- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what report the First Minister will make to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development on Scotland's progress in respect of (a) the International Climate Change Convention, (b) the Convention on Biological Diversity, (c) the Statement of Forest Principles and (d) Local Agenda 21.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27505.
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what preparatory meetings for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development it has attended; on what dates it attended any such meetings; of whom its delegation to such meetings was composed; on what criteria delegates were chosen, and, for any civil servants involved, what each delegate's grade and department was.
Answer
No Minister or official has attended a preparatory committee meeting for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.Kevin Dunion of Friends of the Earth Scotland attended the third preparatory committee in New York as a representative of the Scottish Executive from 28 March to 3 April. He is an external member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland and a member of the civic delegation for the Summit. Mr Dunion had already arranged to attend as an NGO (Non Governmental Organisation) and by attending as the Scottish Executive representative on the UK delegation he was able to report the proceedings to the Executive. The Scottish Executive did not bear any costs of Mr Dunion's attendance.
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total estimated cost will be of the attendance of the Scottish delegation at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development and, in particular, whether it will give the costs of (a) accommodation, (b) travel from accommodation to the summit, (c) travel to South Africa, (d) accreditation, (e) subsistence, (f) entertainment and (g) other items.
Answer
The answer to question S1W-27593 explains that the programme for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development has not yet been finalised. Therefore we cannot estimate costs for some of the categories requested. The costs we can estimate at present for the Scottish Executive delegation total is £10,420. This comprises:
- accommodation per delegate: 10,550 Rand (approximately £675)
total accommodation costs: 42,200 Rand (approximately £2,700)All hotel rooms must be booked through the Johannesburg World Summit Company (JOWSCO), a non-profit company wholly owned by the South African government. JOWSCO have imposed a 10-day minimum charge for each room for the duration of the Summit, so the high charge is unavoidable.- JOWSCO will charge approximately £40 per person to provide shuttles for travel from accommodation to summit venues for delegates.
total cost: £160
- return flights to Johannesburg per delegate including tax: £1,890
total cost: £7,560- Accreditation to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development is free.
The cost of supporting the Scottish civic delegation is outlined in the answer to question S1W-27506.A Scottish Executive official was part of the UK preparatory visit at the end of July in order to organise the programme for the Scottish delegation. This is estimated to have cost £2,100.
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive of whom the Scottish delegation to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development will be composed; on what criteria the delegates were chosen, and, for any civil servants involved, what the grade and department is of each delegate.
Answer
The Scottish Executive delegation will consist of the First Minister and three officials. The First Minister chose to attend personally to represent Scotland at the highest possible level and to show the importance that the Executive places on sustainable development. The officials chosen to support the First Minister are the Principal Private Secretary to the First Minister, a Special Adviser and the Head of Environment Group.A Scottish civic delegation will also attend the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development. Details of this civic delegation are given in the answer to question S1W-27506.
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make any formal submission to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development and, if so, when such a submission will be published.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27505.
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to modify its sustainable development policies in the light of the conclusions of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer
We are attending the World Summit on Sustainable Development to share experience and expertise on sustainable development, and intend to learn from the experience of others across the globe.We will consider any implications of the outcomes of the Summit for our sustainable development policies, as stated in paragraph 43 of Meeting the Needs..., which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 20879).
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will report to (a) the Parliament and (b) the public on the First Minister's visit to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer
The Executive is considering possible options for reporting on the First Minister's attendance at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development, and will ensure that both the Parliament and the public are informed in the most appropriate way.
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any delegation representing civic society in Scotland will attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer
The Scottish Executive believes that civic society has an important role to play in furthering sustainable development in Scotland. A delegation representing civic society in Scotland will attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and will consist of:
| Name | Organisation | Sector |
| Kevin Dunion | Friends of the Earth Scotland | Environmental NGOs |
| Belinda Miller | Aberdeen City Council | Local Authorities |
| Ian Russell | Scottish Power | Business |
| Stephanie Wiseman | Lunnasting Primary School, Shetland | Young people |
| Damien Killeen | The Poverty Alliance | Social justice NGOs |
| Donald Bruce | Action of Churches Together in Scotland | Bodies involved in overseas development work |
Delegates were chosen in a variety of ways to achieve a balance of established leaders and fresh faces with particular commitment and dynamism. The civic delegation will make their own arrangements regarding travel, accommodation and programme for the Summit. The Executive has offered to pay the travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of four of the members of the civic delegation, and it is estimated that this will cost £7,000 in total.Each member will arrange their own programme to gain the greatest benefit possible from the Summit for their sector. Therefore the role of individual members will vary, but in general the delegation will raise awareness in their sector about the Summit and the issues it seeks to address, attend the events at the Summit most relevant to their particular sector, and be available to advise the First Minister and the Executive at the Summit. Most importantly these civic delegates will act as catalysts for concrete action to further sustainable development in their sector on their return.By supporting the civic delegation in this way, we believe that the Executive can help civic society in Scotland play their full part in building a Sustainable Scotland.
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how the First Minister will report on Scotland's progress on sustainable development since the Earth Summit in 1992 to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Answer
The Scottish Executive makes representations to the United Nations through the UK Government. The Executive has prepared a report describing the work in Scotland on sustainable development since the Rio Summit in 1992 and the main points made in the stakeholder consultation undertaken last year. I have sent this to the UK Government to feed into reports they may make to the United Nations. Copies are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22146) and on the Executive website.
- Asked by: Fiona McLeod, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish delegation at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development will pursue its own objectives separately or act as part of the UK delegation.
Answer
The Scottish Executive delegation is part of the official UK delegation and the Scottish Executive will fully support the work of the UK delegation. However, the programme for the Scottish delegation will be based on the objectives outlined in the response to question S1W-27587, and the principles and priorities set out in our vision of a sustainable Scotland, Meeting the Needs..., which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 20879).The response to question S1W-27506 explains that members of the civic delegation will pursue independent programmes.
