Liam McArthur

27 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, where funding for organisations receiving financial support for undertaking waste reduction, landfill diversion or recycling programmes has been reduced in the last 12 months, where this funding has been or will be redirected.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Any funding which is reduced stays within the Zero Waste Scotland Programme and is reallocated to other projects which contribute to waste reduction or recycling targets.</p>

27 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether organisations receiving financial support for undertaking waste reduction, landfill diversion or recycling programmes and that have had their funding reduced by the Scottish Government in the last 12 months will be offered a chance to appeal against any such reductions.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Zero Waste Scotland Programme funds a large number of projects that contribute to waste reduction and recycling targets. In the last year it has funded projects to tackle food waste and construction waste and it has provided funding support for third sect…

27 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations receiving financial support for undertaking waste reduction, landfill diversion or recycling programmes have had their funding reduced by the Scottish Government in the last 12 months and by what amount the funding was reduced in comparison with the total cost of ea…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the last 12 months, three projects have had their funding reduced by Zero Waste Scotland, all from the INCREASE III programme, which invests in Third Sector resource efficiency projects.</p> <p >These are:</p> <p >Friends of the Earth Scotland “ Funding…

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the transfer of staff from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to Skills Development Scotland has resulted in problems with the handling of staff tax matters and, if so, what the causes are of any problems that have occurred.

Answer · Keith Brown: Staffing is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to you with this information.</p>

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the purchasing policy of Skills Development Scotland is and what scope this gives to allow peripheral offices to use local suppliers for small purchases.

Answer · Keith Brown: Procurement is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to you with this information.</p>

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes there have been in staffing numbers since Skills Development Scotland was formed, broken down by (a) reception staff, (b) administrative staff, (c) advisers, (d) management and (e) other.

Answer · Keith Brown: Staffing is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to you with this information.</p>

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the management structure of Skills Development Scotland is and what policies are in place to ensure that decisions by Skills Development Scotland are made at the lowest possible level.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Skills Development Scotland (SDS) management structure is an operational matter for SDS. I have asked the chief executive to write to you with this information.</p>

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been budgeted to be spent in 2010-11 by Skills Development Scotland on IT purchases; what proportion of this expenditure will be on replacing old equipment; what the nature and age is of the equipment to be replaced, and the reasons for its replacement.

Answer · Keith Brown: The procurement of IT equipment is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to you with this information.</p>

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent in 2009-10 by Skills Development Scotland on IT purchases; what proportion of this expenditure was on replacing old equipment; what the nature and age is of the equipment replaced, and what the reasons were for its replacement.

Answer · Keith Brown: The procurement of IT equipment is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to you with this information.</p>

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the next meeting of the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group will take place.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33827 on 4 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33827 on 4 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group last met.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33827 on 4 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is following the procedures for inshore fisheries groups outlined and agreed by stakeholders in A Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33827 on 4 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what framework and procedures it is working to regarding the rollout of inshore fisheries groups around Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33827 on 4 June 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…

21 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of the document, A Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group (SIFAG) was established in 1999 by the Scottish Fishermen''s Federation and the then Scottish Executive. Its role was to advise on the development of policy and legislation relating to sea fisheries in inshore wat…

13 May 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met representatives of Orkney Islands Council.

Answer · John Swinney: Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives of councils, including Orkney Islands Council.</p> <p >I had planned to meet representatives of the council on Monday but a delay to the flight prevented this from happening. I will make further arrangem…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan will work with regional plans emerging from Scottish marine regions.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters marine spatial plan was started to provide momentum in advance of the implementation of the new statutory marine planning system. The main focus has been assembling information which will be necessary for planning this sen…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the same approach to stakeholder engagement undertaken in the development of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan Framework will be followed in the creation of regional plans under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 sets out the procedure that any plan maker must follow to engage stakeholders in the development of plans. We are developing the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters marine spatial plan as a non statutory pilot but intend to engage …

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to include input from (a) environmental, (b) fisheries, (c) recreational and (d) shipping interests in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the Framework and will be considering how to take forward its recommendations on obtaining more detailed information on various sectors'' use of these waters before developing the draft plan. Input is welcome…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32071 by Richard Lochhead on 15 March 2010 indicating that the Marine Strategic Studies Forum met only once, whether it considers that stakeholders have been sufficiently involved in the creation of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes. Members of the Marine Strategic Studies Forum were given opportunity to advise on the proposed approach to the Framework via email in August 2009. There have been other opportunities for stakeholders to provide input into the proposed approach to the fra…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the membership of the Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group represents the full range of stakeholder interests.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33518 on 17 May 2010. 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…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32070 by Richard Lochhead on 15 March 2010, for what reason (a) environmental, (b) fisheries, (c) recreational and (d) shipping interests are not represented on the (i) Marine Energy Group and (ii) Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: These groups were primarily focussed on identifying the issues for Government arising from the potential of the marine renewables industry.</p>

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities there were for stakeholder involvement in the formulation of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan Framework.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33514 on 17 May 2010. 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…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input the (a) Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group and (b) Marine Strategic Studies Forum provided in the formulation of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan Framework.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group discussed the proposed approach to developing the framework at its meetings in March and August 2009.</p> <p >Members of the Marine Strategic Studies Forum were given the opportunity to comment on the proposed approac…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group environment research sub-group.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The membership of this group is the same as for Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group.</p> <p >I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32070 on 15 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, …

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory bodies were involved in the formulation of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan Framework.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Informal meetings about the proposed approach to developing the Framework were held with Orkney and Highland councils, The Crown Estate and Scottish Natural Heritage. The Scottish Government''s Marine Energy Spatial Planning Group discussed the proposed appro…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan Framework will guide decision making for development in the Pentland Firth.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan Framework sets out the process by which a non-statutory pilot marine spatial plan will be developed.</p>

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the statutory status will be of the completed marine spatial plan for the Pentland Firth.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33523 on 17 May 2010. 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…

5 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the statutory status is of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan Framework.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The framework sets out a process for developing a plan for Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters in a staged approach. The framework is not a statutory document.</p>

26 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive at what time on 20 April 2010 it was made aware that the Civil Aviation Authority (a) was considering reopening all UK airports later in the day and (b) had decided to reopen all UK airports.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials were alerted at around 16:50 on 20 April 2010 that the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was soon to meet to consider reopening portions of UK airspace to enable airlines to resume operations. We first became aware of the CAA''s decision t…