Parliamentary questions

David Stewart

1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital emergency admissions were recorded for diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycaemic coma in the last three years, broken down by (a) age, (b) gender, (c) type of diabetes and (d) NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The numbers of emergency admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis are shown in the following table. Table 1: Number of Emergency Admissions for Diabetic Ketoacidosis by Age Group, Gender and NHS Board of Residence Aggregated for the Three Financial Years…

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is proposed that the fare for overnight cabin accommodation will be calculated under the proposed road equivalent tariff.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The study into road equivalent tariff (RET) has not yet considered how overnight cabin accommodation fares will be calculated. However, this is one of the areas that will be considered in developing proposals for the possible future roll out of RET across the…

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what current ferry user discounts will cease on the road equivalent tariff pilot routes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: All existing discount arrangements, except for the national concessionary schemes for young persons, older and disabled islanders and the 10% discount on the overnight freight service between Ullapool and Stornoway, will cease on the road equivalent tariff (R…

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the European Commission’s view that state subsidy for lifeline ferry services does not constitute state aid if it complies with the criteria laid down by the European Court of Justice in the Altmark case.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is one of the issues that we will be considering as we develop The Scottish Government''s response to the European Commission''s investigation into the Scottish ferry services.

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve integration between ferry, rail and bus services in the highlands and islands.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We aim to provide good quality public transport that is integrated, accessible and affordable and supports all communities, including those in less accessible or remote parts of Scotland.

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to vary the frequency restriction on Caledonian MacBrayne in respect of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers are currently examining the options available for taking the Gourock to Dunoon route forward. Until such time as a decision has been reached, The Scottish Government has no plans to vary the frequency restrictions on this route.

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the road equivalent tariff pilot study will include assessment of the future use of public service obligations for ferry services.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. The remit of the study into road equivalent tariff does not include an assessment of the future use of public service obligations. The aim of the study is to consider the impact of a reduction in the cost of ferry travel in Scotland by setting ferry fares…

29 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce public service obligations on (a) mainland-to-island (b) mainland-to-mainland and (c) inter-island ferry routes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Public service contracts (PSCs) are in place for the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles ferry services. The Scottish Government considers that these contracts are compliant with the European Commission''s State Aid rules and maritime law. Provision for PSC…

23 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards developing plans to deliver the next phase of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy by Spring 2008 as set out by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 13 June 2007, and what funding will be made available to deliver those plans.

Answer · Michael Russell: Consultation on the second set of implementation plans (2008-10) for the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy concluded in March 2008. These will be finalised shortly and taken forward by the Scottish Government in partnership with Scottish Environment Protection A…

23 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the current funding levels for biodiversity will enable Scotland to meet the 2010 targets to halt to the loss of biodiversity.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12228 on 1 May 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/webapp/wa…

23 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guarantees it can provide that the commitment to halt the loss of Scotland’s biodiversity will be sufficiently funded, following the reduction in Scottish Natural Heritage’s budget, the loss of the Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme and the pressure on Scottish Rural Development Pro…

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to halting the loss of Scotland''s biodiversity by 2010. It will continue to work in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and with non-gove…

22 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of the policy that a landowner or manager convicted of a wildlife crime may be subject to a reduction in agricultural subsidy grant, whether the illegal snaring of protected species such as otter or mountain hare would attract that penalty.

Answer · Michael Russell: Under the Cross Compliance regime, land managers must not deliberately or recklessly capture, injure or kill any European Protected Species as provided for by Regulation 39 of the (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 1994, as amended by the Conservation (…

22 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidies were granted to shooting estates from 2005 to 2007 and for what purposes.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not subsidise commercial or private game shooting. If estates also undertake appropriate agricultural or environmental measures, they may be supported if the eligibility conditions, which apply to all farmers and crofters, are met…

22 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of wildlife-watching tourism is to the economy.

Answer · Jim Mather: Figures are not available for the value of wildlife-watching tourism to the Scottish economy as a whole. For the Highlands and Islands area only, research in 2005 estimated that a net annual expenditure of £84.5 million and the equivalent of 1,651 full-time j…

22 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of sport shooting is to the economy.

