- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 7 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to reduce the loss of estuarine inter-tidal habitats and how many firths are currently potentially threatened by waste management proposals.
Answer
In Estuarial Areas, there are currently two candidate special Areas of Conservation proposed as well as 11 classified and two proposed Special Protection Areas. It is also our policy that proposed sites should be protected as if already designated.
Any application for a landfill site is a matter for the planning authority in the first instance. It may require an Environmental Impact Assessment to be carried out subject to pre-determined criteria laid out in the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (Scotland) 1999.SEPA have reported that 96.3% of estuarial water achieve excellent or good quality status. Since 1996 there has been an improvement of 15% for estuarial waters which no longer fall into the poor or seriously polluted category.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on implementing the recommendation contained in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency report of October 1998 Certificates of Authorisation for the disposal of Radioactive Waste from Dounreay for the development of a spent nuclear waste fuel management strategy in a Scottish context.
Answer
The comments of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), made as part of its consideration of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA's) application for revised waste discharge authorisations from Dounreay, were in the context of the management of spent Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) fuel. There was no explicit recommendation that a Scottish strategy on spent nuclear fuel should be developed.Options for management of Dounreay's PFR fuel are the subject of a current cosultation exercise being undertaken by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), UKAEA's sponsor department.Spent nuclear fuel from other sites in Scotland is generally sent to Sellafield.The Scottish Executive is working with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the National Assembly for Wales on the preparation of a consultation paper on radioactive waste management policy in the United Kingdom. It is hoped to issue that paper soon.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 17 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement the European Charter of Pedestrians' Rights adopted by the European Parliament in 1988 and what measures it has taken, or will take, to achieve the aims of the charter.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is not bound to implement Charters adopted by the European Parliament. Nonetheless the Charter is of interest and the Scottish Executive will have regard to it in the development of policies which affect pedestrians.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the genetically modified (herbicide tolerant) oilseed rape hybrid (marketing consent reference 94/M1/1, granted 28 February 1996 to Plant Genetic Systems NV) or Aventis' genetically modified T25 glufosinate-resistant mai'e or any other genetically modified plants have ever been grown or could be grown for seed production in Scotland and, if so, whether it will detail at which sites did these cultivations take place and over what period.
Answer
To date there have been no GM plants grown for seed production in Scotland.GM plants may only be grown in Scotland if they have obtained all the appropriate consents required by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 1992 which implements Council Directive 90/220/EEC, by the Novel Foods Regulations, and by various Seeds Regulations.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 13 March 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer, with respect to the design of the new Scottish Parliament building, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will set up an advisory panel to liaise with the design team on environmental and sustainability matters and whether it will provide (a) a note of target performance indicators for technical matters which have been identified so far by the design team (for example proposed "U" values), (b) a copy of the project brief, (c) a list of the Design Review Reports that have been carried out to date, together with a programme of the dates for future reports, (d) a list of those contract specifications which have been substantially completed and a note of target issue dates for tender for the remainder or the management contractor's Information Release Schedule, (e) details of the form of contract and the proposed method of tendering packages, (f) details of the strategy for ISO 14001 EMAS proposed by the future building maintenance team, (g) a copy of the Project Risk Management Register, (h) an up-to-date project progress report with a note of future key milestones, (i) a copy of the initial BREEAM reviews, (j) a copy of the Schedule of Services for the project sponsor and project auditor, and (k) a statement on how the procurement process complies with the objectives set down in the proposal for The Development of a Policy on Architecture for Scotland which was published by the Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport in September 1999.
Answer
The information requested is detailed and lengthy, I will therefore write to Mr Harper as soon as it has been collated. A copy of the response will be placed in the Information Centre for reference by other Members.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to amend the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to increase site and species protection in Scotland.
Answer
In relation to the site protection (Part II) provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, we intend to bring forward soon proposals for policy and legislative changes to implement our commitment in the Partnership for Scotland Agreement to protect Sites of Special Scientific Interest.A separate exercise is being carried out in relation to the species provisions (Part I) of the 1981 Act. The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, Scottish Working Group, is presently considering a number of proposals for amendments to the legislation with particular regard to the prevention of wildlife crime. I expect to receive formal recommendations from the Partnership shortly.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking or proposing to take to ensure that the manufacturing industry takes advantage of any opportunities that are opened up by the programme for an expansion in renewable energy generation.
Answer
Although the response of manufacturing industry to the opportunities that arise from the increasing use of renewable energy is largely a matter for the commercial judgement of those companies involved, one of the objectives of the Scottish Renewable Obligation has always been to provide a stimulus to the manufacturers of such generation equipment.The Scottish Executive is well aware that the planned growth in the use of renewable energy should present significant opportunities for employment creation, especially in rural areas. Both the Executive and Scottish Enterprise are in touch with companies which are already engaged in the renewable energy industry in Scotland, and with others which have an interest in this field to ensure that the potential benefits presented by Scotland are promoted to the fullest extent.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take "to pursue schemes of support for community wind projects as a means of actively fostering local interest and support" as recommended by the recent report by the House of Lords Select Committee on European Communities Electricity from Renewables.
Answer
The third Order under the Scottish Renewables Obligation made specific provision for support for small-scale wind projects. The aim is to encourage small, locally-based companies and communities to get involved in electricity generation from wind turbines.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking or proposing or take to engender public understanding about the environmental benefits of renewable energy as a contribution to achieving the United Kingdom's renewable energy targets.
Answer
It is important for all sectors of society to be aware of the environmental benefits of renewable energy. The public needs to understand the threats posed by climate change, and to be aware of the various measures that can be taken to reduce carbon emissions, including those to increase the availability of renewable energy. The issuing of a consultation document on climate change, along with the attendant publicity, will be designed to help that process of public understanding. For renewable energy to obtain wider acceptance, for instance under the green electricity tariff schemes which are being promoted by several electricity suppliers, it is also important that electricity from renewable sources should come at no extra cost or at a cost that is acceptable to consumers.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 04 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 18 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what activities it is carrying out in the field of travel awareness and what progress is being made towards a Scottish travel awareness campaign.
Answer
The Executive is to establish a Scottish travel awareness campaign to promote greater understanding of transport choices across Scotland. We have commissioned a short study of options for the implementation of the campaign and expect to make an announcement in the spring.
