- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 01 October 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 24 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4139 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 September 2007, whether it is possible to identify what incidences of poisoning there have been where poisoning was not the main offence.
Answer
It is notpossible to identify incidences of poisoning where poisoning was not the mainoffence from the data held centrally.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 24 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plan or process has been put in place to ensure that Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local enterprise companies contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in pursuance of section 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and further the conservation and enhancement of natural features specified in sites of special scientific interest under section 12 of the Act.
Answer
All public bodiesin Scotland are subject to a duty under the NatureConservation (Scotland) Act 2004 to further biodiversityconservation in carrying out their functions. The Scottish Government producedguidance in 2005 to promote the duty and to encourage its implementation. Theguidance can be accessed at:
http://www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk/pageType2.php?id=19&type=2&navID=59.The NatureConservation (Scotland) Act 2004 Act also requires public bodiesto consult Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in relation to the exercise of anyfunction on, or affecting, any land which is or forms part of a Site of SpecialScientific Interest. Public bodies must have regard to any advice received fromSNH as a result of such consultation.
It is for eachpublic body to decide how to comply with the requirements in the 2004 act.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken since May 2007 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help meet its target of an 80% reduction by 2050.
Answer
The statement to Parliamentin June by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth committed usto consult on a Scottish Climate Change Bill that will set a clear, long-term statutory framework to meet a proposed 80% emissions reductiontarget. We are developing detailedproposals for the bill, in consultation with key stakeholders, and plan to begin formal consultation at the earliest opportunity.
We havetaken, or are taking a number of specific measures which will contribute to ouremission reduction objectives including development of our policies for the promotionof renewable heat and increased micro-generation; establishment of an expert panel to recommendmeasures which will make houses and buildings in Scotland more energy efficient;encouragementof tighter caps on emissions in future phases of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme;development of proposals to targetemissions from energy use by large commercial and public sector organisations throughthe Carbon Reduction Commitment, and progression of plans to introduce a “one-stop-shop” for domesticconsumers across Scotland to provide a more strategic and co-ordinated approachto sustainable energy advice.
We also announced our intention to work constructively as part of the UK effort and have beenexploring with the UK Government our engagement with the UK Climate Change Bill.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to abolish to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland and when this decision was publicly announced.
Answer
Structures inplace to support the delivery of an administration’s objectives will naturallycease at the end of that administration. It is for the new Cabinet to decide onany new structures which should be established. A Greener Scotland is one of the Government’ five strategic objectives as outlined in Principles andPriorities: The Government’s Programme for Scotland, published on 5 September 2007. We are serious about making Scotland a more sustainable nation and will work with a rangeof external bodies in delivering that goal.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the abolition of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland.
Answer
I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-4256 on 26 September 2007. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure that (a) there is close co-ordination between ministers on sustainable development and (b) all ministers drive forward action on climate change and meet targets, in light of the abolition of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland.
Answer
I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-4067 on 20 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 26 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to invite bids for funding from the Environmental Justice Fund for 2008-09.
Answer
Plans will be consideredonce the outcome of the forthcoming Spending Review is known.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 26 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be put in place to ensure that projects assisted under the Environmental Justice Fund can be satisfactorily completed even if unforeseen delays require spending to continue into 2008-09.
Answer
We lookto managers to ensure that projects are completed in line with the terms of ourfinancial support. However, if exceptional and unforeseen circumstances arise whichresult in delay, we will look at each situation on a case-by-case basis.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 25 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary question to question S3F-125 by Alex Salmond on 6 September 2007 (Official Report c.1501), on what evidence the First Minister based his statement that “it is widely known that the so-called hit list was devised under a Labour Administration”.
Answer
It has been widelyreported from mid-2006 through to early 2007 that the Labour Administration of theprevious City of Edinburgh Council was considering measures to deal with a budgetdeficit. These reports included reference to the effects of falling school rollsand the prospect that a quarter of the city’s schools could be surplus to requirements.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2007
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to ensure that the proposals it will bring forward in the spending review meet the annual 3.1% annual greenhouse gas emissions cuts required to achieve its target of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and how this information will be communicated to MSPs.
Answer
We will use the spendingreview and other processes to set plans to achieve the government’s strategic objectives.The process includes reviewing proposals to ensure that they deliver, and will continueto deliver, the Scottish Government’s long-term objectives.
Pending the introductionof any statutory requirement in a future Scottish Climate Change Bill, we are consideringhow to report our progress on climate change to Parliament.