- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 17 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set up an advisory panel in relation to its forthcoming survey of public attitudes to food and farming and, if so, how the members of the panel were chosen and who will represent the interests of organic food and farming.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has recently set up an advisory panel in relation to its forthcoming survey of public attitudes to food and farming. The organisations represented on the advisory panel are the Food Standards Agency Scotland, the National Farmers Union of Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland, the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, the Scottish Consumer Council, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Environment LINK and the Scottish Food Qualifications and Certification board. The organisations were chosen following internal discussion and consultation with various external stakeholders. The organisations were chosen to represent a broad range of producer and consumer interests rather than to represent particular modes of production. The Executive recognises the importance of organic food and organic food production and the advisory panel will cover these interests. Organic food and farming will be one aspect of food production addressed in the survey.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 4 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to conduct a consultation equivalent to consultations carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Implementation of Directive 2001/18/EC on the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment.
Answer
Yes. The Executive expects to begin consultation on draft Scottish regulations in July 2002.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 3 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what significance it attaches to the improvement of the A701 between Straiton and Milton Bridge in terms of national and regional economic development policy.
Answer
The Scottish Executive considers that the upgrading of the A701, a local road, is a matter for Midlothian Council.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 3 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was notified that work would be commencing on a roundabout on the intersection between Bush Loan and the A701 and, if so, on what date.
Answer
The Scottish Executive was notified about the construction of the new roundabout on the Bush Loan A701 intersection on 6 October 1999.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 25 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the finalised Midlothian Local Plan will be published.
Answer
The finalised Midlothian Local Plan was published in February 2000 and the public inquiry to hear objections to the plan is due to conclude shortly. The reporter's recommendations to Midlothian Council are expected in autumn 2002 and further modifications may be required. The subsequent timescale for adoption of the local plan is a matter for Midlothian Council.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 25 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultative draft Midlothian Local Plan was a material consideration in the decision not to call in proposals by Midlothian Council for the improvements to the A701 and whether any other plans were taken into consideration, detailing the reasons behind its response on this matter.
Answer
The consultative draft Midlothian Local Plan was one of a number of material considerations in the decision not to call in proposals by Midlothian Council for transport improvements to the A701. The statutory development plan in this case consisted of the Lothian Structure Plan (approved 1997), the Bonnyrigg and Loanhead Local Plan (adopted 1992) and the Midlothian Villages and Rural Areas Local Plan (adopted 1995).The A701 proposal was found to be in accordance with the statutory development plan and, having taken into account all relevant material considerations, the Scottish ministers concluded that there was no justification for them to intervene.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 24 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all Transport Challenge Fund money awarded to Midlothian Council to carry out a study of improvements to the A701 has been spent, giving the date when it was last notified of expenditure on this project.
Answer
Midlothian Council has not yet spent all the Challenge Fund money awarded for the A701 improvement project. The Scottish Executive received their latest update about this in April 2002.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 24 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it received a final report or funding bid from Midlothian Council in relation to the money awarded under the Transport Challenge Fund for a study of improvements to the A701.
Answer
The A701 improvement project is not yet complete. It has therefore not been possible for Midlothian Council to submit a final report about this project to the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 24 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gave to the A701 upgrading policies when awarding public transport fund support for the study of a rail line on the same corridor.
Answer
The Scottish Executive gave due consideration to all existing projects in progress before making a public transport fund award for a Multi-Modal Public Transport Study to Midlothian Council in October 2001.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 June 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 24 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the outcome of Transport Challenge Fund money awarded to Midlothian Council to carry out a study of improvements to the A701 and, if so, what the results were of this evaluation.
Answer
The responsibility for evaluating the outcome of the study into improvements to the A701, and for deciding what further action to take, rests with Midlothian Council.
