Alison Johnstone

22 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the percentage of Scottish salmon farming production that is controlled by (a) Scottish, (b) UK and (c) Norwegian-owned companies.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not record this information but industry sources (Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation) suggest that Norwegian-owned companies are responsible for around 66 per cent of farmed salmon production in Scotland.

15 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many commercially-reared bumblebee colonies are imported annually and what steps are taken to prevent the spread of any disease from them to wild bumblebees and honeybees.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information on the importation of bumblebees into Scotland is not held centrally, however recent changes to recording systems may allow us to gather this information in the future. All beekeepers, both commercial and hobbyists are encouraged to control and m…

15 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement the two-year moratorium on the use of neonicotinoids that will begin on 1 December 2013, and what advice is it giving to farmers regarding the use of pesticides for the protection of crops from that date.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have made sure that stakeholders have been made aware of the forthcoming changes through two articles in Scotland Rural University College (SRUC) Crop Protection reports (supported under the Scottish Government SRUC advisory activity), and through discussi…

15 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings it has had with NATO regarding an independent Scotland and what was discussed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: An introductory meeting between representatives of the Scottish Government and NATO took place at NATO HQ in Brussels on 8 July 2013.

13 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11225 by Richard Lochhead on 28 November 2012, whether it will provide an update on what (a) discussions it has had and (b) further action it plans.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has had recent discussions on the issue of internet pet sales with a variety of our stakeholders, including the Scottish SPCA, OneKind, Dog's Trust, the Kennel Club, Cats Protection and other members of the Pet Advertising Advisory Gro…

2 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many planning applications were notified because (a) they were significantly contrary to a "playing field" designation in a local plan or (b) a development would result in the loss of an "outdoor sports facility" to which sportscotland objected or recommended conditions that the plan…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Information is not held in the detail sought. The Scottish Government only holds information on the number of applications notified because of objections from sportscotland. In the period since the beginning of 2005, six planning applications have been notif…

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15640 by Richard Lochhead on 25 June 2013, on what date it plans to begin its consultation on the microchipping of dogs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not yet set a date but aims to issue the consultation on compulsory microchipping before the end of 2013.

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to win public procurement contracts.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Government has taken a number of steps to assist small and medium sized companies bidding for public contracts. Examples are: Launched in October 2008, Public Contracts Scotland provides a free point of access for public sector contract opportunities. Re…

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are able to thrive and that public procurement processes are fit for purpose and do not disadvantage SMEs.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government recognises the vital contribution small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make to our economy and is committed to maintaining a supportive environment to allow SMEs to continue to thrive. For example, on 12 June 2013, we announced £8…

12 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ban the promotions firm, Bounty, from NHS maternity wards.

Answer · Michael Matheson: In Scotland, NHS hospitals decide locally whether to allow Bounty representatives on to maternity wards. The Scottish Government does not hold any central contracts with Bounty or have any influence over the conduct of their sales representatives. But as wit…

12 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is consulting on the introduction of compulsory microchipping of dogs and, if so, who would enforce any resulting legislation; who would (a) fund and (b) operate the relevant database; whether there would be exemptions; whether financial assistance would be available for peopl…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I recently met with the Dogs Trust and confirmed that the Scottish Government would be consulting on the issue of compulsory microchipping soon. The issues related to enforcement, financial support and database operation may be covered in the consultation.

11 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08143 by Richard Lochhead on 9 July 2012, what progress has been made toward increasing plastic recycling capacity.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 include bold actions to ensure that valuable resources, including plastics, are put to productive economic use. Specifically, from 1 January 2014 onwards: all waste producers in Scotland will be required to separate plast…

4 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions are available if the fuel used at the biomass plant to be built at Grangemouth is deemed to be unsustainable.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Condition 4 of the Port of Grangemouth consent does not allow commencement of operation of the plant until Scottish Ministers have approved a biomass sustainability plan. The company are also required by condition 12 of the consent to keep written records thr…

4 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what public body will be responsible for (a) monitoring and (b) enforcing the sustainability of wood used in the biomass plant to be built at Grangemouth; whether the body has enough (i) expertise and (ii) experience to do this, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Sustainability issues were an important issue when determining this application. We have imposed conditions 4, 11 and 12 in the consent to protect from direct or indirect impacts of large quantities of wood fuel being sourced from abroad. Scottish Ministers…

4 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what sustainability certification schemes exist for the international sourcing of wood to burn in power stations.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) are two of the most widely recognised independent schemes for certifying sustainable forest management. Both operate internationally.

