Parliamentary questions

Frances Curran

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

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the Scottish Forestry Strategy with the objective of comprehensively addressing climate change considerations, such as through the potential for carbon sequestration and the impact that increased use of timber in construction and energy generation can have on emissi…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We shall shortly embark on a review of the Scottish Forestry Strategy, led by Forestry Commission Scotland. The review will encompass a wide range of issues, one of which will be climate change. The first public consultation exercise will specifically ask for…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement the EU Directive on energy performance of buildings in 2006.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows: The EU Directive 2002/91/EC on the Energy Performance of Buildings is to be implemented in Scotland by the Scottish …

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will re-examine the enforcement of conditions set to ensure compliance with energy efficiency standards.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Energy efficiency regulation is primarily a reserved matter, with the exception of building regulations. Compliance arrangements for building regulations were comprehensively examined in the recent review of the Scottish building standards system that culmina…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will examine the feasibility of incentives in the planning system, such as fee reduction or accelerated processing, to encourage developers to meet higher energy efficiency standards and whether such measures will form part of the proposed Planning Bill.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The feasibility of incentives to encourage developers to meet higher energy efficiency standards will be examined in a research project to be commissioned as part of the Executive’s review of the Scottish Climate Change Programme. We will await the outcome of…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to accelerate the development of the necessary information resources to allow it to put in place measures that will limit energy demand.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive last year commissioned a study which will map the supply, flow and demand pattern of energy in Scotland. This study will help inform future Executive energy policy and strategy development. Last year, the Executive announced the developme…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report to the Parliament on an annual basis on progress towards meeting climate change targets.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As part of the review of the Scottish Climate Change Programme we are assessing whether specific Scottish climate change targets are a practicable proposition. The findings of our assessment, including any associated monitoring and reporting arrangements, wil…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a comprehensive independent audit of progress under the Scottish Climate Change Programme and, if so, whether that audit will be carried out at the earliest opportunity to form a baseline analysis and repeated every five years thereafter.

Answer · Ross Finnie: An independent audit is not considered necessary at this time. We are already engaged in a formal review of our Scottish Climate Change Programme. The review is being conducted in an open and transparent way, involving external stakeholders – through public c…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to develop a detailed route map with a series of benchmarks that will help policy makers, businesses and individuals understand what action is required in the short term with regard to the impact of climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We are reviewing our Scottish Climate Change Programme and developing a revised programme that will expand on our existing adaptation response. The revised programme will outline established adaptation measures, those in the pipeline and any to be subjected t…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to develop planning across all policy sectors of government with regard to the impact of climate change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16766 on 1 June 2005. 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/webapp/wa…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is undertaking to ensure that all levels of central and local government and the Parliament have a key role in developing emissions reduction targets.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We are currently engaged in a formal review of our Scottish Climate Change Programme, a key strand of which is to assess the practicability of establishing Scottish climate change targets. In addition to the recent public consultation, we are involving all re…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to evaluate the impact that major road infrastructure investments will have on greenhouse gas emissions and on its target of stabilising road traffic by 2021.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: An Environmental Statement is published for each major road scheme in Scotland. The statement includes an assessment of local and regional air quality which covers greenhouse gas emissions. Further, the transport modelling undertaken for each major road schem…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a series of interim targets towards the 2021 traffic stabilisation goal in order to provide a realistic route map towards reducing emissions from this sector.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are seriously considering interim targets towards the 2021 traffic stabilisation goal. We will continue to do so during the development of the National Transport Strategy and will be clearer about whether interim targets are sensible and appropriate once t…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will examine the contribution that its policies on farming and fishing make to greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We are currently evaluating the contribution of all key Executive policies as part of the review for the Scottish Climate Change Programme, including those in the agriculture, forestry and land use sector. These emissions data will be presented in the revised…

12 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16014 by Lewis Macdonald on 26 April 2005, when it will publish its new sustainable development strategy and what (a) non-government organisations, (b) trade unions and (c) other members of civic Scotland have been asked to contribute to the developm…

Answer · Ross Finnie: We shall publish our Scottish strategy this autumn. We are keen that it should reflect the concerns of people, communities and organisations in Scotland and the contributions which they can make towards a more sustainable future. To that end, I have wr…

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Union's establishment of a strategy for sustainable development in May 2001, what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government in the context of its international development policy regarding the strengthening of public institutions and civil society in …

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a range of issues, including international development. The Scottish Executive supports the UK Government’s position in supporting civil society organisations and public institution…

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a range of issues, including international development. The Scottish Executive supports the UK Government’s commitment to tackling international debt and its goal of 100% multilater…

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Union's establishment of a strategy for sustainable development in May 2001, what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the issue of member states producing global public goods.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a range of issues, including the issue of member states producing global public goods.

