Questions · Rob Gibson

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of farm animals is fed entirely on grass.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally. There is no legal requirement to record or provide this information. However, it is unlikely that any farm animals are fed exclusively on grass.

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total tonnage is of feed fed to farm animals.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not collect information on total tonnage of feed fed to animals. An estimate of the tonnage of feed concentrates can be generated by using recommended feed rations from the Scottish Agricultural College Farm Management Ha…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total tonnage is of soya used in feed fed to farm animals.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not collect information on total tonnage of feed fed to animals. However, it has been estimated that the UK consumes 2.525 million tonnes of soya products in animal feed, of which </strong…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total tonnage is of genetically modified soya used in feed fed to farm animals.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally. There is no legal requirement to record or provide this information, and to do so would be likely to impose an administrative and financial burden on industry and regulators.

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average content is of genetically modified organisms found in animal feed labelled as containing such organisms.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the question S3W-27249 on 24 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busine…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum content of genetically modified organisms is found in animal feed labelled as containing such organisms.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that there is no maximum or minimum content as such of GM material in animal feed. Labelling is required for feed materials that deliberately contain any amount of GMOs or GM-derived material. However, labelling is n…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what minimum content of genetically modified organisms is found in animal feed labelled as containing such organisms.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that there is no maximum or minimum content as such of GM material in animal feed. Labelling is required for feed materials that deliberately contain any amount of GMOs or GM-derived material. However, labelling is n…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of animal feed sold in Scotland is labelled as containing genetically modified organisms.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally. There is no legal requirement to record or provide this information, and to do so would be likely to impose an administrative and financial burden on industry and regulators. However, according to the European Feed Manu…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the proportion of animal feed sold in the United Kingdom being labelled as containing genetically modified organisms.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally. There is no legal requirement to record or provide this information, and to do so would be likely to impose an administrative and financial burden on industry and regulators. However, according to the European Feed Manu…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of imported animal feed used in Scotland is soya.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally. Returns to HM Revenue and Customs by importers and exporters do not allow data to be broken down in detail. There is no legal requirement to record or provide this information, and to do so would be likely to impose an …

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much imported animal feed is used in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The total tonnes of animal feeding stuffs (not including unmilled cereals) imported into Scotland in 2008 was 1,345,471. The total tonnes of animal feeding stuffs (not including unmilled cereals) imported into Scotland in the first two quarters of 2009 was 63…

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on how much animal feed is imported into the United Kingdom.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The latest available confirmed figures show that the volume of animal feed ingredients (not including whole cereal grains) imported into the UK in 2007 was 4,930,871 tonnes. In addition, it is estimated that 899,000 tonnes of imported whole cereal grain was u…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of news of linseed contaminated with “Triffid” GM seed in Canada, what precautions are being taken in Scotland against its import

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27188 on 24 September 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether flax or linseed is imported from Canada into Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally. However, the latest available figures show that no oil cake or meal of linseed was imported into the UK from Canada in 2005, 2006 or 2007.

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether the Food Standards Agency is monitoring linseed for GM contamination.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I am informed by the Food Standards Agency that the agency is aware of the rapid alert for food and feed (RASFF) issued on 8 September by the German authorities regarding the detection of the GM flax/linseed variety FP967 in products originating from Canada. …

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether linseed is imported into Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally. However, the latest available figures show that 770 tonnes of oil cake and meal from linseed was imported into the UK in 2007. It is possible that there is onward transport to Scotland, but this is not recorded centrall…

17 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance for the nation’s health it considers that the current powers for making decisions concerning food content and labelling have.

Answer · Shona Robison : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0625-01.htm">http://www.sco…

12 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent, expressed in today’s prices, on major trunk road projects in the Moray local authority area from (a) 1999-00 to 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04 to 2006-07; how much has been spent and is planned to be spent between 2007-08 and 2010-11, and how much is planned to be spent in ea…

Answer · John Swinney: Total expenditure on major trunk road projects in the Moray local authority area is as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > 1999-2000 to 2002-03 (£ million)…

12 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to modernise the law in relation to wildlife and the natural environment.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has today published a consultation document to help inform the development of a prospective Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill. This will contribute to securing sustainable economic activity, especially in the countryside, …

10 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will make use of the six Scottish MEPs to further Scotland’s best interests in the European Union.

Answer · Michael Russell : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0618-01.htm">http://www.scot…

3 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it can do to encourage non-EU artists to visit and perform in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: The UK immigration system should meet the needs of the whole of the UK and we are pressing the Home Office to ensure that the distinct needs of Scotland are taken into account. We are also working with colleagues at the UK Border Agency to ensure more is done…

3 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the ramifications for cultural activity in Scotland are of the requirement for a certificate of sponsorship under the UK Government's points-based immigration system.

Answer · Michael Russell: Our world renowned cultural festivals and events are vital to attracting tourists and artists, and contributing to our economy. It is vital that those who are coming here to contribute are welcomed, not shunned. The UK immigration system should meet …

21 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23570 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 May 2009, whether there are grounds for a review of the operation of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority in light of trust port guidelines regarding their responsibilities to the community that they serve.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are not aware of any grounds for such a review.

21 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate Cromarty Firth Port Authority’s decision to evict Port Services (Invergordon) Ltd from the service base at Invergordon.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to intervene in the Port Authority''s decision not to renew a one year licence to Port Services (Invergordon) Ltd, for a site adjacent to the port entrance.

21 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it can do to review the operation of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, which is experiencing a loss of jobs at its Invergordon service base.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to review the operations of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority, which has confirmed that it is not experiencing any job losses at present.

21 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support can be given to maintain the 70 jobs threatened with redundancy at RBG Ltd fabricators, which has been based at the Invergordon service base of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority since 2004.

Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise, our key economic development agency, has been in recent discussion with RBG Ltd and has arranged further meetings to review the company''s current trading position and to offer any assistance that might be possible. <p …

14 May 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to apply the elements of the Callander report on the operation of the Crown Estate Commission that are relevant to the Scottish Government.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I acknowledge the Callander report as a useful and learned examination of the constitutional position of the Crown Estate. As the Member is aware we are carrying forward the National Conversation on Scotland''s constitutional position. Until this wider debate…

6 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is possible to calculate business rates on the basis of land rents.

Answer · John Swinney: Non-domestic rates could, in principle be determined in a range of different ways. The current system is a property-based tax which takes into account various factors, including land rental values where appropriate. The Scottish Government has no plans to ref…

6 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methodology for calculating business rates is being reviewed.

Answer · John Swinney: Non-domestic rates are a property based tax calculated using the rateable value of a property, which is set by the Scottish Assessors, who are independent of the Scottish Government, and a poundage rate which is set annually by Scottish ministers. There are n…

6 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the working of trust ports given that they affect the wellbeing of the communities they serve.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Trust ports are independent statutory bodies established under their own local legislation and responsible for their own activity and operations. Existing trust port guidelines encourage consultation and engagement with local communities and stakeholders, ref…