Alison Johnstone

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has committed to the formation of a marine litter strategy and what resources it will commit to its implementation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government contracted the Scottish Association for Marine Science and the Hutton Institute/Macaulay Land Use Research Institute to undertake a study and prepare a research report to inform and support the development of a marine litter strategy. …

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its consultation on a marine litter strategy and whether proposals will include a target for the reduction of marine litter.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We will undertake a consultation on a draft marine litter strategy in the autumn. It is envisaged that the strategy will build on existing measures for monitoring levels of marine and coastal litter which will assist with progress towards achieving the targe…

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes are of its Mixed Plastics Capital Grant Programme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: This is a landmark and ambitious project to bring cutting-edge technology to Scotland, involving overseas investors as well as careful planning and close partnerships with stakeholders in Scotland, including local authorities and the waste management industry…

19 Jun 2012 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it helps small charitable organisations to meet the costs of organising events in the complex.

7 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy review will consider juniper conservation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The review of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy has been considering the importance of the natural environment to our health, well-being and economic prosperity. While this has consequences for measures to support individual species, such as juniper, species…

7 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether landowners must seek official permission before removing juniper stands.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Whether landowners need to seek permission before removing juniper stands will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the trees, the intended use of the land once cleared and any designation the land has for the purpose of nature protection.

7 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to (a) protect and (b) conserve juniper.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are a number of options available to land managers to support action to plant or enhance juniper under the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) have published a technical guidance note on how SRDP grants may he…

6 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to (a) future alternative uses for or (b) the possible disposal of HMP Cornton Vale.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The recent report by the Commission on Women Offenders included a recommendation that HMP Cornton Vale should be replaced with a smaller specialist prison for high risk, long-term prisoners. I refer the member to the answer to the question S3W-07689 on 14 Ju…

6 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the report by the Commission on Women Offenders and whether the response will address the future of HMP Cornton Vale.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As I indicated in the recent parliamentary debate on the report by the Commission on Women Offenders, the Scottish Government will publish our response before the parliamentary summer recess. The response will address all of the commission’s recommendations, …

6 Jun 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its employees have their salaries paid off-payroll.

31 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will reduce the number of waste plastic bags (a) shipped abroad, (b) incinerated and (c) buried in landfill.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07637 on 19 June 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…

31 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason its planned launch of a consultation on carrier bags last autumn has been delayed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07637 on 19 June 2012. 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/parliamentarybusi…

31 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on ways to reduce single-use plastic carrier bags.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Our manifesto commitment to “seek to phase out free plastic bags in supermarkets” is based on evidence that even modest charging for bags significantly reduces the number of bags used and therefore disposed of. We are currently working to ensure that the prop…

29 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the UNICEF publication, Report Card 10: Measuring Child Poverty and what implications the report will have on its child poverty strategy.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The recommendations in the Measuring Child Poverty report are consistent with the strategic aims of the Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland. Both documents highlight the importance of maximising household incomes and improving children’s wellbeing and life ch…

21 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports its employees to volunteer in sport.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to helping its employees participate in community projects and making a contribution to Scottish society. As part of this commitment, all staff are entitled to receive one day of paid special leave each year for volunteeri…

21 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of seal licensing reports has been submitted on time since 31 January 2011.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the first year of operation of the new seal licensing system 87% of all seal licence returns were submitted by the due date. The majority of outstanding returns were submitted within a further 10 days, with only 2.5% falling after that. Marine Scotland is …

21 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is taken to ensure that seal licensing reports are submitted on time.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Licensees are prompted two weeks prior to the end of the reporting period. A reminder is then issued after the end of the reporting period. If reports have still not been received, licensees are contacted directly via email and telephone by the Marine Scotlan…

21 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seals were shot under licence in (a) 2011 and (b) the first reporting period in 2012.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information on numbers of seals shot under licence during the first year of operation of the new seal licensing system can be found on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/seallicensing. Information on numbers of seals shot during the 1st r…

2 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the possible impact on public health of the Fife Diet Food Manifesto 2012.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We welcome Fife Diet’s new Food Manifesto and their cross-cutting community work to promote the development of a food system that better supports environmental sustainability in Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to pursuing collaborative and sus…

17 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated costs will arise from closure of the Forth Road Bridge during future cable replacement or augmentation; what methodology was used to calculate this figure, and what body (a) developed the methodology and (b) calculated the costs.