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Union's establishment of a strategy for sustainable development in May 2001, what measures it has put in place to prevent discrimination against women.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The power to legislate aboutsex discrimination is reserved to the Westminster Parliament. However, the ScotlandAct provided for two exceptions to this reservation under which it has been possibleto take forward work on equal opportunities in general, and gend…

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Union's establishment of a strategy for sustainable development in May 2001, what measures it has put in place to promote research relating to sustainable development.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Sustainable development is a cross-cutting theme which has implications for many of the Scottish Executive’s policies. To help inform and assess its policies, the Executive funds a very wide range of research programmes, information on which can be found at:<…

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Union's establishment of a strategy for sustainable development in May 2001, what measures it has put in place to invest more in health, education, training and communicable diseases.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive’s spending plans were published in Building a Better Scotland: Spending Proposals 2005-2008: Enterprise, Opportunity, Fairness on 29 September 2004 and updated in the Draft Budget 2005-06, published on 15 October 2004. This include…

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Union's establishment of a strategy for sustainable development in May 2001, what measures it has put in place to integrate water distribution and treatment policies with its health and education policies.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In February this year I set outthe Executive’s sustainable objectives for the water industry in Scotland towardsachieving the maximum affordable improvement in public health and environmentalprotection. We are now examining Scottish Water’s business plan aime…

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Union's establishment of a strategy for sustainable development in May 2001, what measures it has put in place to ensure that its policies contribute to combating hunger.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is committed to playing its part in tackling global poverty and inequality. We will work in partnership with the UK Government and the international development sector in Scotland to this end. In March the First Minister launched the Sc…

14 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Union's establishment of a strategy for sustainable development in May 2001, what measures it has put in place to focus its policies on poverty reduction.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Both the EU and the Executiverecognise that measures for tackling poverty and growing the economy are key factorsin delivering sustainable development.The Executive’s strategy fortackling poverty and disadvantage in Scotland predated the EU’s sustainab…

24 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer to question S2W-9624 by Euan Robson on 10 August 2004, how many primary and special schools have now introduced fresh drinking water dispensers in line with the response by the Expert Panel on School Meals to the European Council Drinking Water Directive contained in it…

Answer · Euan Robson: Results from the 2005 school meals census, which will contain the percentage of Scottish schools which have made fresh chilled drinking water available throughout the school day, are not yet available.

24 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9623 by Euan Robson on 10 August 2004, how many education authorities have now introduced incentive schemes to promote healthier choices and increase the take-up of school meals in primary and special schools in line with recommendation 19 of Hungry …

Answer · Euan Robson: Implementation of the recommendations laid out in Hungry for Success, including incentives to promote healthier choices, is ongoing in schools across Scotland. Following the implementation milestone of December 2004 for primary and special schools to have ado…

24 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9621 by Euan Robson on 10 August 2004, how many primary schools have now reviewed their ticket allocation practices in line with recommendation 9 of Hungry for Success - A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland and what the results have be…

Answer · Euan Robson: Results from the 2005 school meals census, which will contain the percentage of mainstream primary schools which have put in place an anonymised system for free school meals receipt, are not yet available.

24 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9620 by Euan Robson on 10 August 2004, how many primary and special schools have now implemented recommendation 4 of Hungry for Success - A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland.

Answer · Euan Robson: Implementation of the recommendations laid out in Hungry for Success, including tackling the promotion of unhealthy food and drink in schools, is ongoing in schools across Scotland. Following the implementation milestone of December 2004 for primary and speci…

24 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9619 by Euan Robson on 10 August 2004, how many primary schools and special schools have now implemented recommendation 3 of Hungry for Success - A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland.

Answer · Euan Robson: Implementation of the recommendations laid out in Hungry for Success, including the adoption of nutrient standards, is on-going in schools across Scotland. Following the implementation milestone of December 2004 for primary and special schools to have adopted…

25 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that voluntary providers of care secure adequate resources for training of staff.

Answer · Euan Robson: Scottish ministers are committed to improving the quality of social care services provided and to raise the level of education and training available to staff working in the sector. Ministers recognise the important role the voluntary and independent sector p…

25 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific training grant funding will be awarded in 2008-09.

Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not available. The Spending Review for this period will be carried out in 2006.