Parliamentary questions

David Stewart

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

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much housebuilding, sanctioned by planning authorities, has been carried out in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007 to date on coastal areas designated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as being at high risk of flooding.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) flood map shows an estimate of the areas of Scotland with a 0.5% or greater probability of being flooded in any given year “ in other words, those areas estimated to have a one in 200 or great…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which planning applications for new developments designated as being at a high risk of flooding have been approved by its reporter in each of the last five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals. All decision notices issued by reporters are available on the Scottish Government''s website.

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which planning applications for new developments designated as being at a high risk of flooding have been declined by its reporter in each of the last five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals does not hold information in this form. All decision notices issued by reporters are available on the Scottish Government''s web site.

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on development in an area designated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as being at a high risk of flooding.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency flood map shows an estimate of the areas of Scotland with a 0.5% (1:200) or greater probability of being flooded in any given year. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 7 “ Planning and Flooding characterises areas within …

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for designating an area as being at a high risk of flooding.

Answer · Michael Russell: Where the annual risk of flooding is greater than 1%, an area is considered to be at a high risk of flooding.

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the last emergency flood planning training and exercise was held (a) centrally and (b) in each local authority area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Responsibility for local emergency preparedness is a matter for those responders specified as having a legal duty to prepare for emergencies under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Accordingly, whilst the Scottish Government provides support to responders in …

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are in place to ensure that the roles and objectives of those in central government charged with the responsibility of recovery planning from flooding are agreed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Recovery planning is primarily a matter for local responders, to whom the Scottish Government will provide appropriate support. Scottish Government guidance to responders on preparing for emergencies, Preparing Scotland, will be enhanced by a chapter …

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth would chair any flood recovery co-ordinating team.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are no standing arrangements for a flood recovery co-ordinating team, as the existing emergency committee structures are designed to be flexible and adaptable for a range of emergencies. Any decision to set up a such a team would depend on the extent an…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for the Environment would chair any flood recovery co-ordinating team.

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether central government co-ordinating groups will be established from the outset of any major flood emergency.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has detailed corporate emergency response arrangements in place and operates a proportionate response to major incidents affecting Scotland. In the event of a major widespread flooding event arising in Scotland, the Scottish Government…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken a systematic review of local authorities’ preparedness in the event of major flood events in their areas.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: After the flooding in parts of England during the summer of 2007, the Minister for Environment wrote out to each of the eight regional strategic co-ordinating groups (SCG) asking for confirmation that they were adequately prepared to respond to similar events…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a dedicated telephone number to provide a quick and easy way for the public to get answers to flood-related problems and questions.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency''s Floodline 0845 988 1188 is a 24 hour telephone number available to the public that gives the option of listening to a recorded message for a local area or being put through to an operator to answer any other flood…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide information about flood defences for homes and businesses.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency provides information about flood defences for homes and businesses on its website. Specific information about the type of products available for flood prevention can be found at: <a href="http://www.sepa.or…

1 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a flood guide booklet will incorporate a pull-out guide giving practical advice and help following a flood emergency to ensure that various types of financial and personal support are publicised.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has no plans to publish a flood guide booklet. Responders, as designated under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, are required to provide advice to the general public. A number of local authorities have produced flood-specific informati…

20 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the specific schemes recommended in the A82 Tarbet to Fort William Route Action Plan should be considered as the first phase of a strategic programme of works to steadily improve the A82 towards a standard appropriate for the 21st century.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The A82 is being considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review as it forms an element of the national strategic transport link between Glasgow and Oban/Fort William. The specific schemes recommended within the Route Action Plan are being consi…

13 Mar 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in delivering the SNP manifesto commitment to increase the entitlement to free nursery education for three and four-year-olds from 400 to 600 hours a year.

Answer · Adam Ingram: In autumn 2007, we increased entitlement to pre-school education from 412.5 to 475 hours per annum. As part of the concordat between COSLA and Scottish ministers, local government has agreed to increase the entitlement to 570 hours per annum in August 2010. W…

6 Mar 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting people with autism.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government works collaboratively with voluntary sector organisations, local authorities, services users and carers to develop and inform appropriate and responsive services for people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

3 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on inviting UK Government ministers to future Highlands and Islands conventions.

Answer · John Swinney: The role of the convention is to strengthen the co-ordination between member organisations and the Scottish Government and to work together to deliver the Scottish Government''s strategic objectives. Scottish ministers, therefore have decided that they will n…

3 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which UK Government ministers were invited to Highlands and Islands conventions in each of the last three years, also showing which ministers attended.

Answer · John Swinney: The attendance by UK ministers at meetings of the Highlands and Islands convention in each of the last three years was as follows: In March 2005 Anne McGuire, MP, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Scotland attended the Convention of the Highland…

3 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which UK Government ministers it invited to the 2008 Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Shetland.

Answer · John Swinney: No UK Government minister was invited to the Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Shetland in March 2008. Scottish ministers have reviewed the list of attendees and decided that the membership of the convention will in future consist of Scottis…

21 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of water treated by Scottish Water was lost as leakage in the most recent year for which figures are available and what information it has on the comparative percentages for English water companies.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9227 on 21 February 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/webap…

20 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which routes the road equivalent tariff scheme will cover following the consultants’ study into ferry services.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The road equivalent tariff pilot exercise will include all the Western Isles to mainland routes. The final phase of the study will quantify the costs and benefits which could arise should road equivalent tariff be applied on a permanent basis and rolled out a…

20 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the pilot road equivalent tariff scheme will be in place in 2008.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. As I announced during my visit to Stornoway on 26 February 2008 the pilot exercise will commence on all the Western Isles to mainland routes on 19 October 2008.

20 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Water’s energy costs were in each of the last three years and what action it has taken to reduce its CO2 emissions over the same period.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water and I have asked the Acting Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you.

20 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion Scottish Water’s leakage was of all the water that it treated in the (a) Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, (b) Ross, Skye and Inverness West, (c) Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, (d) Argyll and Bute, (e) Western Isles, (f) Moray, (g) Shetland and (h) Orkney parliam…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water and I have asked the Acting Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you.

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice Scottish ministers have received on proposed developments on Special Protection Areas, and whether they believe the regulations are being applied in an equivalent manner in Scotland as they are across EU member states and the United Kingdom.

Answer · Michael Russell: It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide such information as might be necessary for the purposes of an appropriate assessment or to enable a determination to be made as to whether an appropriate assessment is required. Competent authorities respon…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has commissioned into bird impacts at operational wind farms.

Answer · Jim Mather: A considerable amount of evidence, relating to a wide range of bird species is already available from existing sources, including international studies and third party research. In addition, the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage comm…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it received on bird impact predictions for the Lewis windpower application and whether it will make this advice publicly available.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has received information on ornithological issues from a range of bodies including the applicant, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in relation to the Lewis Windpower application. In addition a…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the bird impact predictions by Scottish Natural Heritage, or other advisers to the Scottish Government, for the Lewis windfarm application, set out quantitatively by bird species and assessed against the threshold that they apply for damage to the integrity of the …

Answer · Michael Russell: Under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, Scottish ministers, as the competent authority in this case, are required to carry out an appropriate assessment of any plan or project which they consider may have a likely signific…