- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 October 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 7 November 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-27812, S2W-27813 and S2W-27814 by Rhona Brankin on 22 September 2006, whether the Food Standards Agency Scotland has any role in the United Kingdom’s consideration of applications for the approval of genetically modified food and feed under Regulation (EC) 1829/2003.
Answer
The Food Standards Agency isa UK-wide government department and is the UK’s competent authority for applicationsfor authorisation made under regulation (EC) 1829/2003. The agency’s office in Scotlandensures that devolved requirements, with regard to GM food and feed are fully met.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 October 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Minister for Environment and Rural Development has formally met the (a) National Farmers Union Scotland, (b) Scottish Organic Producers Organisation, (c) Soil Association and (d) Biodynamic Agriculture Association in the last 12 months.
Answer
Between 1 November 2005 and31 October 2006 I had formal meetings with representatives of theNational Farmers Union Scotland on six occasions. The other three organisationslisted come within the remit of the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Developmentwho met each of them on one occasion during the same period.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 25 October 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what top five subjects were raised by individual members of the public with the Minister and Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development, as measured by volume of written correspondence over the last 12 months.
Answer
The top five subjects raisedby the public with the Minister and Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development,as measured by the volume of correspondence during the period 1 September 2005 to29 August 2006, are as follows:
1. Tail docking of dogs in Scotland
2. Threat to marine mammal species from Firth of Forthship-to-ship transfer of oil
3. National Farm Workers Union’sconcerns over the power of supermarkets
4. Animal Health and WelfareScotland Bill
5. Eradication of Hedgehogs inthe Western Isles.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 5 October 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what size of, shipments of potentially GM-contaminated long-grain rice from the United States have been received in each Scottish port in each year since 2003.
Answer
No shipments of US long-grainrice were delivered by sea to Scottish ports in either 2003 or 2004.
Thirty-nine tonnes were deliveredby sea to Scottish ports in 2005, and 20 tonnes between January and July this year.
The Food Standards Agency iscurrently analysing samples of imported rice at rice mills in the UK, and willpublish the results of this analysis shortly.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 22 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since January 2004 it has (a) met, (b) written to or (c) received correspondence from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to discuss applications to the European Union to import or cultivate genetically modified organisms, including crops, foods, feeds and non-food products, including pharmaceutical crops and biofuels, and whether it will place copies of all correspondence in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
We have regular discussionswith the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on a rangeof issues including applications to import or cultivate genetically modified crops.
Since 2004, applications forthe approval of genetically modified feed and food have been considered underthe genetically modified Food and Feed Regulation (1829/2003). The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the UK competent authority for this regulation.
For applications consideredunder the Deliberate Release Directive 2001/18/EC, the agreed UKassessments and opinions on applications for the potential import andcultivation of GM crops, which develop from discussions with Defra and theother Devolved Administrations, are published on Defra’s website at:
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/registers.htmon behalf of the joint UK competent authority. Applications for the approvalof GM crops for non-food use will continue to be considered under thisDirective.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 19 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has in relation to UK policy on the approval of genetically modified crops, foods and feeds for import or cultivation by the European Union.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has consistentlysupported the EU and UK policy that there should be rigorous, scientificallybased, case-by-case scrutiny of applications for the approval of GM crops, foodsand feeds. When the application includes the potential import or cultivation ofa GM crop, the Executive as part of the UK competent authority contributes to the UK voting position.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 11 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, or intends to take, in relation to (a) European Communities - Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products (DS291, DS292, DS293), (b) Comments by the European Communities on the Scientific and Technical Advice to the Panel, Geneva, 28 January 2005 and (c) Further scientific or technical evidence in response to the other parties’ comments by the European Communities, Geneva, 10 February 2005.
Answer
There is no reason for the Scottish Executive to take action on these documents, which relate to a WTOdispute on biotechnological products.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 11 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has in relation to how the United Kingdom votes on applications to the European Union to import or cultivate genetically modified crops, foods and feeds.
Answer
The Executive’s role is toensure that the regulatory processes to import or cultivate GM crops, foods orfeeds operate properly and that applications are subject to robust and detailedscrutiny. When the application includes the potential import or cultivation ofa GM crop, the Executive as part of the UK competent authority contributes to the UK votingposition.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 7 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27199 by Ms Margaret Curran on 26 July 2006, when it will announce the outcome of its review of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Answer
The on-going, limited reviewof the early operation of freedom of information in Scotland is providingthe opportunity to consider how the act is working in practice. The outcome of thereview will be announced in due course.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 7 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it plays in the setting of bye-laws by harbour authorities.
Answer
It is for individual harbourauthorities to decide what byelaws are required to meet local circumstances andoperational needs. In considering applications for harbour byelaws, the Scottish Executive will ensure that what is proposed is compliant with therelevant legislation and that any objections are considered as part of thedecision making process.
