- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA’s) advice to the Cairngorms National Park Authority on the Aviemore resort hotels master plan planning application complied with the rules and guidelines relevant to the exercise of SEPA’s functions, duties and powers, as set out in the Management Statement drawn up by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department and, if so, in what way.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10935 on 11 April 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice was given to the First Minister or his special advisers in relation to the receipt of the correspondence and enclosures sent by the First Minister’s constituency office manager to his private office, intimating Mr Donald Macdonald’s intention to show the First Minister the exhibition of the live planning application for the second phase of the resort’s development that Mr MacDonald had arranged to be viewed in his hotel complex.
Answer
No such advice was given.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are obliged or advised to follow any procedures prior to issuing a direction to a non-departmental public body (NDPB) and whether a distinction is made between provisions for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other NDPBs.
Answer
The ability of ministers and officials to instruct or direct non-departmental public body (NDPB) delivery partners is part of the long established governance framework between government and the bodies they sponsor.
Within this delivery relationship, there is a wide range of terminology used to describe instructions that can be given to NDPBs and this is normally contained in enabling legislation or other relevant corporate documentation underpinning the governance framework. The scope of instruction and direction can also vary considerably, ranging from simple accounting matters to issues of substance and can cover procedures and timescales where ministers believe there is a public interest. Whether of a general or specific nature, powers of direction allow government to exercise the degree of control necessary to ensure parliamentary, ministerial and public accountability for bodies in receipt of government funds.
The way in which the Scottish Government discharges these core functions is not recorded separately or given prominence over other issues of sponsorship activity. In addition, the way in which directions can be invoked and communicated will vary depending on the individual circumstances or context.
The governance framework which confers NDPB status provides for a degree of ministerial judgement in deciding the most appropriate level of interaction between body and government.
NDPB sponsorship guidance is contained on the Scottish Government''s public bodies website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the actions of Scottish Ministers in respect of the advice of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to the Cairngorms National Park Authority in the planning application for the Aviemore resort hotels master plan and related planning applications comply with ministers’ responsibilities and accountabilities, as set out in the SEPA Management Statement drawn up by the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, with particular regard to ministers’ powers to call-in applications and determine appeals in relation to SEPA’s statutory functions and, if so, in what way.
Answer
I am satisfied that Scottish ministers acted at all times in relation to this application in accordance with their responsibilities and accountabilities as set out in SEPA''s Management Statement.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the advice of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to Aberdeen City Council’s public local inquiry in May 2006 and Moray Council’s public local inquiry in November 2007 complied with Scottish Ministers’ strategic objective to provide clear and readily available advice and information on SEPA’s work and to involve the public in environmental protection and, if so, in what way.
Answer
I refer the Member to the question S3W-10935 on 11 April 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the advice of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to Aberdeen City Council’s public local inquiry in May 2006 and Moray Council’s public local inquiry in November 2007 complied with Scottish Ministers’ strategic objective to develop a close and responsive relationship with the public, local authorities and regulated authorities and, if so, in what way.
Answer
I refer the Member to the answer to question S3W-10935 on 11 April 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the advice of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to the Cairngorms National Park Authority in the planning application for the Aviemore resort hotels master plan complied with SEPA-Planning Authority Protocol: Advice and Consultation and the associated planning advice note and, if so, in what way.
Answer
I refer the Member to the answer to question S3W-10935 on 11 April 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any member of the Scottish Government saw, or was shown, the exhibition of phase two of the Aviemore resort hotel’s development arranged by Mr Donald Macdonald for the First Minister during the SNP Conference in Aviemore from 26 to 28 October 2008.
Answer
No member of the Scottish Government saw the exhibition.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since May 2007 ministers have instructed non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) to take particular actions with regard to individual casework with which the NDPB was dealing and which fell within the NDPB’s statutory responsibilities.
Answer
The ability of ministers and officials to instruct or direct non-departmental public body (NDPB) delivery partners is part of the long established governance framework between government and the bodies they sponsor.
Within this delivery relationship, there is a wide range of terminology used to describe instructions that can be given to NDPBs and this is normally contained in enabling legislation or other relevant corporate documentation underpinning the governance framework. The scope of instruction and direction can also vary considerably, ranging from simple accounting matters to issues of substance and can cover procedures and timescales where ministers believe there is a public interest. Whether of a general or specific nature, powers of direction allow government to exercise the degree of control necessary to ensure parliamentary, ministerial and public accountability for bodies in receipt of government funds.
The way in which the Scottish Government discharges these core functions is not recorded separately or given prominence over other issues of sponsorship activity. In addition, the way in which directions can be invoked and communicated will vary depending on the individual circumstances or context.
The governance framework which confers NDPB status provides for a degree of ministerial judgement in deciding the most appropriate level of interaction between body and government.
NDPB sponsorship guidance is contained on the Scottish Government''s public bodies website at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 March 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s advice to the Cairngorms National Park Authority on the Aviemore resort hotels master plan planning application complied with its statutory duty to promote sustainable flood management and, if so, in what way and whether that advice took full account of regulations and guidance issued by Scottish Ministers.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10935 on 11 April 2008. 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/webapp/wa.search.