Answer · Michael Russell: A report produced in 2006 called Shooting Sport, findings of an economic and environmental survey by Public and Corporate Economic Consultants (PACEC) estimated that the annual value of sport shooting to the economy in Scotland was £240 million.

22 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have contacted the Minister for Environment by letter, postcard or email since May 2007 to express the view that snaring should be banned outright in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: I have received 7,182 representations since May 2007 expressing the view that snaring should be banned in Scotland.

22 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much correspondence has been received by the Minister for Environment since May 2007 in respect of snaring.

Answer · Michael Russell: I have received 7,192 representations since May 2007 in respect of snaring

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which areas of Scotland have introduced sea defences to their coastlines in the last 10 years.

Answer · Michael Russell: Perth and Kinross, North Ayrshire, and Argyll and Bute councils have carried out flood prevention schemes against coastal flooding in the last ten years.

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are planned to the existing flood defences around the coastline of Fife.

Answer · Michael Russell: Improvements to existing flood defences are a matter for local authorities to determine. Any planned improvements to existing flood defences around the coastline of Fife lie with Fife Council and not the Scottish Government.

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are planned to the existing flood defences around the coastline of the Forth Estuary.

Answer · Michael Russell: Improvements to existing flood defences are a matter for local authorities to determine. Any planned improvements to existing flood defences around the coastline of the Forth Estuary lie with the relevant local authorities and not the Scottish Government.…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has received specifically for flood defences in each of the last eight years, broken down by (a) a per capita basis and (b) miles of coastline.

Answer · Michael Russell: Under the 1961 act, each local authority received funding for flood prevention schemes based on the cost of the scheme. The grant payments made to each local authority for flood prevention schemes in each of the last eight years is shown in the following tabl…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total project value was of the flood risk management schemes started in each year from 2000 to 2008.

Answer · Michael Russell: The total project value of the flood prevention schemes under the 1961 act which started in each year from 2000 to 2008 is in the following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > Fina…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of the likely effect of coastal erosion and collapse in areas of vulnerable coastline around the mainland and islands and what further measures it will consider to deal with coastal erosion and collapse in these areas.

Answer · Michael Russell: Under the Coast Protection Act, 1949, local authorities have wide powers to carry out coast protection work, as may appear to them to be necessary or expedient for the protection of any land from coastal erosion. However, it is for local authorities to determ…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reinforce flood defences against rising water levels resulting from global warming.

Answer · Michael Russell: It is for local authorities to determine what steps need to be taken to improve flood defences in the light of climate change. However, the Scottish Government has published its research on Climate Change: Flooding Occurrences Review (2002): <p …

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the impact that carbon emission limiting measures currently in force will have on reducing the risks of sea flooding between now and 2040.

Answer · Michael Russell: Measures to reduce emissions in Scotland will, by themselves, have no significant impact on reducing flood risk. Climate change is a global issue: it will require emission reductions at the global level to reduce its impacts. The Scottish Government has, howe…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on flood management and defence in each year from 1999 and how much capital was invested in preventive measures in each of those years.

Answer · Michael Russell: The total capital grant support for flood prevention schemes under the 1961 Act in each year from 1999 can be found in the following table: Flood Prevention Grants (from 1999-2000) <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td val…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates have been made by it and local authorities of total public expenditure on sea coastal defences against flooding over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has not made estimates over these timescales nor do we differentiate between coastal flooding defence expenditure and other flood prevention or coast protection expenditure. The government has distributed £126 million to local…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the population lives in coastal areas liable to flooding from the sea.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government does not have details of the population living in coastal areas liable to flooding from the sea. However, an in-house GIS analysis of the Indicative River and Coastal Flood Map (Scotland) published by the Scottish Environment Protectio…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what efficiency savings are generated each year within the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s flood protection programme; whether these are sufficient to meet inflationary pressures so that spending in real terms is maintained, and how these inflationary pressures are being met to e…

Answer · Michael Russell: While responsibility for flood warning schemes rests with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), it is for local authorities to determine the most appropriate flood alleviation measures for their areas. £126 million for such measures is included i…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it is taking in light of climate change and warnings of serious flood risk across Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The implications of climate change for Scotland are significant. Future climate scenarios produced by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (2002), available at <a href="http://www.ukcip.org.uk/">www.ukcip.org.uk</a>, suggest that during the 21st century Scotland'…