice and what information it has on what measures have been put in place by the (a) UK Government and (b) European Commission.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I am advised by the FoodStandards Agency that as the contamination with unauthorised geneticallymodified LL RICE 601 is an international trade issue, the European Commissionis taking the lead. The Commission published Decision 2006/578 on 24 Augustwhich allow…