Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,663 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the consultation with stakeholders on the definition of active farming to be used to focus Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) 2010 funding on farmers and crofters who are genuinely active.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The first meeting was held on 16 July 2009, and the detailed rules will need to be finalised by the beginning of 2010.</p>
25 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the stakeholders who will be involved in the consultation on the definition of active farming to be used to focus Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) 2010 funding on farmers and crofters who are genuinely active.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: My officials have written to all members of the Less Favoured Area (LFA) stakeholders group inviting them to join a small technical working group to discuss detailed rules for the future of the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS). The following organisa…
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the enforcement of existing legislation prohibiting the dropping of litter or other rubbish to reduce the problems of the pollution of beaches by litter from land and sea.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Existing legislation in Scotland is amongst the toughest in Europe. A person who is caught littering is, if the case goes to court, liable to a fine of up to £2,500. Alternatively, the person may be offered the opportunity to pay a fixed penalty fine, the lev…
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase public awareness of the problems of the pollution of beaches by litter from land and sea to encourage voluntary action to reduce the deliberate and accidental release of litter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: To help tackle the issue the Scottish Government continues to provide funding to the independent environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) who run a number of anti-litter campaigns designed to raise public awareness of the problem. KSB also coordina…
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with HM Government or any other government options for international efforts to tackle the pollution of Scotland’s beaches by litter from the sea.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is actively involved in discussions with the UK Government and devolved administrations as part of our involvement in wider international efforts on control of marine litter. The Fishing for Litter initiative was recently considered at…
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of the Marine (Scotland) Bill will make it easier for public bodies to tackle the pollution of beaches by litter from land and sea.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is supporting initiatives on marine and coastal litter and expects local authorities and other bodies to continue to work together to take action to tackle the problem.</p> <p >The Marine (Scotland) Bill includes proposals for a new s…
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the existing legislation that can be used to tackle the pollution of beaches by litter from land and sea.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (the act) places a duty on various bodies to clear litter from their land. For many beaches the duty body is the local authority. However, as independent organisations how they fulfil that duty and with what resources is …
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken a survey of the extent of the pollution of beaches by litter, from land and sea, or whether it plans to do so.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government provides funding to the independent environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB).</p> <p >KSB carries out surveys of all award winning beaches each summer for cleanliness in line with the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the C…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out, or intends to carry out, an assessment of the progress made by other EU member states in achieving the objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Regular assessments of the progress made by EU member states towards biodiversity targets are made by the European Commission. These are available at: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/comm2006/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/envi…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered additional measures to ensure that it achieves its objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and, if so, what these measures are.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Actions from the draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy implementation plans, which have been the subject of public consultation by Scottish Natural Heritage, are being incorporated into delivery plans for the five ecosystem groups - upland, woodland, marine an…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether non-governmental organisations have expressed concerns about the possibility of the Scottish Government failing to achieve its objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Many bodies have concerns about the consequences of depletion of our valuable biodiversity and natural resources. There is general agreement that, while significant improvements have been achieved, EU member states will not achieve the ambitious target adopte…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the likelihood that it will achieve its objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Joint Nature Conservation Committee is currently analysing data collected across the UK in the recent reporting round for 2008. This will form the basis for reporting against 2010 targets.</p> <p >Full information is available at <a href="http://www.ukba…
11 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what stage has been reached in its discussions with COSLA regarding revisions to the local government funding formula and when it expects the conclusions to be announced.
Answer · John Swinney: The joint review of the local government finance distribution methodology is now well underway. The review group has been asked to make recommendations by the end of October 2009. Any agreed conclusions are likely to be announced shortly after that in order t…
4 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken since 27 May 2009 to request a meeting with the European Commissioner for Health regarding proposals for electronic identification for sheep.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government continues to work at ministerial and official levels with the European Commission, the UK Government and other member states to achieve the best possible solution for Scottish farmers on the EU proposals for electronic identification o…
4 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects Scottish ministers to meet the European Commissioner for Health to discuss the proposals for the electronic identification for sheep before the end of (a) June or (b) July 2009.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government continues to work at ministerial and official levels with the European Commission, the UK Government and other member states to achieve the best possible solution for Scottish farmers on the EU proposals for electronic identification o…
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18812 by Richard Lochhead on 8 January 2009, what progress it has made in implementing the 16 of the 17 recommendations made in the report, A review of the European Union Agricultural Subsidy Appeals Procedure in Scotland, that it has accepted and wh…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: From the 1 October the Scottish Land Court will take over the responsibility for administering a new streamlined EU agricultural subsidy appeals procedure. Under this new arrangement the government and the appellant will now be on an equal footing in all appe…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many onshore wind farm developments for which approval has been granted are awaiting resolution of aviation issues, broken down by the number of turbines and the equivalent megawatt capacity.
Answer · Jim Mather: The following wind farms have been approved by ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and currently await the resolution of aviation issues.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received about the need to set up a group to develop solutions to minimise the impact of wind farms on aviation.
Answer · Jim Mather: During regular meetings with Industry, and with aviation radar providers, the issue of impacts on radar systems from wind farms was raised. We recognised that there were significant implications for wind farm development and have therefore established the Sou…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received about the potential impact of wind farms on aviation.
Answer · Jim Mather: In response to each statutory consultation on specific wind farm applications, National Air Traffic Services, Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Defence and airport operators may offer Scottish ministers advice on aviation implications.</p>
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place to discuss the potential impact of wind farms on aviation.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has established a South West Scotland Regional Aviation Solution Sub Group with airport radar operators and developers to investigate the development and application of a regional solution in the south west of Scotland and that such an…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking, in collaboration with industry and others, to develop a means of addressing concerns about the potential impact of wind farms on aviation.
Answer · Jim Mather: We have established a South West Scotland Regional Aviation Solution Sub Group with airport radar operators and developers to investigate the development and application of a regional solution in the south west of Scotland and that such an endeavour should be…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a review has been carried out of wind farm applications rejected due to aviation issues.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is managing this issue with the stakeholders and has in fact been involved in an on-going review of decisions and technical developments since this administration came to office.</p>
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the wind farm applications that have been rejected due to aviation issues in the last five years.
Answer · Jim Mather: The following section 36 wind farm applications were refused by Scottish ministers.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Wind Farm</p> </td> <td valign=top > <p align=cente…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many turbines have not been built due to the rejection of applications because of aviation issues and what the equivalent megawatt capacity is.
Answer · Jim Mather: The following section 36 wind farm applications were refused by Scottish ministers. Both refusals were based in part on aviation issues.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Wind Far…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm applications have been rejected due to aviation issues.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23858, on 26 May 2009. 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/Apps2/B…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the impact of wind farms on aviation and possible steps to minimise such impact.
Answer · Jim Mather: Considerable research has been undertaken into the impact of wind farms on both civil and military aviation and these can be accessed via the British Wind Energy Association website: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.bwea.com/aviation/aviation_resources.html">htt…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to minimise the impact of wind farms on aviation, including radar interference, physical obstruction of aircraft or impact on low flying.
Answer · Jim Mather: We have established a South West Scotland Regional Aviation Solution Sub Group with airport radar operators and developers to investigate the development and application of a regional solution in the south west of Scotland and that such an endeavour should be…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out in relation to the justification for an increase in the rateable value of wind farms and where this research is available.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23849 on 20 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Bu…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of the impact on proposals currently under consideration of an increase in the rateable value of wind farms to (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000 and (c) £20,000 per megawatt.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23849 on 20 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Bu…
11 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of an increase in the rateable value of wind farms on the number of wind farms established.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23849 on 20 May 2009. 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/Apps2/Bu…