- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 June 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered additional measures to ensure that it achieves its objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and, if so, what these measures are.
Answer
Actions from the draft Scottish Biodiversity Strategy implementation plans, which have been the subject of public consultation by Scottish Natural Heritage, are being incorporated into delivery plans for the five ecosystem groups - upland, woodland, marine and coastal, freshwater and wetland, and lowland and farming. Further information is available at:
http://www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk/.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 June 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 24 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out, or intends to carry out, an assessment of the progress made by other EU member states in achieving the objective of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
Answer
Regular assessments of the progress made by EU member states towards biodiversity targets are made by the European Commission. These are available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/comm2006/index_en.htm.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 June 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 17 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects Scottish ministers to meet the European Commissioner for Health to discuss the proposals for the electronic identification for sheep before the end of (a) June or (b) July 2009.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to work at ministerial and official levels with the European Commission, the UK Government and other member states to achieve the best possible solution for Scottish farmers on the EU proposals for electronic identification of sheep.
The Scottish Government raised electronic identification with Secretary of State Hilary Benn and other devolved administrations ministers at a meeting on 2 June and a common strategy was agreed for engagement across Europe. The Scottish Government has already achieved concessions on the implementation of electronic identification of sheep and further proposals are currently under consideration. Whether there will be a need to meet with the European Commissioner for Health will be considered in the light of further developments across member states and at Commission level.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 June 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 16 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what stage has been reached in its discussions with COSLA regarding revisions to the local government funding formula and when it expects the conclusions to be announced.
Answer
The joint review of the local government finance distribution methodology is now well underway. The review group has been asked to make recommendations by the end of October 2009. Any agreed conclusions are likely to be announced shortly after that in order to inform the allocation of funding to local government from 2011-12.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 June 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken since 27 May 2009 to request a meeting with the European Commissioner for Health regarding proposals for electronic identification for sheep.
Answer
The Scottish Government continues to work at ministerial and official levels with the European Commission, the UK Government and other member states to achieve the best possible solution for Scottish farmers on the EU proposals for electronic identification of sheep.
Richard Lochhead raised electronic identification with Secretary of State Hilary Benn and other devolved administrations ministers when they met on 2 June and a common strategy was agreed for engagement across Europe. The Scottish Government has already achieved concessions on the implementation of electronic identification of sheep and further proposals are currently under consideration. Whether there will be the need to have a further meeting with the European Commissioner for Health will be considered in the light of further developments across member states and at Commission level.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 12 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18812 by Richard Lochhead on 8 January 2009, what progress it has made in implementing the 16 of the 17 recommendations made in the report, A review of the European Union Agricultural Subsidy Appeals Procedure in Scotland, that it has accepted and when an announcement will be made of its detailed proposals for reform and for setting up an independent appeals procedure.
Answer
From the 1 October the Scottish Land Court will take over the responsibility for administering a new streamlined EU agricultural subsidy appeals procedure. Under this new arrangement the government and the appellant will now be on an equal footing in all appeal cases and the process will be independent and quicker. I announced this change, which addressed the main recommendations contained in the Report
A Review of the European Union Agricultural Subsidy Appeals Procedure in Scotland, in my speech to the National Farmers'' Union (NFU) Scotland''s AGM in February. This fundamental change to the appeals procedure has been the main focus of our efforts.
Work is on-going on how we take forward the other recommendations contained in the report which covered areas like creating greater dialogue between government and farmers and improving our application forms and guidance.
On the latter, a great deal is already done along the lines suggested in the report and we will continue to build on current practises. A recommendation was also made that we encourage greater use of electronic submission of claims. This has been an action for us for some years. In 2008, 28% of all single application forms were submitted electronically which has risen to just under 32% in 2009. We will continue to develop and promote this means of delivery.
I will make a further announcement on the details of the new arrangements in advance of the handover of responsibility to the Scottish Land Court.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 28 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a review has been carried out of wind farm applications rejected due to aviation issues.
Answer
The Scottish Government is managing this issue with the stakeholders and has in fact been involved in an on-going review of decisions and technical developments since this administration came to office.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Adam Ingram on 27 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23022 by Fiona Hyslop on 30 April 2009, how the new body that will be responsible for all functions associated with the Children’s Panel, including recruitment, selection and training of panel members, will ensure that those who wish to volunteer as panel members will continue to be recruited, selected and trained and continue to sit on hearings on a local basis.
Answer
The Bill to reform the Children''s Hearings system will provide for the transfer of functions currently carried out by Children''s Panels Advisory Committees and Panel Chairs to the President of a new body, the Scottish Children''s Hearings Tribunal.
It will be a key responsibility of the President of the Tribunal to ensure that the local dimension of the Children''s Hearings system is continued in order that local people will serve as panel members supporting children in their community.
We intend that the president will have the power to put in place structures which reflect local issues in all of Scotland''s communities, and that the president will work together with existing stakeholders in the transition to the new structures.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking, in collaboration with industry and others, to develop a means of addressing concerns about the potential impact of wind farms on aviation.
Answer
We have established a South West Scotland Regional Aviation Solution Sub Group with airport radar operators and developers to investigate the development and application of a regional solution in the south west of Scotland and that such an endeavour should be concentrated where it is likely to free up the most megawatts of electricity by the alleviation of aviation objections. Information on the discussions so far, is available on the Energy Consents website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consents/Guidance.
In a UK national context, Scottish Government officials are also actively participating in the Aviation Advisory Panel discussions in partnership with key stakeholders in the aviation sector to resolve the potential impacts of wind farms on radar systems.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23065 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 April 2009, what its reasons are for not making available copies of its submission to the European Commission regarding the state aid investigation into support for ferry services in Scotland.
Answer
The European Commission has previously agreed that it would not be appropriate for information relating to its investigations to be published whilst investigations are live. The decision not to provide the information requested reflects that practice as well as EC Regulation No 1049/2001 and the freedom of information legislation.
