Parliamentary questions
Jim Hume
1,310 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jun 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the transport infrastructure of the south east of Scotland.
14 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will revise its policy on the extraction of peat for (a) horticultural and (b) other commercial uses in the light of the UK Government’s recent commitment to reduce the use of peat in horticulture to zero by 2030.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The government discussion paper on carbon-rich soils, which can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/waste-and-pollution/Pollution-1/soil/soilpolicy/carbon-rich/, published last December, highlighted our aspirations to work with a range o…
14 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is concerning peat extraction for (a) horticultural and (b) other commercial uses.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government issued a discussion paper in December 2010 setting out our position on the management of peatlands and other carbon-rich soils, including peat extraction. Peat extraction for horticultural or other commercial uses is subject to local a…
14 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect and restore peatlands and how its policies regarding the extraction of peat for (a) horticultural, (b) other commercial and (c) domestic use contribute to this.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government provides funding for peatland protection and restoration measures as part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (the SRDP). Controls over the extraction of peat for horticultural or other commercial uses are designed to minimise …
14 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39155 by Keith Brown on 11 February 2011, when work will commence on the (a) Hardgrove to Kinmount and (b) Dunragit Bypass A75 improvements.
Answer · Keith Brown: The statutory process for the Hardgrove to Kinmount and Dunragit Bypass projects have been completed and both will be taken forward for construction at the earliest possible opportunity.
14 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average and (b) fatal accident rate is for the (i) A75 and (ii) trunk road network.
Answer · Keith Brown: The accident data for the period 2008-10 is provided in the following table. Transport Scotland analyses the safety performance of the trunk road network using a database of injury accidents compiled by Scotland’s police forces. This is the most reliable and …
14 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average and (b) fatal accident rate was for the section of the A75 affected by the planned Hardgrove to Kinmount development in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2010.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-807 on 24 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
14 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) average and (b) fatal accident rate was for the A75 in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009 and (iv) 2010.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-807 on 24 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what (a) horticultural and (b) other commercial peat extraction sites are operational.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Annual Minerals Raised Inquiry Survey 2009, published by the UK Government, showed 390 operational peat extraction sites in Scotland for horticultural use and a further 21 for other uses. The survey can be found at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/planning…
13 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what planning consents have been issued for (a) horticultural or (b) other commercial peat extraction in the last five years.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The requested information is not held centrally.
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent under the Scotland Rural Development Programme in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and (d) 2010-11, broken down by delivery scheme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Rural Development Contracts Rural Priorities £0.000 £0.000 £23.128 £77.247 Rural Development Contracts Land Managers Options £0.000 £0.000 £1.718 £2.379 Food Processin…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the fatal road accident rate was on the A1 in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 and is in 2011, broken down by (i) single and (ii) dual carriageway sections.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-291 on 16 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the accident rate was on trunk roads in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 and is in 2011, broken down by (i) single and (ii) dual carriageway sections.
Answer · Keith Brown: The accident data for the period 2008-10 is provided in the following table. Transport Scotland analyses the safety performance of the trunk road network using a database of injury accidents compiled by Scotland’s Police forces. This is the most reliable and …
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what form the road-based improvements on the A1 between Edinburgh and north east England, highlighted in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, will take.
Answer · Keith Brown: The road based improvements will include measures to ensure the road is safe and suitably maintained for the expected levels of traffic, for instance, realigning sections of road, individual junction improvements and creating additional overtaking opportuniti…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the fatal road accident rate was on the A1 between Dunbar and the border with England in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 and is in 2011, broken down by (i) single and (ii) dual carriageway sections.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-291 on 16 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the accident rate was on the A1 in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 and is in 2011, broken down by (i) single and (ii) dual carriageway sections.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-291 on 16 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the fatal accident rate was on trunk roads in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 and is in 2011, broken down by (i) single and (ii) dual carriageway sections.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-291 on 16 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce a timetable forthe road-based improvements on the A1 between Edinburgh and north east England.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) provides a robust framework of schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in each spending review. A timetable for undertaking the road based improvements will therefore be set in the context of overall a…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the road accident rate was on the A1 between Dunbar and the border with England in (a) 2008, (b) 2009 and (c) 2010 and is in 2011, broken down by (i) single and (ii) dual carriageway sections.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-291 on 16 June 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/…
26 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to upgrade the A1 between Dunbar and the border with England.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-40373 on 17 March 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many hectares have been acquired and (b) what the cost has been to purchase land through the Forestry Commission Scotland’s reprovisioning exercise since 2009.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Through Forestry Commission Scotland’s repositioning programme, the amount of hectares acquired since April 2009 is 3,522 hectares and the total cost amounts to £11,549, 624. Further details of the repositioning programme are available on Forestry Commission…
25 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where woodland purchased through the Forestry Commission Scotland’s provisioning exercise (a) was located and (b) the date each purchase was completed since 2009.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Details of the repositioning programme is available on Forestry Commission Scotland’s website at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-8f8el5. This provides up to date figures on the area and value of land sold and purchased. Table 2 lists individual ac…
19 May 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the safeguarding of national forestry treasures as set out in the Scottish Forestry Strategy.
8 Mar 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will offer those affected by the proposed job losses at the West Freugh satellite ground station.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government provides support through the PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) Partnership to all individuals facing redundancy. The local PACE Partnership is aware of potential job losses at West Freugh and has contacted the company…
28 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its contract with Sodexo for dairy products meets the criteria in the guidance, Catering for Change.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government contract with Sodexo is for the provision and delivery of a catering and related services requirement. It is not a bespoke contract for the provision of a particular category of produce.</p> <p >The Scottish Government contract commen…
25 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39204 by Richard Lochhead on 10 February 2011, whether it has made representations to (a) Sodexo and (b) Graham’s Family Dairy to ensure that the dairy farmers supplying the Scottish Government are receiving a price per litre in excess of production …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government contract with Sodexo is to provide catering service, not specific foods or products. Whilst we expect our contractor to pay a fair price, the arrangements between our contractor and their suppliers are commercially sensitive and for th…
25 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents were attributed to potholes and damaged road surfaces in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and have been in 2010-11, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland does not hold data for all accidents. However, the following table shows the number of injury road accidents reported to the police where a poor or defective road surface was recorded as one of the contributory factors.</b></p> <table bor…
25 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what duties and roles the Forestry Commission’s Regional Advisory Committee for Scotland has in protecting and enhancing Scotland’s wildlife, historic environment, landscape and public access.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The role of the Regional Advisory Committee in Scotland is to adjudicate on disputed applications for grants or felling licences and in the case of unresolved objections from statutory consultees to the contents of Forest Enterprise Scotland''s forest design …
25 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that Forestry Commission Scotland retains and develops its research capability in order to support the protection and enhancement of Scotland’s wildlife, historic environment, landscape and public access.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The majority of the research capability required to support the development of forestry policy in Scotland is provided by the Forestry Commission''s Forest Research Agency. By the agreement of forestry ministers in England, Scotland and Wales, the Research Ag…
25 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Forestry Commission Scotland to complete (a) an environmental and (b) a habitats regulations assessment of plans to develop renewable energy projects on its estate.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: All proposed sites are subject to planning regulations, which include an assessment of environmental impact and where appropriate a full Environmental Impact Assessment and/or Habitat Regulations Appraisal.</p>