- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 7 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought any legal advice or guidance with regard to its powers to veto any proposals to build new nuclear electricity generation stations and, if so, what advice or guidance it received.
Answer
As on all other matters, the Scottish Executive seeks legal advice as and when necessary and acts on it appropriately. Planning matters in Scotland are devolved. In addition, powers conferred by section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 have been executively devolved to Scottish ministers. Any application to build an electricity generating station in Scotland therefore requires the consent of the Scottish ministers; several such applications are currently under consideration.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement about new GM crop trials.
Answer
The Scottish Executive announced on Monday 9 September that farm-scale trials at two sites in Scotland could proceed this autumn. This decision was taken after ministers received the strongest assurances possible, from the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency (SASA) and Central Science Laboratories (CSL), on the purity of the seed to be used.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 5 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received from the Department of Trade and Industry about (a) the number of Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres in Scotland and (b) the level of funding for each centre.
Answer
The Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres (IMRCs) are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as part of their Innovative Manufacturing Programme. The first 12 IMRCs were announced in November 2001 and were awarded on the basis of national excellence in manufacturing research.Although none of the 12 initial centres are located in Scotland, a tranche two IMRC involving Glasgow, Cardiff, Cambridge and Surrey Universities has been approved for funding. The start date is currently under negotiation, and the University of Glasgow is expected to be awarded more than £1 million. Another tranche two centre at Heriot-Watt University in the area of Photonics is currently under review.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 24 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what particular skills and competencies are required to be a member of the board of the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
Answer
Members of the board of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are appointed under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996. Appointments are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies 2002 and the skills and competencies were set out in a person specification. This is reproduced as follows: SQA board members are appointed in a personal, not a representative, capacity and should have relevant managerial or organisational skills and experience. They should possess effective communication skills and have some experience of working as part of a team. They should also be able to demonstrate a willingness to fully participate in decision-making processes. Some knowledge of and interest in the education and training system in Scotland would be helpful along with a willingness to play an active role in the area of qualifications. However, a detailed knowledge of the examination and certification process is not essential. The qualities required for the post include:
Leadership, vision and a capacity to take a strategic viewAbility to focus on essentials, identify key success factors and seek and analyse relevant evidenceA commitment to Scotland's education and training systemGood interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written) Sound judgementWillingness to take, and adhere to, difficult decisionsAbility to work in a team environmentNational and international outlookThe ability to win respect and confidence of key stakeholdersIntegrity and discretion
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the current position regarding the infraction proceedings initiated by the European Commission in respect of (a) 97/2138: Use of hyperchlorinated water in poultry-meat establishments, (b) 2000/0071 & 2000/0066: Implementation of Directives concerning additives in feedingstuffs, (c) 2000/0252: EC Directive 98/101/EC on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances, (d) 2000/0605: EC Directive 98/81/EC on contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms, (e) 2000/0607: Placing of biocidal products on the market and (f) 2000/2110: EC Directive 97/33/EC on operator number portability and carrier re-selection.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question SIW-18942.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the current position regarding pre-Article 226 letter infraction proceedings initiated by the European Commission in respect of (a) 2000/4034: EC Directive 76/160/EEC: Concerning quality of bathing water, (b) 2000/4976: Proposed development at Kingask Estate, St Andrews, (c) D(01) 141: Isle of Skye crossing: Public procurement, (d) D-310097: Implementation of EC Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment and (e) D(01) 53287: Qualifications for waste management.
Answer
Correspondence between the Commission and a member state on an infraction case often forms part of a negotiation over complex and delicate issues, which will not necessarily lead to proceedings before the Court. It may harm the chances of reaching a satisfactory outcome to the negotiation, and thereby of avoiding Court proceedings, if the position of either party is made public at an early stage.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the current position regarding Article 226 letter infraction proceedings initiated by the European Commission in respect of (a) 98/5023: Parallel imports of plant protection products in the UK (supplementary A226 letter), (b) 2000/2272: Transportation of Council Directive 99/32/EC relating to a reduction in the sulphur content of certain flammable liquid fuels, (c) 2001/00154: Council Directive 2000/27/EC introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases, (d) 2001/0055 Commission Directive 2000/24/EC on fixing minimum levels of pesticide residues in and on cereals, foodstuffs of animal or plant origin, (e) 2001/0056: Directive 2000/15/EC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine, (f) 2001/0060: EC Directive 1999/91 relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs, (g) 2001/0062: EC Directive 1999/51 adapting technical progress relating to restrictions on the marketing of certain dangerous substances and preparations (tin, PCP and cadmium), (h) 2001/0064: EC Directive 1993/35/EC concerning liability for defective products, (i) 2001/0065: Quality of water intended for human consumption, (j) 2001/0066: EC Directive 98/53/EC laying down sampling methods of analysis for the official control of levels of contaminents in foodstuffs, (k) 2001/0179: EC Directive 2000/5/EC on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training, (l) 2001/0180: EC Directive 2000/42/EC on fixing of maximum residues in and on cereals, foodstuffs of animal origin and certain products of plant origin, (m) 2001/0181: EC Directive 2000/45/ED establishing Community methods of analysis for the determination of vitamin A, vitamin E and tryptophan in feeding stuffs, (n) 2001/0182: EC Directive 2000/71/EC to adapt measuring methods, (o) 2001/0183: Directive 1994/4/EC relating to coffee and chicory extracts, (p) 2000/0184: EC Directive 1999/94/EC relating to the availability of consumer information on fuel economy and CO2 emissions in respect of passenger cars and (q) 2000/0185: EC Directive 98/27/EC on injunction of consumer interests
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question SIW-18942.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on water charges will be for the financial year 2001-02 in the (a) East of Scotland Water Authority, (b) North of Scotland Water Authority and (c) West of Scotland Water Authority should (i) 50%, (ii) 30% and (iii) 15% of the anticipated efficiency savings of #135 million not be achieved.
Answer
This information can be derived from the Water Industry Commissioner's Strategic Review of Charges held in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 17271).
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it next intends to meet representatives of Fife Health Board.
Answer
My and myself intend to meet with representatives of all NHS Boards in Scotland in January. In addition, the Chief Executive and officials of the Health Department maintain frequent contact with representatives of Fife NHS Board, with the next meeting scheduled for January 2002.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has identified Garlaff Landfill Site in East Ayrshire as a site for the disposal of ash derived from the pyres of foot-and-mouth disease infected cattle carcasses.
Answer
The best scientific advice is that ash from pyres across the country should be disposed of at licensed engineered landfill sites. There is material at two sites in Dumfries and Galloway and one in the Scottish Borders which requires disposal but there are no such sites in those areas. Following consultation with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, it was concluded that the Best Practicable Environmental Option is to dispose of the material at Garlaff Landfill site, the nearest suitable facility in Scotland. There is no risk of the material harbouring the foot-and-mouth virus. The transportation of the ash to a site outside Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders does not jeopardise any livestock either en-route or in the vicinity of the final disposal site.
