- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 27 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30502 by John Swinney on 15 January 2010, whether a local authority that has requested payment of allotment rents from its tenants using rules or devices that have not been formally confirmed by the Scottish Ministers is liable to prosecution.
Answer
Section 6 of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 provides that a local authority may from time to time make, revoke and vary such regulations as appear to be necessary or proper for the letting of allotments (including provision in relation to the rental to be paid for allotments). However, any regulations made by a local authority shall not be in force unless and until they have been confirmed by Scottish ministers, after such publication and inquiry as ministers shall determine. Therefore, any local authority that makes regulations without obtaining confirmation from ministers, have no effect. There is no offence provision in the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 in relation to a local authority making regulations without confirmation from ministers.
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 26 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a local authority that has implemented changes to the rules and devices that it uses to regulate the disposal of waste generated by allotment holders without obtaining confirmation from the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 is obliged to revert to the previous rules and devices until such confirmation has been obtained.
Answer
Regulations made to manage allotments in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 should be formally confirmed by Scottish ministers. Regulations, made under this provision have no legal effect without ministerial confirmation. It would be for the local authority to resolve any waste management issues that arose.
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how many rural shows and galas there have been in each year since 1999.
Answer
The number of rural shows and galas held in each year since 1999 is not a figure that is held by the Scottish Government. It is noted that the show listing for 2010 in the Scottish Farmer of 2 January 2010 advertises approximately 100 agricultural shows and associated events.
ms
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 18 December 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 25 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive when it next plans to ask NHS boards for an update on progress on performance against asthma services for children and young people clinical standards.
Answer
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) is supporting NHS boards with the implementation the two key recommendations in its report
Asthma Services for Children and Young People (incorporating Clinical Governance and Risk Management) National Overview, published in November 2008.
NHS QIS intends to report during 2011-12 on NHS boards'' progress in implementing these recommendations.
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 22 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a person who is removed from a local authority allotment waiting list as a result of changes to the local authority-made rules or devices regulating the list is entitled to be reinstated in cases where those changes have not been confirmed by the Scottish Ministers in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892.
Answer
Regulations made to manage allotments in terms of section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 should be formally confirmed by Scottish Ministers. Regulations, made under this provision have no legal effect without ministerial confirmation. It would be for the local authority to resolve any management issues that arose.
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the condition of docks and wharfs since 1999.
Answer
Scottish ministers have no responsibility for assessing the condition of port assets. However, individual port operators and owners with statutory powers would be expected to review their condition on a regular basis to ensure that they comply with their obligations to maintain their harbours.
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Johnstone on 21 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much it has been spent on bottled water in each year since 1999.
Answer
Since we introduced tap water as an option, consumption of bottled water has fallen significantly at Parliament. The SPCB only provides bottled water for meetings including committees and the Debating Chamber. We have provided costs from 2003, as we no longer hold records of bottled water purchased prior to this year. To be helpful and to provide more accurate comparison we have included the number of bottles consumed, as the price of bottled water increases year-on-year.
| | Total Costs | 330ml Bottles | 1 Litre Bottles |
| 2003 | £2,086.61 | 4,744 | 1,229 |
| 2004 | £4,265.82 | 10,051 | 2,155 |
| 2005 | £5,738.60 | 11,996 | 3,064 |
| 2006 | £8,889.51 | 23,640 | 2,666 |
| 2007 | £6,707.20 | 13,430 | 2,916 |
| 2008 | £7,784.85 | 19,209 | 1,647 |
| 2009 | £7,086.10 | 16,583 | 1,221 |
In September 2009 we introduced tap water as an option to the rear of the Debating Chamber and for committee meetings. As a result, bottled water consumption fell by 21% for 330ml bottles and 41% for one litre bottles when compared to the corresponding months in 2008.
| | 2008 | 2009 |
| 330ml Bottles | 1 Litre Bottles | 330ml Bottles | 1 Litre Bottles |
| September | 2,308 | 161 | 1,826 | 111 |
| October | 1,231 | 214 | 1,171 | 105 |
| November | 1,824 | 148 | 1,345 | 88 |
| December | 1,531 | 86 | 1,132 | 55 |
| Total | 6,894 | 609 | 5,474 | 359 |
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 21 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29561 by John Swinney on 8 December 2009, whether tenants of local authority-owned allotments are required to institute legal proceedings to establish the legality of a local authority-made rule or device regulating the letting of allotments.
Answer
The first course of action would be for the allotment tenants to correspond with the local authority to try and resolve any differences. Should these remain unresolved, it would be for the allotment tenants to decide for themselves what further action, if any, to take.
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 21 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-28237 and S3W-29561 by John Swinney on 4 November and 8 December 2009 respectively, whether it is content that all local authorities are operating and managing their allotments with proper legal authority.
Answer
It is for local authorities as independent corporate bodies to ensure they are operating and managing their allotments with proper legal authority.
- Asked by: Nanette Milne, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 January 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 21 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-28237 and S3W-29561 by John Swinney on 4 November and 8 December 2009 respectively, whether it will issue fresh guidance on the responsibilities and obligations of local authorities in relation to section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 and take steps to ensure that all local authorities comply with all aspects of allotments legislation.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to issue fresh guidance to local authorities on their responsibilities and obligations in relation to section 6(1) of the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892. It is for local authorities as independent corporate bodies to ensure they operate and manage their allotments with proper legal authority.
