- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 15 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students study Russian at Scottish universities.
Answer
In 2001-02 there were 92 students studying Russian in higher education institutions in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 February 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 3 March 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the interim report of the Barker Review of Housing Supply, Securing Our Future Housing Needs, and whether it will institute a similar review focussing specifically, and in more detail, on the future needs for housing in Scotland.
Answer
The Executive has been inclose touch with the work of the Barker Review Team and has noted the contentof its interim report. It will consider any implications for Scotland of the final report when it is published in the spring. There are no plans for a separatereview in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 February 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 26 February 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) Acts of the Scottish Parliament and (b) Scottish Statutory Instruments were enacted and made respectively in 2003 and, of these, how many were enacted or made in order to implement EU legislation.
Answer
19 Acts of the Scottish Parliament were enacted and 623 Scottish Statutory Instruments (SSIs) were madein 2003. Of these, 1 Act and 57 SSIs were brought forward wholly or in part toimplement EU legislation.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 26 February 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting the reduction of excessive packaging on products.
Answer
In December 2003 the Executive increased the packaging wasterecovery target from 59% to 63% and set a target of 70% for 2008. It also setspecific recycling targets for different types of packaging material, rangingfrom 18-65% in 2004 to 21-71% in 2008. These compare to the original (1998)recovery and recycling targets of 38% and 7%, respectively. Increasingcompanies’ recovery and recycling obligations for packaging waste in this wayconstitutes a strong incentive for them to minimise the amount of packagingthey use in the first place.
In otherrespects The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 requirepackaging to be manufactured in such a way that its volume and weight arelimited to what is necessary to maintain the safety, hygiene and acceptance of the packed product for the consumer and commercialised in such a way that itsimpact on the environment is minimised when the packaging becomes waste. Policyresponsibility for this matter is reserved to the United Kingdom Government.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 13 February 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it received a copy of the final written warning from the European Commission on alleged non-compliance with the EU Birds Directive, as referred to in the commission's press release of 29 January 2004.
Answer
Yes.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 13 February 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the matters on which the UK is alleged not to comply with the EU Birds Directive, referred to in the European Commission's press release of 29 January 2004, relate to Scotland and, if so, whether it will list them.
Answer
The European Commission has alleged non-compliance in relation to the UK Government’s failure to consult the Commission in relation to the continuance of trade of certain species of game birds. There are also allegations of non-compliance in relation to the sale and possession in the UK of species which are native to other member states.
All of these issues apply equally throughout the UK.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 13 February 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to conduct a review of the legislation relating to game birds in order to address alleged non-compliance with the EU Birds Directive, referred to in the European Commission's press release of 29 January 2004; if so, what its timetable for such a review will be and whether as a result of any such review it will consider bringing forward legislative proposals to address any inadequacies in current legislation.
Answer
No decision has been taken on whether a review should be conducted of Scottish legislation relating to game birds.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 13 February 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce legislative proposals to address the alleged non-compliance with the EU Birds Directive, referred to in the European Commission's press release of 29 January 2004.
Answer
The Scottish Executive isalready actively improving legislation through the Nature Conservation (Scotland)Bill and its proposals to improve further the protection afforded to birds. Theseinclude measures which will address concerns expressed by the EuropeanCommission.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 January 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 5 February 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the redevelopment of major sporting facilities, including the Royal Commonwealth Pool, in the city.
Answer
There have been severalformal and informal contacts between the Executive and the City of Edinburgh Council in the period since we launched our National and Regional SportsFacilities Strategy in March 2003.
- Asked by: Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 January 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 19 January 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what events are planned for the Scottish Entente Cordiale centenary celebrations in 2004.
Answer
An announcement will be madeon 22 January.