Answer · Keith Brown: Specific consultants were engaged by Forth Estuary Transport Authority as part of the 2007 feasibility study to estimate the likely costs and economic impacts of cable replacement. These specialists determined the methodologies used and carried out the calcul…

17 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the predicted closure schedule is for the Forth Road Bridge during work to replace and augment the main cables.

Answer · Keith Brown: The need for any remedial works will be assessed as appropriate in light of the results of the dehumidification of the main cables. Any requirement for future closures of the Forth Road Bridge after the Forth Replacement Crossing is complete will be considere…

17 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) work will begin on the third inspection of the Forth Road Bridge main cables to assess the strength of the cables and the effectiveness of the dehumidification system and (b) the related report will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: Work on the third internal inspection of the main cables has already begun. Preparatory work began in November 2011 and work on site began on schedule in March 2012. Initial findings are expected to be published in early 2013.

12 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask Scottish Executive how it promotes female participation in sport.

Answer · Shona Robison: This government firmly believes sport needs to be open to all. We and sportscotland, our national agency for sport, and a number of organisations within NHS Health Scotland have identified women and girls as a group that are under-represented in sport and n…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental monitoring has taken place following the (a) oil leak from the Taqa Bratani Tern platform off Shetland and (b) gas leak from the Total Shearwater platform in the Elgin field.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Environmental monitoring carried out following incidents on offshore installations is proportionate to the severity of the incident and the possible risks posed to the environment. The Tern incident related to oil released within a produced water discharge (c…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) it, (b) Marine Scotland, (c) Scottish Natural Heritage and (d) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency was notified about the (i) oil leak from the Taqa Bratani Tern platform off Shetland and (ii) gas leak from the Total Shearwater platform in the Elgin field.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland is a Directorate of the Scottish Government. It is copied into all formal notifications from oil and gas operators of an oil/chemical release in Scottish waters. In these cases these formal notifications were received on the afternoon of 20 Ma…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies are responsible for dealing with any pollution resulting from the North Sea oil and gas infrastructure.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change has overall responsibility for any incidents relating to offshore oil and gas operations that result in marine pollution. The Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations 2002 pro…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a danger of pollution to the Scottish coast resulting from (a) aging infrastructure or (b) inadequate safety and environmental protection procedures in the North Sea oil and gas infrastructure.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Responsibility for the regulation of the oil and gas industry is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government is committed to the maintenance, development and long term future of the oil and gas sector in a manner which is consistent with sustainabl…

6 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the aggregate (a) tonnage and (b) engine power of the pelagic fishing fleet was in 2000-01.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The aggregate tonnage of the pelagic fishing fleet in 20011 was 43,339 tonnes and the aggregate power was 85,558 kWs. Note: 1. Figures as at 31 December.

6 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishing boats were inspected in port to ensure that their engines comply with the ratings in their registration documents in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2010-11.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: None. However, in January 2012, an EU requirement came into force that requires member states to verify the engine power of fishing vessels. Marine Scotland will commence verification this summer.

6 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many seaborne fishing boat inspections took place in Scottish waters in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2010-11, broken down by country of origin.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The number of inspections of fishing vessels carried out in Scottish water during the periods April to March 2000-01 and 2010-11 were as follows: Country of Origin 2000-01 2010-11 Belgium 1 Denmark 103 22 Republic of Ireland 7 2 Faroe 2 1 Fra…