Parliamentary questions
David Stewart
1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any reports and advice received from representatives of Rothschild on the national forest estate.
Answer · Michael Russell: The only reports received remain the property of Rothschild and were prepared by them on the basis that they remain commercial in confidence.</p>
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the minutes or records of its meetings or discussions with representatives of Rothschild about the national forest estate.
Answer · Michael Russell: We will, of course, make information available that is releasable under the freedom of information legislation.</p>
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings or discussions it has had with representatives of Rothschild to discuss the national forest estate and who was present.
Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish ministers attended two meetings with Rothschild. Officials also attended a number of meetings. In total, six meetings were held, on 17 October 2007, 11 December 2007, 28 January 2008, 13 March 2008, 22 April 2008, and 24 July 2008.</p>
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who agreed to its discussions with representatives of Rothschild regarding the national forest estate.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is always open to consider constructive new ideas.</p>
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who proposed that it enter into discussions with representatives of Rothschild regarding the national forest estate.
Answer · Michael Russell: Rothschild approached the Scottish Government with ideas about the national forest estate.</p>
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive from where the proposal to lease parts of the national forest estate originated.
Answer · Michael Russell: There are examples of leasing public forest land in a number of other countries, including New Zealand, Canada and Australia. Also, a National Audit Office report in 1998 on the disposal of Forestry Commission land said that leasing could help protect publi…
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the withdrawal of funding for local sports councils in the Highland Council area, whether alternative sources of funding have been determined between it, Highlands and Islands Enterprise or other local agencies to ensure the continuation of these sports councils.
Answer · Jim Mather: While Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) no longer provides generic funding to local area sports councils in the Highland Council area, any individual sports club able to make a persuasive case for growth and which would contribute to the objectives of GE…
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by Highlands and Islands Enterprise in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 (c), 2006-07, (d) 2007-08 and (e) 2008-09 to support local sports councils in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Jim Mather: Details of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) spend to support local sports councils is an operational matter for HIE. I shall ask the Chief Executive of HIE to write to you in this regard.</p>
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the withdrawal of funding for the eight local sports councils in the Highland Council area.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government engaged closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as part of the process of reforming the organisation. As a result of these reforms, HIE''s resources are focused on those interventions that will have the maximum impact on th…
13 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its plans to build an overtaking lane rather than a dual carriageway on the A9 at Carrbridge and at Moy.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No; this section of the A9 is in urgent need of major maintenance investment and we are taking the opportunity to provide an enhanced standard. The Strategic Transport Projects Review has identified dualling of the A9 as a strategic transport priority for Sco…
12 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many eight to 12-year-olds have been referred to the children’s hearing system on offence grounds in each local authority area in each of the last three years.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The following Table provides the information requested.</p> <p >Number of Children Referred on Offence Grounds Aged Eight to 12 Years (Inclusive) at Receipt of the Report </p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap va…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scots law concerning vandalism and malicious mischief is sufficient to deal with a person who interferes with a legally-set snare.
Answer · Michael Russell: A person interfering with a legally set snare might be committing one of a number of possible offences under existing legislation. If the opportunity arises to bring forward primary legislation on this matter ministers would give consideration to the creation…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce primary legislation to create a specific offence of interfering with a legally-set snare, in light of the Minister for Environment’s statement to the Parliament on 20 February 2008 (Official Report c. 6079) and the publication of Snaring in Scotland: A Prac…
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19154 on 15 January 2008. 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/Apps…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the legislation, regulation and guidance sub-group of the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime Scotland will be assisted in formulating regulations for snaring by the Scottish Government’s recent endorsement of Snaring in Scotland: A Practitioners’ Guide, produced …
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19151 on 15 January 2008. 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/Apps…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that Snaring in Scotland: A Practitioners’ Guide, produced by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Scottish Gamekeepers Association and British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Scotland) and formally endorsed by the Scottish Government, should form the ba…
Answer · Michael Russell: <i >Snaring in </i><i >Scotland</i><i: A Practitioners'' Guide</i> will be considered and taken into account by the PAW Legislation sub-group when considering its recommendations about legislation relating to snaring.</p>
15 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are given to parents on accompanying young children to school where the child is eligible for school transport to which the public also has access.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Most authorities regularly review and update guidance and information on a range of aspects of school transport, health and safety and usage which is issued to parents and pupils as appropriate.</p>
15 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what health and safety responsibilities it considers that parents have for their children when they are travelling on local authority provided school transport.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Although parents will have a very close interest in all aspects of their children''s welfare, the formal responsibilities for pupils'' welfare when on local authority provided school transport falls to the local authority and to the transport operator. Accord…
15 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policies or guidelines are in place in relation to the safe travel of primary school children on school transport, particularly where the public has access to buses.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The provision of school transport in Scotland is a local authority responsibility. In terms of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, authorities have a duty to make such arrangements as they consider necessary for the provision of school transport and in so cons…
15 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary age children in the Highland Council area travel on non-local authority provided school buses to which the public has access.
Answer · Maureen Watt: This information is not collected centrally.</p>
15 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) general public services, (b) tendered dual purpose routes, (c) specific school purpose routes and (d) closed contracts are used to provide school transport to eligible pupils in the Highland Council area.
Answer · Maureen Watt: This information is not collected centrally.</p>
15 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who has responsibility for the health and safety of primary school children travelling on non-council provided school buses to which members of the public have access.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Authorities have a general duty under the Schools (Safety and Supervision of Pupils) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 to take reasonable care for the safety of pupils when under their charge, including when travelling on school buses irrespective of whether member…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland regarding best practice throughout the United Kingdom for support services for victims of crime.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: <strong>Officials of the Scottish Government have regular contact with officials of the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and other Whitehall departments, as well as officials of the devolved administrations, on matters of mutual interest in relation to suppor…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consideration has been given to the establishment of a commissioner for victims and witnesses similar to those appointed in England and Wales.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: <strong>I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18710 on </strong><strong>6 January 2009</strong><strong>. The review of the <i >Scottish Strategy for Victims</i> will include consideration of a range of opportunities for improving the support of vi…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that Scotland is fully compliant with the European Union framework directive on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scotland was largely compliant with the European Framework Decision on the Standing of Victims in Criminal Proceedings when it was promulgated. A detailed response to the framework decision, <i >Victims in the Scottish Criminal Justice System: The EU Framewo…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to progress the Scottish Strategy for Victims.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The <i >Scottish Strategy for Victims</i> was published in 2001. A comprehensive review of the strategy is underway. The review is being driven by the Scottish Government''s commitment to put victims at the heart of the justice system and is focussing on how …
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ban snaring in light of the result of a recent opinion poll showing 79% support for a total ban.
Answer · Michael Russell: Following an extensive period of consultation the Scottish Government concluded that the balance of argument is in favour of allowing snaring to continue, subject to further regulation to improve animal welfare. This conclusion was set out in my statement to …
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of protected species being trapped have been reported to it in the last five years.
Answer · Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally. Any evidence suggesting that a protected species has been snared intentionally or recklessly should be reported to the local police force or wildlife crime officer. As in all other cases involving a report sugg…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that people do not set snares when they see the tracks of protected species and how this is monitored.
Answer · Michael Russell: It is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly snare a protected species. As with all wildlife legislation, enforcement is a matter for the police.</p>
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it understands to have set snares after having seen the tracks of protected species, in the last five years.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has not been made aware of any cases of snares being set after that person has seen the tracks of a protected species.</p>
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of failing to inspect snares, or cause them to be inspected, at least once every day at intervals of no more than 24 hours, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>