John Lamont

24 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require local authorities to achieve specific and measurable improvements to the efficient use of energy through town and country planning and building regulations.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), toanswer. His response is as follows:</p><p>Scottish Planning Policy(SPP) 6, Renewable Energy, sets a specific and measurable target for improvingthe use of renew…

24 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to encourage local authorities to stimulate more energy-efficient housing designs through the building regulations system.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>In addition to thenew building regulations which came into force on 1 May 2007, the SBSA is also reviewing energy stan…

24 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to seek the Parliament’s approval for the establishment of an Energy Efficient Agency for Scotland as a non-departmental public body.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Executive hascommissioned an independent review of Energy Efficiency Support in Scotland which is due to report in October 2007. This reviewwill provide evidence on the effectiveness of the current process and frameworkof energy efficiency advice in Scotl…

24 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to seek the Parliament’s approval for the establishment of an Energy Agency for Scotland as a non-departmental public body.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Governmenthas no such plans.</p>

24 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop a comprehensive energy strategy, within the boundaries of its powers and responsibilities and in consultation with the UK Government, by the end of 2007.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Governmentis committed to a coherent approach to energy policy, recognising that promotingreduced energy consumption and promoting low carbon technologies are key to achievingsustainable economic growth. Ihave already started a dialogue with key …

23 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why Eyemouth and the Berwickshire coast area have been excluded from the fisheries dependent areas pursuant to the 2007-13 European Fisheries Fund draft Operational Programme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Eyemouth and Berwickshirecoast area has not been excluded from the fisheries dependent areas to be identifiedunder the Operational Programme for the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).</p><p>The criteria for selectingfisheries dependent areas have yet to be ag…

20 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often legal aid has been (a) applied for and (b) granted in employment tribunals in the last three years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Civil legal aidis not available for employment tribunals, but other forms of support areavailable under the broader scheme of legal aid and assistance.</p><p>Legal assistancein employment matters, by way of oral or written advice or negotiations, can begiven …

17 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue the exemption for churches from payment of water and sewerage charges beyond 2010.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-326 on 8 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

17 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to give legal status to the Grandparents’ Charter.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. The Charter forGrandchildren was designed as a non-legislative document to complement theFamily Law (Scotland) Act 2006.</p>

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources it will provide to local authorities, particularly Scottish Borders Council, to assist with recycling.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Borders Council arecurrently working with the Scottish Executive to extend their current award fromthe Strategic Waste Fund for recycling beyond 2009-10 to 2019-20. More generally,we are considering the future resources required for recycling as part…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults in the Borders do not have access to a dentist.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is notheld.</p>

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in the Borders do not have access to a dentist.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is notheld.</p>

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why Scottish Enterprise business grants are not available for people aged 31 and over.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Business Start-up Grantscheme for 18-30 age group followed an extensive period of analysis whichindicated that funding restraints can be a particular problem for young people.</p><p>The start-up grant is onlyone form of assistance which can be accessed by…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions it is making to expedite the application process for the Warm Deal programme.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>Communities Scotlandofficials hold regular meetings with Scottish Gas (the managing agent) toensure that all aspects of the Warm Deal programme…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to ease access to rural diversification grants.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A key objective of the newsystem of Rural Development Contracts is to simplify the process of seekinggovernment support for good quality projects, including diversificationprojects. Whether a contract is offered in a particular case will depend on thequality …

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase rural diversification grants.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under the new Scotland RuralDevelopment Programme, there will be no upper limit (as there was previously)to the funding potentially available for good quality diversificationproposals. Funding of up to 50% of project costs, depending on the geographicalarea, …

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue supporting rural diversification through a system of government grants.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A range of measures tosupport rural diversification is included in the draft Scotland RuralDevelopment Programme, which is currently with the European Commission forapproval. Especially when combined with the decoupled single farm payments, the Executive will…

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the STAG 2 report on the reopening of the station at Reston on the East Coast Main Line will be published.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter forScottish Borders Council and East Lothian Council, as they are progressing thefeasibility work on the reopening of the station at Reston.</p>

27 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support was provided by the previous administration to support Scottish Borders Council with flood prevention measures.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish Borders Council hasyet to bring forward suitable schemes to take up the resources made availableby the Executive for flood alleviation.</p><p>A total of £75 million hasbeen made available to local authorities for the period 2006 -2008 to supportflood…

27 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support will be provided to Hawick and Newcastleton to help with flood prevention measures in light of the recent flood alerts.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Executive is committedto helping local authorities increase protection for vulnerable communitiesaffected by flooding through investment in flood alleviation measures anddefences. A total of £42 million has been made available to local authoritiesfor the …

27 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether wind farms would be economically viable after the removal of subsidy support.

Answer · Jim Mather: Recent studies have shownthat the costs of wind energy are expected to increase over the coming four orfive years. These rises are due in the main to shortages in the supply ofturbines and increases in steel costs. These findings suggest that the supportavail…

27 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out to ascertain whether wind farms are the most efficient form of renewable energy relative to other sources of energy.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Executive hasnot conducted such research. Our aim is for a mix of sources of renewableenergy to the benefit of the environment and the economy. It is for developersto make decisions on investment in individual projects.</p>

21 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to improve the A7 at Selkirk and, in particular, to build a bypass for the town.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials from TransportScotland and Scottish Borders Council have worked togetherin studying the case for a Selkirk Bypass. The outcome of this work will be availableto feed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is looking atthe existing …

20 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce legislation similar to that in England and Wales to address the issue of overgrown hedges, trees and other vegetation.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The ScottishExecutive has no current plans to introduce such legislation.</p>

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations local authorities are under to provide burial facilities and crematoria in local communities.

Answer · John Swinney: Local authoritiesin Scotland have, in the main, statutory powers as opposedto statutory obligations to provide burial facilities and crematoria for their area.In relation to the provision of burial facilities, local authorities have powersto provide new buria…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it plans to carry out to the A7 between Edinburgh and Langholm.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The A7 betweenEdinburgh and Galashiels is a local road and is the responsibility of Midlothian and Scottish Borders councils. Current developmentsin relation to the trunk road section of the A7 between Galashiels and theBorder includes the A7 Auchenrivock Imp…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what position it plans to take on the banning of animal containment systems, such as freedom fences.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Executive willissue a consultation paper later this year seeking views on whether and what typesof electronic training collars should be banned, or whether their use should beregulated. This consultation will include the type of electric collar activatedb…

13 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it will have in the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Executiveis responsible for policy on waste in Scotland and the WasteElectrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 were made after consultationwith the Executive and with the consent of the Scottish ministers.</p><p>The regulations include…

13 Jun 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its intentions are for the draft Culture Bill published by the previous administration.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: As I said in responseto S3W-719, from Patricia Ferguson, I have been interested to consider the viewsexpressed in the consultation on the Draft Culture (Scotland) Bill, and I will reflect on them. If we believe the Scottish Governmentneeds legislation to achi…

12 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the reopening of a railway station at Reston in Berwickshire and what other measures it will take to support transport links in Berwickshire.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The re-opening ofa railway station at Reston and other possible train service changes inthe East Lothian/Berwickshire area are being considered as part of the wider possibleoptions for making best use of capacity on the East Coast Rail Route. These options wi…