Parliamentary questions
David Stewart
1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to raise awareness of biodiversity in schools.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The emerging learning outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence will ensure that sustainable development is integrated into all areas of the curriculum. This will help support young people''s learning about the natural world and the need for sustainable lifestyle…
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the duty of public bodies to promote biodiversity extends to procurement.
Answer · Michael Russell: The duty on all public bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity in the course of their duties, which is contained in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, applies to all their policies and responsibilities.</p>
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage new entrants to schemes that deliver biodiversity priorities and public benefits.
Answer · Michael Russell: Land management activity for the benefit of biodiversity will in the future be delivered through the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13, Rural Development Contracts. As part of an on-going communications strategy for the SRDP, the Scottish Governmen…
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what future it envisages for key agri-environment schemes under the Scottish Rural Development Programme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Future support for environmentally-friendly farming will be delivered as part of the new Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) through Land Managers Options (formerly the Land Management Contract Menu Scheme) and Rural Development Contracts Regional Pri…
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all sites of special scientific interest will be brought into a favourable condition under the terms of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Michael Russell: The National Performance Framework published in the <i >Scottish Government''s 2007 Spending Review</i> included a target for increasing the proportion of protected nature sites in favourable condition. This is available via the following web link:</p> <p ><…
30 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the Gothenberg target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government intends to make a full contribution to the European Union Gothenburg target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 through its work with partner bodies to implement the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, and in co-operation with other UK admin…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out how people at risk of type 2 diabetes will be included as a priority target group in the Life Begins programme.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Life Begins programmewill help to identify people at higher risk of disease so that they can be targetedto reduce this risk. This will include help with making lifestyle changes and medicalinterventions to reduce risks and treat any newly detected disease…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence is being gathered on the effectiveness of the Keep Well programme in relation to the diagnosis of diabetes.
Answer · Shona Robison: Every patient who attends a Keep Well health check is assessed for diabetes. Patients who are diagnosed with diabetes are added to the diabetes register and as a consequence followed up, at a minimum, every 15 months, as required by the Quality Outcomes Frame…
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road projects announced in the Strategic Transport Projects Review are to be jointly funded by the Scottish Executive and a local authority or authorities.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review itself is not a funding document. It provides a robust framework of prioritised schemes, the delivery of which will be prioritised in each spending review.</p>
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many miles of new trunk road will be created under plans recently announced in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) has recommended 29 transport interventions over the next 20 years that will let us plan for the delivery of an efficient, integrated transport network fit for the 21st century.</p> <p >The STPR has identified a …
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-trunk roads were included in the recent Strategic Transport Projects Review for expenditure during the period covered by the review.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: An upgrade to the A801 has been included in the Strategic Transport Projects Review as part of the intervention to improve access to the Grangemouth port and freight hub.</p>
12 Dec 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to develop and market new routes from the highlands and islands to Europe and other parts of the United Kingdom.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd is substantially funded by the Scottish Government and will continue to offer incentives to airlines for the startup of new routes from its network of airports.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new regulations have been brought into force since May 2007.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-7645 on 30 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facilities for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many regulations have been repealed since May 2007.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The information requestedis not held centrally. Details of all Scottish Statutory Instruments are publishedon the Office of Public Sector Information website.</p><p>The Scottish Governmentis determined to ensure effective regulation in Scotland while minimisi…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to expand Inverness Airport.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials have recentlydiscussed the terminal capacity issues at Inverness Airport with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL). We recognise the drivers for the expansionproject, such as capacity constraints at peak periods and security provision. HIALis n…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice has been received from the European Commission about state aid rules relative to the air Route Development Fund in airports (a) operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and (b) throughout the rest of Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The full text of the EuropeanCommission’s (EC) guidelines on financing of airports and start-up aid toairlines departing from regional airports can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/c_312/c_31220051209en00010014.pd…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which airports have throughput of less than one million passengers per year.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Airports providing scheduledair services in Scotland with less than one million passengers per year are setout in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p align=center>Airports Operating Schedu…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual passenger throughput has been for each airport operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd in (a) 2005, (b) 2006 and (c) 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The annual passengerthroughput for each airport operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) is set out in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p> </p> </td> <td valign=top>…
5 Dec 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop the use of community wardens in the highlands and islands.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We know from a recentevaluation that community wardens can play a key role in helping to create safer,stronger communities. To help develop this role further and identify good practicewe have included the role of community wardens within the recently announce…
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the ability of the Scottish shipbuilding industry to provide new-build passenger vessels suitable for ferry services in the highlands and islands.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have beenno studies commissioned by the Scottish Government.</p>
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the average time for Caledonian MacBrayne to source new-build vessels from tender to delivery.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The time taken tosource new ferries from tender to delivery is dependent on a number of factorsincluding size of vessel, individual and collective pressures on shipyardcapacity, demand in the world shipping market and the availability of keycomponents. The ti…
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the total costs of running the road equivalent tariff scheme and what budget allocation has been made in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 for full implementation of the scheme.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In the finalphase of the RET study the consultants will quantify both the costs and benefitswhich would arise should road equivalent tariff be applied on a permanent basisand rolled out to other ferry routes in the Clyde and Hebrides and NorthernIsles network…
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for Scottish Water Business Stream to provide additional services outside Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are noplans at present – but we are in regular discussion with Scottish WaterBusiness Stream about the implications of the opening of the retail market fromApril 2008.</p>
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff of Scottish Water and Scottish Water Business Stream are involved in meter reading work at Heathrow Airport.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is anoperational matter for Scottish Water and its subsidiary. I have asked their Chief Executives to consider the question and write to you directly.</p>
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish tourist industry about the road equivalent tariff proposals.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A vital elementof the road equivalent tariff study is for the consultants to engage with keystakeholders as they develop their proposals. Consequently, the studyconsultants have discussed the issues with a number of stakeholders includinglocal tourism agencie…
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether evidence on road equivalent tariff will be drawn from Norway or Canada.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The consultantsengaged on the road equivalent tariff (RET) study consulted extensively onworldwide experience of RET, as the basis for ferry fares. In considering howRET has been used elsewhere the consultants have taken evidence from both Norway and Canada. …
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether road equivalent tariff will apply to ferry passengers with and without cars and what charging regime will apply.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is one of theissues the consultants carrying out the study have been asked to consider.</p>
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Caledonian MacBrayne regarding any difficulties in sourcing new-build ferries in the United Kingdom.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmenthas had no recent discussions with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) regarding any difficulties in sourcing new build ferriesin the United Kingdom. CMAL are responsible for procuring vesselsfor use on the Clyde and Hebrides rout…
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the ability of ferry service providers to provide sufficient capacity following implementation of road equivalent tariff.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Capacity considerationsis one of the issues the consultants engaged on the road equivalent tariff (RET)study have been asked to consider. The study will seek to identify any capacityconstraints that would emerge during the pilot and from any permanent roll ou…
27 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment will be made under the terms of the road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot on the impact on local businesses in island communities of the implementation of RET across the highlands and islands.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current road equivalenttariff (RET) study will provide an initial analysis of the potential impacts,especially in economic and social terms, of the introduction of the RETapproach. The impact on local business will also be monitored during the pilotphase …