Chamber and committees

Scottish Natural Heritage have not made any Species Control Orders (as provided for in Section 14D of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) relating to giant hogweed. One species control agreement is in place for giant hogweed.

There are currently no plans to alter the existing arrangements for the distribution of stable iodine tablets to households close to a nuclear facility.

In Scotland as part of the planning for, and response to, a potential incident at a nuclear power station, supplies of stable iodine tablets are routinely distributed to households within a designated emergency planning zone around the power station.

The office for nuclear regulation are responsible across the UK for setting the area where the local authority is required to provide an adequate off-site emergency plan, and ensure that it is reviewed and tested at regular intervals. Part of this planning process includes the distribution of stable iodine tablets to households within this zone.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00298 on 14 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The contents of discussions of the Scottish Cabinet are not routinely disclosed. Ministers are briefed at the highest level on civil contingency matters including nuclear.

Nuclear security is a reserved matter. The Department for Energy and Climate Change works closely with the home office to ensure that security at all UK civil nuclear sites, and for civil nuclear material in transit, remains robust and effective. A threat assessment is prepared for the civil nuclear industry on the basis of intelligence, and security measures which the independent regulator requires to be in place in the industry reflect this.

Robust emergency response arrangements are in place, and the Scottish Government works closely with the UK Government, office for nuclear regulation, industry and responder organisations on these.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00298 on 14 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

We have spent £85.6 million (excluding VAT) with our main IT delivery partner.

We have also spent approximately £15.5 million (excluding VAT) on other external contractors to support the programme through the Scottish Government procurement framework.

The Scottish Government is currently considering what next steps would be most helpful in terms of any potential wider issues arising from the recent Edinburgh school closures, taking into account the City of Edinburgh Council’s plans to undertake a review over the coming months.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00171 on 3 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Fines from the EU can take the form of late payment penalties or disallowance for inaccurate calculations.

Our focus continues to remain 100 per cent on getting payments out to farmers and crofters ahead of the EU’s deadline of 30 June 2016.

On the topic of disallowance for inaccurate payments or inadequate controls, all the decisions that have been taken in the CAP Futures programme, for example on prioritisation, use of contingency arrangements, have been based around minimising the risk of disallowance.