Parliamentary questions
Maurice Golden
1,697 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the introduction of regulations on animal sanctuaries and rehoming agencies will affect such services with no fixed premises.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The current public consultation on regulation of animal sanctuaries recognises that rehoming activities involve organisations or individuals operating without premises to keep animals, as well as those with fixed premises. The consultation outlines a possible…
7 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to (a) farmers and (b) landowners to deal with waste illegally dumped on their land and whether it is considering providing additional assistance.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government supports action to deter people from flytipping, regardless of whether it is on public or privately-owned land. SEPA and local authorities have powers to fine people who are caught flytipping, with a minimum fixed penalty of £200 up to…
7 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much illegal waste has been dumped on farmland in each of the last five years, and how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for this.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The volume of fly-tipped material on farmland isn’t held centrally. Information in the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland database does not identify the type of land where fly-tipping has occurred.
7 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates in each of the last three years it has met the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government met with representatives of the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association (ECMA) on 25 June 2015 and 27 October 2016. On 10 December 2015 ECMA representatives attended a Scottish Government stakeholder meeting involving trainers and …
4 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what repair works are planned for the Erskine Bridge over the next three years, and whether the bridge will be closed for any periods during the works.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Over the next 3 years the following works will be undertaken on the Erskine Bridge, subject to budget provision and competing priorities: Installation of central reserve manholes to improve the safety and accessibility of the bridge deck box girder. Replace…
4 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in the event of any future unlicensed releases of beavers into the wild.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I announced on 24 November 2016 that the Scottish Government was minded that the beaver populations in Knapdale in Argyll and in the Tay and Earn catchments could remain, and that their range can expand naturally. The Cabinet Secretary also stated that any fu…
4 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has offered to landowners in the last year to mitigate damage caused by beavers to (a) farmland, (b) forestry and (c) waterways.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has a dedicated web page and advisory service in place to give landowners advice and it also has a contract with a beaver expert who provides free advice on mitigation measures. In the last 12 months, SNH has offered specialist…
4 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many beavers there are, and what methodology it uses to calculate the number.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A survey of the Tay and Earn undertaken in 2012 estimated that there were 38-39 groups of beavers present in the Tay catchment area, equating to approximately 146 individual beavers. This survey has been repeated in 2017, the results of which it is expected w…
4 Dec 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out or plans of the potential (a) ecosystem disruption, (b) spread of disease among native species, (c) flooding and adverse watercourse condition risk and (d) infrastructure damage as a result of the recent establishment of beaver populations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Assessments have been carried out as follows. Ecosystem disruption To assess the potential disruption to the ecosystem by beavers, Scottish Natural Heritage assessed the potential interaction between beavers and ecosystems on Tayside and Knapdale and habita…
14 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met the (a) Kennel Club and Scottish Kennel Club, (b) Dogs Trust and Scottish Dogs Trust, (c) Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (d) Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, (e) Association of Pet Dog Trainers, (f) Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, (g) A…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has met with a number of stakeholders regarding the regulation of electronic dog training collars. These include the Kennel Club and Scottish Kennel Club; Dogs Trust; the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and t…
9 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11994 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 November 2017, whether subsequent inspections of businesses subject to fixed monetary penalties for long-term non-compliance with waste regulations have found them to be compliant.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Of the two businesses subject to fixed monetary penalties, one was inspected on 18 May 2017 and found to be compliant at that time. The second business was scheduled for re-inspection on 17 November 2017 and its compliance status will be advised when the in…
8 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what minimum criteria businesses must meet to be considered "fully compliant" with waste disposal regulations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The minimum criteria businesses must meet to be considered "fully compliant" with the duty are to: take all reasonable steps to ensure the separate collection of dry recyclable waste, and/or take all reasonable steps to ensure the separate collection of foo…
8 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason information on treatments administered to farmed salmon, and for which the fish are in a withdrawal period as detailed in Schedule 1C of The Aquatic Animal Health (Miscellaneous Modifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, at the time of their escape must be provided by fi…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government requires that fish farms submit information on treatments administered to farmed fish for which they are in withdrawal, in addition to site disease information and mortality rates, in order to inform the fish health inspectorate of fish he…
8 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether publishing details of investigations by charities into potential criminal activity in animal welfare cases would be in the public interest, and what discussions it has had on ensuring public access to such information.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no position on those investigating actual or potential animal welfare crime publishing information of these activities, other than to advise them strongly to remain within the applicable law, notably the Contempt of Court Act 1981.…
30 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of public sector vehicles use alternative fuels.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: This information is not held centrally. However, through our Switched on Fleets programme we have supported the purchase or leasing of around 400 Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles across the public sector in Scotland.
