Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-03971

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to The Review of Veterinary Surveillance - Final Report.

I immediately accepted a key recommendation of the Review of Veterinary Surveillance, to establish a Strategic Management Board (SMB) chaired by the Chief Veterinary Officer (Scotland), and I will shortly write to stakeholders seeking suggestions on who should fill the industry, veterinary and public health roles.

The SMB will have responsibility for overseeing changes to the veterinary surveillance system, and the Scottish Government's agenda will be delivered through that forum, in partnership with stakeholders.

I intend to make nominations to the SMB quickly, and the board should meet early in the New Year.

Question reference: S4W-03975

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to extending the powers of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in relation to the investigation of wildlife crime and whether it will consult on the introduction of relevant legislation.

Question reference: S4O-00392

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it assessed the future demand for agri-environment schemes when developing the current draft budget and spending review.

Question reference: S4W-03868

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 15 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes are scheduled for the A76 from Dumfries to New Cumnock and when they will take place.

Question reference: S4W-03867

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 15 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to continue with the improvement scheme to the A76 at Ellisland Farm.

As part of the normal development of the design of the Ellisland Improvement, Transport Scotland carried out a review of costs and benefits. This showed that the cost of the proposed scheme had increased and the scheme was no longer economically feasible in the current climate. Transport Scotland are however currently undertaking a road safety action plan which will propose measures aimed at further improving road safety on the A76.

Question reference: S4W-03869

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 04 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 15 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes are scheduled for the A75 from Dumfries to Gretna and when they will take place.

Question reference: S4W-03735

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the Marine Licensing Survey, Deploy and Monitor survey is a qualifying plan or programme for the purposes of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

Question reference: S4W-03734

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what the relationship is between the Marine Licensing Survey, Deploy and Monitor policy and the (a) marine licensing process, (b) requirements of the habitats regulations, (c) requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive and associated legislation and (d) Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 and Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (which gives statutory authority for the marine licensing process) set down various requirements to be met by marine developments, if they are to be licensed. The Survey, Deploy and Monitor policy is intended to be a means to enable those regulating and developing new wave and tidal energy projects to meet those requirements, in a manner that takes account of the risk and uncertainty associated with such projects. In relation to the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, the Marine Licensing Survey, Deploy and Monitor Policy is considered to be a qualifying plan or programme and will be subject to the requirements of this act.

Question reference: S4W-03804

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 10 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it would expect to be taken by a public body, under section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, that gives consent for an activity, project or plan that damages or destroys a natural feature for which a site of special scientific interest has been notified and what guidance it has published on providing compensation in fulfilment of this duty.

Section 12 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 applies to the exercise by a public body or office holder of any function on, or so far as affecting, any land which is or forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Action taken in accordance with the duty provided by section 12 is for relevant public bodies or office-holders to consider on a case by case basis. The Scottish Government has not published any specific guidance on this duty. Further information on section 12 is available in the Explanatory Notes which accompany the act.

Question reference: S4W-03805

Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 10 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it would calculate the extent of compensation required if it, or another public body, gave consent for an activity, project or plan that damaged or destroyed a natural feature for which a site of special scientific interest had been notified.