4 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the biomass plant to be built at Grangemouth will not cause significant adverse environmental effects as a result of unsustainable sourcing of wood.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers have applied three conditions to the consent, conditions 4, 11 and 12, to ensure that biomass feedstocks are from sustainable and responsible sources. Condition 4 requires that a sustainability plan is approved by Scottish Ministers and sh…

4 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what type of adverse environmental effects could arise from sourcing wood overseas to burn in the biomass plant to be built at Grangemouth.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The most likely cause of adverse environmental effects would be unsustainable forest management practices in the source country. However, the Scottish Government is addressing this risk by requiring that all forest derived fuels to be used in operating the de…

3 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role it sees for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in creating a tobacco-free generation of Scots by 2034.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15459 on 19 June 2013. 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/parliamentarybu…

3 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the 2014 Commonwealth Games should adopt a comprehensive tobacco-free policy and what influence it will have in this regard.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recently announced its vision of a tobacco-free Scotland by 2034, defined as having fewer than five per cent of the population choosing to smoke, to reap a range of health, social and economic benefits. The Scottish Government is takin…

23 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of chicken used in school meals is free range and what proportion is indoor reared.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: This information is not held centrally. Procurement arrangements for school food are managed by local authorities themselves. The Schools (Health promotion and nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 requires Local Authorities to consider the principles of sustainabl…

23 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of chicken used in school meals is graded as class (a) A and (b) B under EC poultrymeat marketing standards.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: This information is not held centrally. Procurement arrangements for school food are managed by local authorities themselves.

23 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the countries of origin are of chicken used in school meals.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: This information is not held centrally. Procurement arrangements for school food are managed by local authorities themselves.

23 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of chicken used in school meals is sourced in Scotland.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: This information is not held centrally. Procurement arrangements for school food are managed by local authorities themselves. The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 requires Local Authorities to consider the principles of sustainabl…

22 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Youth Employment has visited the Engine Shed social enterprise in Edinburgh and, if so, what the minister said at the time.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Minister for Youth Employment visited the Engine Shed in Edinburgh on 26 April 2012, to hear more about its work from its chief executive and two of the young people in training there. There is no record of what the minister specifically said during her …

22 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the employment of young people with learning disabilities and other additional support requirements in supported businesses and how this will be affected by the forthcoming learning disability strategy.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government recognises that staying in learning post-school is the best way for all young people to develop the skills and knowledge that they need to compete in the world of work wherever possible. Through opportunities for all, every 16-19 year …

22 May 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that public procurement contracts are open to small and micro businesses.

20 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11794 by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 January 2013, what its position is on reports that some major retailers no longer require suppliers to ensure that farm animals are fed non-genetically-modified crops and what information it has on whether the Food Stan…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There is no regulatory requirement for animal products such as meat, fish, milk and eggs to be labelled to identify whether the animals have eaten Genetically Modified (GM) feed. This is because such products do not meet the definition of GM food and therefor…

20 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it has assumed that Longannet will close in 2020, as noted on page 75 of Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting our Emissions Reduction Targets 2013-2027: The Draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Investment decisions relating to developing and building new generation, and the extension or closure of existing generating plant are commercial decisions for generators in Scotland. The Draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies presents emissions and g…

20 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether a UK emissions performance standard of 450g CO2/kWh is in line with the Scottish Government’s target for decarbonisation of the power sector by 2030.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: While the Emissions Performance Standard is a useful tool we are clear that on its own it will not deliver the Scottish Government’s 2030 decarbonisation target and should be seen in the context of wider policies and powers. Our current consenting policy on …

20 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to deliver the target to decarbonise the power sector by 50g CO2/kWh of electricity by 2030.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The main source of emissions in Scotland from the energy supply sector is electricity generation at power stations. Scottish Ministers have decision making powers relating to applications for large scale thermal power stations under Section 36 of the Electric…