- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2004
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Current Status:
Awaiting answer
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lewis Peatlands are classified as a SpecialProtection Area under the EU Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) and, if so, what the extent is of the site; what species of bird in the area are listed as a qualifying interest; how many of these species occur in the area and what proportions of national and international populations they represent, and whether the site is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 4 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Integrated Transport Fund is supporting projects that include the provision of infrastructure for cycling.
Answer
The Integrated Transport Fund supports cycling infrastructure projects through its Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects and Public Transport Fund awards.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many strategic environmental assessments have been carried out since the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004 came into force and what effect these have had on decision-making.
Answer
To date no Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) have been carried out since The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations came into force on 20 July 2004.
It is not possible at this early stage to quantify what effect the SEA Regulations have already had on the decision-making processes within responsible authorities.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 30 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to protect native biodiversity from the impact of non-native species.
Answer
We are concluding the analysis of the Consultation of Non-Native Species Policy which closed at the end of June. We had an excellent and informative response – with over 60 consultees contributing. That will help us put in place appropriate measures to address non-native issues. I expect to publish these responses and our conclusions early in the New Year.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 29 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to consult the public as part of its review of the Scottish climate change programme.
Answer
A formal consultation exercise, as part of the review of the Scottish Climate Change Programme, will be launched before the end of the year.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 29 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what activities are being planned to deliver equivalent outcomes to the climate change communications strategy being developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Answer
It is too early to speculate on the implications for Scotland of the proposed climate change communications strategy. However, we are working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in considering recommendations for a UK Government climate change communications campaign, in order to weigh up options for Scotland, including the relationship with the Executive’s existing environmental awareness campaign, Do a little: Change a lot.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent inscription of 17 MON 810 maize varieties to the EU common seed catalogue, what steps it will take to prevent cultivation of these varieties before a comprehensive coexistence and liability regime is in place in Scotland.
Answer
These varieties have been bred for southern European conditions and have been modified to carry resistance to the European corn-borer; a problem pest in southern Europe, but not in Scotland. They do not, therefore, represent a viable alternative to the varieties already available to Scottish growers. With regard to co-existence, the Executive has made a commitment to introduce statutory measures to enable producers to meet public demand for non-GM produce. The Executive is aiming to introduce these measures in advance of any commercialplanting of GM crops in Scotland and intends to launch a formal consultation later this year.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how the activities of the Energy Savings Trust and the Carbon Trust in Scotland will be affected by the climate change communications strategy being developed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Answer
It is too early to say how the activities of the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust in Scotland might be affected by the proposed UK Government climate change communications strategy. However, we are encouraging Scottish representatives of both bodies to engage with their UK counterparts, who are represented on the project steering group, during the development process.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had into plans by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop a climate change communications strategy.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in on-going discussion with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFR) on its plans to develop a climate change communications strategy. We are working with Defra in consideringoptions for Scotland stemming from a UK Government climate change communications strategy, including the relationship with the Executive’s existing environmental awareness campaign, Do a little: Change a lot.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 16 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the farm-scale evaluations into the cultivation of genetically-modified winter-sown oil seed rape will be published.
Answer
The results for winter oilseed rape have been written up as scientific papers and submitted to the Proceedings of the Royal Society. The timing of the peer review process and the decision whether or not to publish the papers is at the discretion of the Royal Society. It is our understanding that publication is unlikely before early next year.
