Parliamentary questions
Jim Hume
1,310 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what progress has been made toward achieving its targets with regard to reducing the volume and proportion of food waste from (i) supermarkets, (ii) households, (iii) restaurants and other eating establishments and (iv) other sources and (b) whether it is on track to meet these target…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We do not yet have information on progress in relation to the target on food waste in the Courtauld Commitment with retailers. This is our only specific target on food waste.</p>
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set with regard to reducing the volume and proportion of food waste from (a) supermarkets, (b) households, (c) restaurants and other eating establishments and (d) other sources.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The current Courtauld Commitment with retailers has a specific target to help reduce the amount of food householders across the UK throw away by 155,000 tonnes by 2010, against a 2008 baseline. We do not have any other specific targets to reduce food waste at…
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the volume and proportion of food waste from (a) supermarkets, (b) households, (c) restaurants and other eating establishments and (d) other sources.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are taking a variety of steps to reduce food waste.</p> <p >For supermarkets, the Courtauld Commitment, run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme, aims to reduce food waste, as well as unnecessary packaging. More information on the Courtauld Commitm…
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it plans to undertake to determine the volume and proportion of food from (a) supermarkets, (b) households, (c) restaurants and other eating establishments and (d) other sources that will become food waste in any given year.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) have just carried out a study on the amount of household food waste in Scotland. This will be launched today, 3 September, and shows that the average family wastes £8-10 of food per week. WRAP have also commissi…
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken to determine the volume and proportion of food from (a) supermarkets, (b) households, (c) restaurants and other eating establishments and (d) other sources that will become food waste in any given year.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Waste and Resources Action Programme have undertaken a UK study on the amount of household food waste. This work was published in July 2008 and can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.wrap.org.uk/retail/case_studies_research/report_the_food_we.html"…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21139 by Fergus Ewing on 4 March 2009, when it will introduce legislative or other measures to deal with neighbour disputes about high hedges and what those measures will be.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government had a very productive meeting with Scothedge, the organisation which seeks to secure legislation on this issue in Scotland, on 2 April 2009. I wrote to the Public Petitions Committee on 23 April to provide its members with an update an…
30 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per annum is of a modern apprenticeship.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The cost<b> </b>of an apprenticeship varies significantly due to different approaches to organising training and learning across different employers. This makes it impossible to accurately calculate a meaningful average.</p> <p >As part of the <i>Evaluation …
30 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when its review of the Agricultural Wages Board will be complete and the results published.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are considering all responses and options put forward and giving very careful consideration to the future role of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board and arrangements for determining pay and conditions of service for agricultural workers in Scotland.</p>…
22 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18217 by Jim Mather on 3 December 2008, whether it expects to reach its target of meeting 100% of the known demand for broadband access in the Scottish Borders by May 2009.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has made significant progress in deployment of the Broadband Reach Project. We expect completion of delivery by the end of May 2009 for all for all those from the Scottish Borders (and elsewhere in Scotland) who registered for the proj…
22 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with the UK Government and relevant transport agencies to ensure that horse transportation lorries used for the purposes of leisure activities are not classed as commercial HGVs in the context of the EU working time directive.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including transport.</p> <p >Horse transportation lorries used for the purposes of leisure activities are not classed as commercial lorries.</p> <p >The EU worki…
22 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing mechanisms within the context of its national food policy to make land available to local authorities for use as allotment space where there is a proven need and desire for such provision.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is working with the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society representing local allotment groups to help them access land. We are also continuing to explore a range of legal and financial issues associated with making Scottish Governmen…
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which EU ministers the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has met to discuss electronic identification for sheep.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Electronic identification of sheep was discussed with those ministers present at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 23 March 2009. I have also discussed this with the UK Minister Hilary Benn.</p>
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what capacity the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment attended the meeting of the Council of the European Union on 23 March 2009.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Cabinet Secretary attended the formal meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council as a member of the United Kingdom delegation. He also, whilst in Brussels, attended meetings in his capacity as Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs …
