Alison Johnstone

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of waste is currently “presented for collection, and collected, in a manner that ensures that waste from one dry waste stream is kept separate from waste in another such stream” as per the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and Duty of Care – A Code of Practice.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information on the proportion of waste that is currently presented for collection and collected in this manner is not held centrally. It is for each local authority or operator to determine the most effective and efficient way of collecting waste, although th…

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the recommendations regarding separate collection streams in the European Commission report, Assessment of separate collection schemes in the 28 capitals of the EU: Final Report, are adequately reflected in Scottish legislation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The requirements of the Waste Framework Directive relating to the separate collection of waste were transposed into Scots law through the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012. Whilst the report is based on a study of 28 EU capitals and did not involve Scotland, …

17 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure equal access to justice in environmental matters.

4 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) its position is on and (b) guidance it provides to local authorities regarding closing streets to cars at certain times of the day to allow (i) children to play outdoors close to home and (ii) regular community events to take place.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities are responsible under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 for the management and maintenance of local roads within their areas. Where necessary, this includes restricting local roads for events. In certain circumstances Scottish Ministers’ consent…

3 Feb 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on extending train services between Edinburgh and Glasgow later into the evening.

27 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the Borders Railway to Carlisle, and what action it has taken to establish the level of demand for such an extension.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government remain committed to support the development of a feasibility study to extend the Borders Railway line towards Carlisle and are working with the local councils, the Regional Transport Partnership (SEStran) and Network Rail. Current plan…

27 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) social, (b) economic and (c) environmental impact of the Borders Railway.

Answer · Keith Brown: In March 2013, Transport Scotland published the Borders Railway Final Business Case which sought the approval of the Transport Scotland Investment Decision Making Board to invest in the construction of the Borders Railway. The investment case included an asse…

27 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reported freight congestion on the A75, what plans it has to reopen the Dumfries to Stranraer rail line.

Answer · Derek Mackay: There are no current plans to reopen the Dumfries to Stranraer rail line. The Scottish Government is however committed to on-going improvements to rail services and connectivity and is willing to consider proposals for new services/infrastructure enhancemen…

25 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the public health impacts of underground coal gasification are not being assessed by Health Protection Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Underground coal gasification (UCG) employs different technology to that used for unconventional oil and gas extraction, and it is therefore appropriate for the two to be considered separately. On 8 October 2015 the Scottish Government announced a moratorium…

13 Jan 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recommendations of the Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group.

11 Jan 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers are available to local authorities to carry out roadside emissions testing.

6 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the level of ultrafine nanoparticles in the atmosphere.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: In November 2015 the Scottish Government published Cleaner Air for Scotland – the Road to a Healthier Future, which sets out a strategy to deliver further improvements to air quality over the coming years through implementation of a wide range of actions acro…

5 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it considers supporter involvement in football clubs, including ownership, can make a positive contribution to society.

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the European beaver population in Scotland to be largely disease free.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: None of the animals which has been trapped, examined and released or subject to post-mortem examination appeared to be carrying any disease of significant concern to public or animal health. As expected, some individuals were found to be carrying diseases or …

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has issued to land managers in relation to the shooting of European beaver during the breeding season.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Tay Beaver Study Group have advised land managers experiencing impacts from beavers not to resort to lethal control but to seek advice on mitigation methods. The role of the Tay beaver project officer, funded by SNH, in…

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legal options land managers have had in dealing with European beaver on their land since 2010.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Beavers are not currently legally protected in Scotland and lethal control with firearms is not prohibited. Legal options for management include protection and mitigation methods, such as the use of wire netting to protect trees, the installation of “beaver d…

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice land managers have been given regarding management of European beaver on their land.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Tay Beaver Study Group have advised land managers experiencing impacts from beavers to refrain from the use of lethal control and to seek advice on mitigation methods. The role of the Tay beaver project officer, funded …

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many European beaver autopsied in Scotland since 2010 were found to have been shot with inappropriate weapons.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: There are no legal restrictions on the types of firearms which may be used in the lethal control of beavers. There is a general prohibition on the use of any bow or cross-bow, or any explosive other than ammunition for a firearm, for the purpose of taking or …

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many European beaver autopsied in Scotland since 2010 were (a) pregnant and (b) lactating.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Of the 21 beavers autopsied, (a) four were pregnant; and (b) a further two were lactating.

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it estimates to be the size of the European beaver population in the Tay catchment area.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report Number 540: Distribution, Population Assessment and Activities of Beavers in Tayside reported on a 2012 survey which found 38-39 occupied territories at that time. The authors of the report suggest that this could…

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many European beaver are estimated to have been shot in Scotland since 2010 and not collected for autopsy.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: We do not have any information on which to base an estimate of the numbers of beavers shot in Scotland since 2010 and not collected for autopsy.

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many European beaver have been shot in Scotland since 2010 and collected by Scottish Natural Heritage for autopsy.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: Twenty one shot beavers have been surrendered to Scottish Natural Heritage or the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland for post mortem examination.

5 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that it has an obligation to apply legal protection to the European beaver under the terms of the habitats directive.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government does not believe there is an obligation to apply legal protection to the European beaver under the terms of the habitats directive at present, while beavers are still subject to a ministerial decision on whether they are to be reintrod…

4 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many nurses employed by each NHS board are from outside of the European Economic Area and what information it has regarding how many are at risk of deportation because of the requirement that from April 2016 they must earn at least £35,000 per annum to qualify for indefinite leave to…

9 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of dwellings in the Lothian region meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

18 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to help alleviate reported overcrowding on ScotRail services between North Berwick and Edinburgh until longer trains come into service.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Transport Scotland continues to work closely with ScotRail to meet our expectations that passengers should have a reasonable expectation of a seat within 10 minutes of boarding. In advance of the platform being extended at North Berwick (to accommodate six ca…

18 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail to address reported overcrowding on services between Edinburgh and North Berwick.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Transport Scotland holds regular discussions with the ScotRail Alliance on options to improve rail services across the Scottish rail network. In terms of the North Berwick route an investment of £730,000 is being made to extend the platform at North Berwick s…

10 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Network Rail's obligations to maintain the railway line between Glenrothes with Thornton and Leven have been fully met since 2002.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Network Rail's obligations to maintain the railway line between Glenrothes with Thornton and Leven have been fully met since 2002 with the required maintenance completed to keep it safe while it has been out of use.

10 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) management obligations Network Rail would have if a train operating company requested to operate a service on the railway line between Alloa and Dunfermline.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Network Rail’s obligations are limited to maintaining the current capability for freight and charter operations. If a passenger operator requests to run regular trains over the route, separate third party funding would be required to upgrade the route to make…

10 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) financial and (b) management obligations Network Rail has to maintain the rail network between Alloa and Dunfermline.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Network Rail is obliged to maintain the rail network between Alloa and Dunfermline in accordance with the needs of operators using the route. Presently this involves ensuring appropriate capability to manage existing freight and occasional charter operations.