- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 26 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any reduction in the total funds available to local authorities, from both the Executive and from non-housing capital provision, for flood prevention measures and what its budget for flood prevention is for the current financial year.
Answer
There has been no reduction in the funding made available to local authorities for flood prevention and coast protection, in fact there has been an increase.The Executive made provision of £4 million this financial year for major flood prevention and coast protection schemes. I have already announced that this will increase to £8.5, £9 and £10 million over the next three years.The funds available to local authorities through the single non-housing capital allocation include for flood prevention. The Minister for Finance and Local Government has announced a single allocation of £321/£325/£360 million over the next three years. However, allocation of these resources for flood prevention measures and other services is entirely a matter for the local authorities, taking account of local needs and circumstances.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 26 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and any other relevant bodies regarding the environmental consequences of any global warming leading to raised sea levels, with particular reference to the low-lying coastal locations of many nuclear facilities.
Answer
The Executive has regular discussions with the United Kingdom Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on a range of environmental issues including the impacts of climate change. Active consideration is being given to the issue of sea-level rise and the Executive is looking to commission a survey to identify those areas in Scotland that may be vulnerable to predicted increases in sea level. This exercise is not specific to coastal nuclear facilities, the owners of which have the primary responsibility to protect against flooding or erosion by the sea.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 16 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the amount of recycled aggregates that will be substituted for virgin aggregates as a result of the proposed aggregates tax.
Answer
The Executive has no functions in relation to the proposed aggregates tax. It is expected that the tax will lead to an increased use of recycled aggregate. No figures are available predicting the increase in use of recycled aggregates or the reduction in use of virgin aggregates in Scotland as a direct result of the proposed tax. The Executive has, however, commissioned research to provide information on the extent to which recycled minerals are being used as an alternative to primary aggregate. This will provide a basis for any future setting of recycling targets or regular surveys to enable monitoring of activity. The research report has been published this week and a copy is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 15 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal and (b) serious injuries have occurred in the open cast and deep mine coal industry in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answer
This is a reserved matter. Responsibility for policy on health and safety in the coal industry lies with the Mines Inspectorate, part of the Health and Safety Executive.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 15 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatal and (b) serious injuries have occurred in sand and gravel and hard rock quarries in the latest period for which figures are available.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not hold this information as it has no functions in relation to health and safety matters in quarries. This is a reserved matter for which the Factory Inspectorate within the Health and Safety Executive is responsible.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 15 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a national strategy for flood prevention.
Answer
The Executive is responsible for flood prevention policy in Scotland and we have no plans at present to establish a specific national strategy for flood prevention. However, given that the risk of flooding in Scotland is predicted to increase as a consequence of climate change, the need to adapt to this change will be reviewed as part of the Executive's plans to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 13 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all flood prevention schemes that have been funded since 1 July 1999 and those applications currently under consideration.
Answer
Flood Prevention Schemes which have completed the statutory process, including confirmation by the Scottish Ministers, and which have been funded since 1 July 1999 are:Moredun, Paisley Flood Prevention Scheme;River Kelvin Flood Prevention Scheme, andBridge of Earn Flood Prevention Scheme.In addition, a request for funding for Collier Street, Johnstone Flood Prevention Scheme is presently under consideration.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 13 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether staff transferring from one health trust to another within the same health board area are entitled to carry with them any accrued statutory maternity rights entitlement, or time earned towards such entitlement and other employment rights, or whether these are lost as a result of such transfers.
Answer
The legal position depends on the reason for the transfer. Provided transferring staff have continuity of employment (as legally defined), then they will retain any rights (including maternity rights) which they have accrued.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 8 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money is paid to the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust and how this money is paid; what system is used to allocate unemployed people to employers and thereafter to courses; what monitoring of the course standards takes place to ensure that personnel sponsored by the Trust meet the highest skill and health and safety standards of the electrical trade, and whether any payment to further education colleges is dependent on the successful completion of courses.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask them to write to Mr Campbell with the information requested.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 7 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive which further education colleges currently run courses for the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust.
Answer
The following colleges of further education currently run courses for the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust:
Angus College
Ayr College
Banff & Buchan College of Further Education
Borders College
Cardonald College
Clackmannan College of Further Education
Clydebank College
Dumfries & Galloway College
Dundee College
Falkirk College of Further & Higher Education
Glenrothes College
Inverness College
James Watt College of Further & Higher Education
Jewel & Esk Valley College
Lauder College
Lews Castle College
Moray College
Motherwell College
North Glasgow College
The North Highland College
Perth College
Reid Kerr CollegeStevenson College