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met farming industry representatives to discuss electronic identification for sheep.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I often meet with farming representatives where electronic identification for sheep is regularly discussed. The last time I spoke directly on this issue was 23 March 2009.</p>
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met EU ministers to discuss electronic identification for sheep.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I last met with EU ministers on the 23 March to discuss electronic identification for sheep at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. I also discussed this issue directly with Commissioner Vassiliou at this time.</p>
21 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and EU ministers regarding electronic identification for sheep in the last six months.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Electronic identification for sheep was discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 23 March 2009.</p>
16 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhen the next meeting of the Forestry Ministers’ Group will take place and what topics will be discussed.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There are no current plans for a meeting of the Forestry Ministers'' Group.</p>
16 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhether the Forestry Ministers’ Group has discussed potential changes to the duties and functions of the Forestry Commission.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Forestry Ministers'' Group has not discussed potential changes to the duties and functions of the Forestry Commission.</p>
16 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhen the Forestry Ministers’ Group last met and what topics were discussed.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Forestry Ministers'' Group last met in October 2005, and it discussed ˜forestry and climate change''. Following that meeting, ministers agreed that they would only meet if and when an issue arose which required cross-border co-ordination.</p>
2 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in implementing Scottish Borders Council’s economic recovery plan to help towns that have recently suffered job losses in the textiles sector, such as Hawick and Jedburgh.
Answer · Jim Mather: Through our Government Economic Strategy and our six-point programme for economic recovery we are using all the levers at our disposal to assist businesses and individuals and position our economy to take early advantage of the recovery.</p> <p >This include…
1 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made to public sector food procurement procedures since the national food and drink policy workstream, Walking the Talk, was created in August 2008.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The chair responsible for providing recommendations on the workstream Walking the Talk is producing a report and recommendations which I will consider in taking forward any changes with regards to public procurement.</p> style=
1 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the national food and drink policy workstream, Walking the Talk, last published a report on its progress.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Minutes of the meetings of the national food and drink policy workstream Walking the Talk are available on the Scottish Government website - the latest being 13 March 2009.</p>
1 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the national food and drink policy workstream, Walking the Talk, last met.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The national food and drink policy development workstream Walking the Talk last met on 13 March 2009.</p>
1 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the reporter’s findings in relation to the Fallago Rig wind farm public inquiry will be published.
Answer · Jim Mather: The report from the Public Local Inquiry on the Fallago Rig wind farm will be published on the day the ministerial decision is announced. A news release will be issued and the decision details, including the Inquiry report will be made available on the Energy…
1 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the 2008 woodfuel demand and usage data published by Forestry Commission Scotland, what measures it will take to incentivise and encourage the use of underutilised forest materials for biomass initiatives.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The woodfuel demand and usage study reported increasing levels of demand for woodfuel. While the report of the Wood Fuel Task Force report indicated that there are substantial additional supplies of woody biomass. It recommended a number of actions which hav…
18 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal or other measures it will put in place to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0326-01.htm">http://www.scot…
12 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its Schools Directorate is doing to prevent knife crimes in schools.
Answer · Keith Brown: <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scot…
11 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that junior doctors are given the right support to allow them to carry out their duties.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scott…
5 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working to help the Borders Forest Trust to ensure the viability of its Woodschool Ltd venture.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland has worked with Borders Forest Trust on various projects over the years but none directly involving Woodschool. The Commission would be happy to discuss this venture with the Trust, and work with other local partners, such as the …
2 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit to working with rural industries to find an alternative organisation to the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Scotland to ensure the delivery of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) and maintain choice for people seeking advice on applications to the SR…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government already funds the Scottish Agricultural College to provide veterinary services and public good advice “ including advice on agri-environment, rural diversification and crofting issues - to the value of £7 million per annum. Funding is …