- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 30 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-571 by Allan Wilson on 18 June 2003, whether it has issued any directions to Scottish Natural Heritage under section 11 of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 and, if so, on what occasions and what the directions were.
Answer
No such directions have been issued to Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 26 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether cost efficiency has been achieved in the expenditure plans of non-departmental government bodies such as Scottish Water and, if not, what economies will be made.
Answer
Scottish Water is the only public corporation in Scotland. I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-164 on 9 June 2003. 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/search_wa.All non-departmental public bodies are required to ensure that resources are used economically, efficiently and effectively.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 20 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek advice from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) on the impact that closure of auxiliary fire brigades may have on the environment; whether SNH considers that an efficient and effective fire service is important in respect of the control of muirburn and forest fires, and whether SNH will issue a statement on the matter.
Answer
I have asked Ian Jardine, Chief Executive of Scottish Natural Heritage to respond. His response is as follows:Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) recognises the impact which uncontrolled fire outbreaks can have on the natural heritage. When a fire gets out of control, the speed and effectiveness with which it is tackled is key to minimising the damage done. SNH is, therefore, very supportive of there being an effective and efficient fire service available to carry out this important task. It is not for SNH, however, to determine how this service can be most effectively and efficiently provided. We do not, therefore, intend to issue a statement on the matter.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 19 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take, or direct be taken, to ensure equity of access to DEXA scanning throughout all NHS board areas, in light of the publication of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guideline 71, Management of osteoporosis.
Answer
SIGN guideline 71 makes clear that NHS trusts are responsible for implementing such guidelines as part of their general clinical governance responsibilities. It also makes clear that SIGN guidelines are not intended to serve as standards of medical care.It is therefore for NHS bodies to assess how to apply the components of the guideline, including those relating to DEXA scanning services, to meet the needs of patients in the areas they serve. All NHS board areas in Scotland currently provide access to DEXA scanning either in local hospitals or through referral to other board areas.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 18 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage has made any application for the introduction of the beaver; what information it has received about opposition to any such action from the National Farmers' Union Scotland, the Scottish Crofting Foundation and the Scottish Landowners' Federation; whether the introduction of the beaver will have adverse consequences and, if so, what its position is in respect of such consequences, and whether it will reject any such application.
Answer
Scottish Natural Heritage submitted an application in January 2002 to trial a re-introduction of the European Beaver to Scotland at a specified site in Knapdale, Argyll.Concerns over possible consequences of a trial re-introduction have been received from a number of organisations and individuals. Potential adverse consequences need to be given full consideration before I can take a decision. I have asked Scottish Natural Heritage to let me have further information on their application.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 18 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to (a) it and (b) Scottish Natural Heritage has been of all work carried out in relation to the consideration and submission of any application in respect of the introduction of the beaver and what assessment it has made of value for money in respect of such costs.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is required to respond to any application of this kind and costs relating to individual applications are not held separately.In relation to costs incurred by Scottish Natural Heritage, I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-449 on 10 June 2003. 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/search_wa.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 18 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any directions to Scottish Natural Heritage under the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991; if so, whether it will specify under what circumstances each such direction was issued and place a copy of it in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre; if no such directions have been issued, what the reasons are for the position on this matter, and what its current policy is on such directions.
Answer
As with most non-departmental public bodies, an accounts direction has been issued to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). This was issued under section 10 of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 and specifies the form in which SNH's annual accounts must be prepared. A copy of the direction has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 27748).
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 17 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32193 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 December 2002, whether it will meet representatives of Grampian Police, Northern Constabulary and the army to discuss Operation Youth Advantage; whether it will replicate this scheme throughout Scotland, and what assessment it has made of the success of the scheme with regard to turning young people away from a life of crime and offending and towards being good citi'ens.
Answer
Operation Youth Advantage is a project that for the past two years has been run by the British Army Careers Team. Both Northern Constabulary and Grampian Police have been involved in the scheme which gives young people the opportunity to participate in courses that are intended to give them a more responsible attitude and discourage them from becoming involved in criminal and anti-social behaviour. We are committed to addressing youth crime and welcome police participation in projects such as this. I understand that the army are looking at extending the scheme to other areas. In that case, it will be for individual forces to decide on the extent of their involvement.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 17 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Environment and Rural Development will visit the Ardtoe Marine Farming Unit and meet the staff to hear their views about the future of the unit.
Answer
No. The Sea Fish Industry Authority is currently negotiating possible options for the Unit and such a visit would not be appropriate at this time.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 17 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S2O-102 by the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development on 5 June 2003 about the relocation of the headquarters of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) from Edinburgh to Inverness, how many, and which, jobs will (a) remain in Edinburgh and (b) move to Inverness and when the relocation is likely to take place.
Answer
The timing of the move will partly be determined by the lease break occurring at the Anderson Place headquarters, which gave rise to the relocation review. The lease will expire on 31 March 2005 and it is expected that the vast majority of staff currently based there will have relocated to Inverness by that date. The disposal of the Hope Terrace headquarters will depend on the timing of securing appropriate accommodation in Inverness. I am asking SNH to work up a project plan to address these and other aspects of the relocation and submit this to ministers in due course. That plan may include proposals to retain some staff in Edinburgh. As Allan Wilson made clear in his response to the oral question on 5 June, we expect the proposals to deliver the vast majority of relocated jobs to Inverness.