30 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many research and policy papers have been commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland in each of the last three years; what proportion remain unpublished at least six months after their completion date, and what the total cost has been of the work involved in compiling these unpublished pape…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I have asked Zero Waste Scotland's Chief Executive to contact the Member to provide the information requested.
30 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what review it has conducted of unpublished reports that it has commissioned using public funds and when it will present the findings.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government does not maintain a central register of reports as there is no single definition of a report. We have not conducted a review of reports published or unpublished. We have a commitment to open government including pro-active publication …
30 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) published and (b) unpublished research it has commissioned regarding the potential effects of increased circular economic activity on the labour market.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has not commissioned any research regarding the potential effects of increased circular economic activity on the labour market. Our circular economy strategy identifies the potential economic and environmental opportunities underpinnin…
10 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been committed to date via the Circular Economy Investment Fund.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As announced at the annual Scottish Resources Conference on the 27 September 2017, 17 awards have been offered through the Circular Economy Investment Fund totalling over £4.2 million.
10 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses currently identified by SEPA as being non-compliant with waste regulations have been so for more than (a) six months and (b) a year.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A total of six businesses have been identified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as being non-compliant for 6 months. These businesses have been given advice and a letter from SEPA setting out how to comply. Further inspections to confirm t…
10 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what targets and timescales have been set for SEPA to reach positive outcomes with those businesses that have been identified a being non-compliant with waste regulations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In 2016, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) was granted powers by the Scottish Parliament to use civil penalties including a Fixed Monetary Penalty (FMP) of £300. SEPA identified the duty for businesses to separate material for recycling as a s…
10 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of efforts to inform small businesses of their obligations under current waste regulations and to support mechanisms available to help them meet those obligations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The initial implementation of the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 was focussed on communication and awareness raising. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) worked in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) and waste service providers to co-o…
10 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider making it a statutory offence for fish farmers to release their stock into the wild either deliberately or by failing to secure them properly within the boundaries of the farm.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Fish are not released deliberately from fish farms, with the exception of those businesses who supply put and take fisheries for the provision of sport angling. On occasion circumstances may cause the escape of fish from fish farms. The Scottish Government is…
10 Oct 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would consider making it a requirement for fish farmers, when submitting information about stock escapes, to include details of any pesticide or other chemical or pharmaceutical treatments the fish had been exposed to in the four-week period prior to their escape.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Fish farmers are required to submit an escape initial notification form which includes details of any of any treatments administered for which the fish are in a withdrawal as detailed in Schedule 1C of The Aquatic Animal Health (Miscellaneous Modifications) (…
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out or plans regarding the impact that escaped farmed Atlantic salmon might have on stocks of native wild salmon.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government, through Marine Scotland Science, has developed and published a theoretical modelling framework that might be used to consider genetic impacts of farmed salmon and is currently part of a consortium developing new genetic tools for assessin…
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact its plan to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032 will have on how much the country's electricity (a) suppliers and (b) generators will pay in (i) Transmission Network Use of System and (ii) Balancing Services Use of System charges.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The detailed impacts of electric vehicle (EV) uptake and integration will depend on many factors, including the increasing use of smart technologies to manage the interface between EVs and the electricity networks, as well as the ways in which future networks…
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what procedures are in place to alert the public to the potential dangers associated with consuming salmon or trout that have escaped from fish farms, and what plans it has to update the section on the website, aquaculture.scotland.gov.uk, which provides information about such escapes, r…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The risk to the public of consuming treated escaped farmed salmon is negligible although caution should always be applied when there is any uncertainty around the provenance. Guidance on the handling of any farmed caught salmon by anglers is available at htt…
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fish farms have been prosecuted in each of the last five years for releasing farmed fish, and how many were convicted.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: No fish farms have been prosecuted for releasing farmed fish. This is not a statutory offence. Equally an escape of farmed fish is not an offence although there is a requirement for notification to the Fish Health Inspectorate.
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact its plan to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032 will have on the country's energy supply.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government's plans to increase the proportion of electric cars and vans will place an increased demand on electricity supply. This will need more flexibility and efficiency within the electricity system, and increase the importance of a resilient…
18 Sep 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) prior to announcing its plan to phase out new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Ministers and officials are in regular contact with Ofgem to discuss a wide range of energy market and policy matters. These include the issues raised by our draft energy strategy and low-carbon ambitions for network investment and infrastructure. We will con…