- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 17 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many alleged offences against protected wildlife have been reported to procurators fiscal in each year since 1999 and, of these, how many have proceeded to prosecution and how many have resulted in a conviction.
Answer
Complete and accurate information on the number of offences against protected wildlife reported to procurators fiscal prior to 2002 cannot be provided without disproportionate cost. Information available for financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04 relates to cases reported under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and is as follows:
| Number of Cases Under Wildlife and Countryside Act and Protection of Badgers Act | FY 2002-03 | FY 2003-04 |
| Reported | 18 | 36 |
| Proceedings taken | 13 | 19 |
| Alternative to prosecution | 1 | 5 |
| Conviction | 10 | 8 |
| Proceedings not yet completed | - | 4 |
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 17 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received from Scottish Natural Heritage regarding the proposed Quality and Standards III investment programme for Scottish Water.
Answer
Scottish Natural Heritage is a key stakeholder involved in the Quality and Standard three project group which is advising on the extent of the industry’s investment requirements, post 2006. This work has informed the content of the recent consultation, Investing in Water Services 2006-2014. In addition, Scottish Natural Heritage has also submitted a response to this consultation.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 17 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that its decisions regarding the proposed Quality and Standards III investment programme for Scottish Water are consistent with its sustainable development principles, in particular with the “polluter pays” principle.
Answer
The Quality and Standards three process takes place within a statutory framework which places great value on sustainable development. Scottish ministers, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the responsible authorities are required under section 2(4) of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 to act in a way best calculated to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development principles. In addition, under section51 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, Scottish Water must “act in such a way best calculated to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development”.
- 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: 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: 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 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.
