Rob Gibson

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the gross cost has been to Forestry Commission Scotland of deer culling in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The estimated gross cost of culling deer on the National Forest Estate from 2003-04 to 2012-13 is shown in the following table. The figures include all deer management costs, other than deer fence costs. The culling costs include the deer shooting activity it…

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many deer have been culled by Forestry Commission Scotland  in each of the last 10 years, broken down by species.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The number of deer culled by Forestry Commission Scotland on the National Forest Estate from 2003-04 to 12-13, broken down by species is set out in the following table: Year Total Red Cull Total Roe Cull Total Sika Cull Total Fallow Cull Total Deer Cull…

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many deer have been culled in each of the last 10 years, broken down by species, and what Scottish Natural Heritage's estimate is of the current population of each species.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Deer cull figures are provided in the following table. The cull returns reported here are from approximately 3,000 landholdings from which the Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have sought statutory annual returns. These a…

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the percentage participation is of eligible proprietors in each deer management group.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This information is not currently collected by the Scottish Government or its agencies.

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) areas are covered by deer management groups, (b) groups have deer management plans in place that are regarded by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) as competent and (c) groups have implemented plans in a way regarded by SNH as competent.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: (a) A link to a map showing areas covered by deer management groups (DMGs) and a table setting out the area of land covered by each DMG are as follows: http://www.deer-management.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/dmgmap.jpg DMG Area (Ha) North Uist 30,016…

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the cost of negotiating and implementing voluntary control agreements in each year since 1993.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The costs to Deer Commission Scotland (DCS) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) of implementing Section 7 agreements since 2006 are shown in the following table. Data for 2003-05 could only be recovered at disproportionate cost. The financial costs incurred …

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many compulsory control schemes have been implemented since the introduction of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1959, broken down by (a) location, (b) estate and (c) area covered.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: No compulsory control schemes have been implemented since the introduction of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996. Prior to 1996 the former Red Deer Commission operated control schemes under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1959 but these were entered into on a voluntary bas…

11 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what voluntary control agreements under section 7 of the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 (a) are in force and (b) have expired since 2000, broken down by (i) location, (ii) estate and (iii) area covered.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Information is available from 2003. The following table gives detail on the Section 7 agreements signed since 2003:   Area Year Signed Status 1 Ardvar 2009 Current 2 Beinn Dearg SAC 2010 Current 3 Ben Wyvis SAC 2010 Current 4 Breadalbane 20…

29 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what marketing exercises Transport Scotland has undertaken to encourage regular heavy goods vehicle (HGV) users of the A9 between (a) Inverness and Perth and (b) Inverness and Dunblane to use rail freight.

Answer · Keith Brown: We encourage modal shift of freight from road to rail and water across Scotland through our freight grant schemes, making improvements to the rail network and through the promotion of industry best practice. Awards of Freight Facilities Grant totalling £4.6 m…

29 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which supermarket chains have made use of rail freight grants on the Highland mainline.

Answer · Keith Brown: Awards of rail freight grants have been made to John G Russell (Transport) Limited, Safeway Stores PLC and Eddie Stobart Limited which have enabled Morrisons, Safeway and Tesco to transport freight on the Highland mainline.

29 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to restrict overtaking by heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) on three-lane sections of trunk roads.

Answer · Keith Brown: Regulation 11 of the Motorways Traffic (Scotland) Regulations 1995 includes general provision that restricts HGV use of the right-hand lane on three-lane motorways.

29 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the journey time between Inverness and Perth at an average speed of (a) 45mph, (b) 50mph and (c) 60mph.

Answer · Keith Brown: The A9 between Perth (Inveralmond roundabout) and Inverness (Raigmore roundabout) is approximately 108 miles long. To drive between these points would take approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes at an average speed of 45mph, 2 hours 10 minutes at an average spe…

26 Aug 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on distributing the funds arising from reforms to the common agricultural policy.

17 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further and higher education is doing to support sustainable economic development through engineering and other fields of study.

13 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible environmental impact, whether the MOD (a) consults it on and (b) informs it of the movement of nuclear materials in Scotland and whether consultation is required with local authorities.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The MOD has arrangements in place to inform Police Scotland in advance of movements of nuclear weapons and special nuclear material, including new or used submarine reactor fuel. There is no requirement to notify the Scottish Government or local authorities o…

11 Jun 2013 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in carrying out the review of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan in accordance with section 60 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The formal review of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) has been completed and a report on the review was laid before parliament and published on the Scottish Government website on 31 May setting out our statement of progress and conclusions. I can conf…

10 Jun 2013 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many carbon units will be credited to or debited from the 2012 net Scottish emissions account as a result of the operation of the EU Emissions Trading System.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Aviation emissions have been included in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) since January 2012 and therefore, unlike the calculations made for 2010 and 2011, the calculation for 2012 must take account of both the traded sector and aviation. Under the E…

3 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what elements of its 20:20 vision for the NHS will focus on improved healthcare in Wester Ross, North West Sutherland and other remote areas.

9 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which journeys on (a) CalMac and (b) Northlink ferries were cancelled due to (i) weather conditions and (ii) engine failure in each year since 2010.

Answer · Keith Brown: The information requested is provided in table form. Neither CalMac Ferries Limited, nor previously Northlink specifically identify engine failures and any such incidents of engine failure are included in the figures provided for technical cancellations. Cal…

8 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for cultural development in the Highlands and Islands following the closure of Hi-Arts; what assistance it is providing to the employees to find new employment, and what action it can take to minimise the impact on cultural development in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Funding for individual organisations is a matter for Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and both remain committed to supporting arts and creativity to benefit communities across the Highlands and Islands. I am confident that the arts in th…

18 Mar 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the call from the National Union of Journalists for a moratorium on job cuts at BBC Scotland and its decision to bring forward redundancies before the end of the financial year.

11 Mar 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the Scottish Ambulance Service takes to meet patients' travel and emergency needs in Caithness.

26 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of all wind farm proposals under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 has been (a) withdrawn during scoping or pre-application, (b) refused permission and (c) approved by the Scottish Government since 2007.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Of those wind farm proposals under section 36 of the Electricity Act on which clarity has been sought, since 2007: 38.7% have yet to be determined. 32.6% have been granted permission; 28.7% have not received permission due to either being withdrawn during …

25 Feb 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in repairing sea defences on the east coast following the December 2012 storms.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The storms of the night of 14 December 2012 were described by many as the worst they had experienced in a lifetime. On 8 February 2013 the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment announced an additional £1 million funding to be available from …

4 Feb 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the impact will be on Scotland's fishing fleet of Iceland's proposed 15% reduction in its mackerel quota.

29 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what potential benefits will accrue to remote and rural areas in the north and west following the announcement of a pilot scheme in Ardnamurchan to devise new ways of delivering healthcare in such areas.

28 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what potential benefits will accrue to remote and rural areas in the north and west following the announcement of a pilot scheme in Ardnamurchan to devise new ways of delivering healthcare in such areas.

Answer · Alex Neil: I am expecting NHS Highland to develop and test alternative models of healthcare delivery in remote and rural areas so as to ensure people living there have access to safe and sustainable services.

21 Jan 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Renewable Energy Investment Fund will operate.

8 Jan 2013 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will receive HM Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Authorities’ report on the Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We have now received the report, and thank Mr Torrie and his team for their work. Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 54552) and it is being published on the Scottish Government website. Ministers instructed thi…

7 Jan 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the recent report by Pinsent Masons, Scotland's place in the Renewable Energy World, aids Scotland's sustainable growth.