Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-09686

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 27 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's finding that (a) Heads of Ayr and (b) Stonehaven beaches did not achieve a mandatory pass rating for the 2012 summer season and what action it will take to help ensure that bathing waters do not breach safety limits or guidelines.

SEPA investigates when pollution occurs at any of the 83 designated bathing waters in the bathing water season. The failure at Heads of Ayr appears to have been due to agricultural pollutants, such as livestock manure or slurry, that were mobilised by heavy rainfall; further tests are being carried out to determine the bacterial source. At Stonehaven the failure was primarily due to a problem in the sewerage system; this has now been remedied by Scottish Water and this should ensure compliance with the European standard in future years.

The Scottish Government requires SEPA at the end of each season to review the performance and progress of all bathing waters and ensure that specific improvement plans and pollution control measures are being implemented. We also continue to work with stakeholders, through Scotland’s Diffuse Pollution plan, on the pressures from rural diffuse sources, and with Scottish Water, which is carrying out studies at bathing waters where there is a risk of impact from waste water treatment works.

Question reference: S4W-09443

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09018 by Richard Lochhead on 30 August 2012, whether arrangements for the meeting with retailers have been finalised and, if so, who has been invited.

Unfortunately, discussions between the European Fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki and the Icelandic, Norwegian and Faroes Fisheries Ministers on the 3 September failed to secure agreement on mackerel quota sharing. Given this outcome we are seeking to convene a meeting, to include the main retailers in Scotland and the fishing industry, as soon as possible this autumn and hope to do so within the next month.

Question reference: S4W-09288

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 11 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government when the evaluation of directly elected NHS boards will be completed and made public.

Question reference: S4W-09018

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 30 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08516 by Richard Lochead on 1 August 2012, who will be invited to the meeting with the supermarkets and when it will be held.

Question reference: S4W-08516

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions took place between the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and retailers on the suspension of Scottish mackerel’s Marine Stewardship Council certificate before 30 June 2012.

The Scottish Government has established regular contact with retailers on several issues, and I have personally raised my concerns over the sourcing of seafood on many occasions. I have urged retailers to be aware of the behaviour of Faroes and Iceland in relation to the mackerel stock.

Earlier this year I met with Sainsbury's to discuss the particular issue of the loss of the Marine Stewardship Council certificate, and my officials have kept in regular contact with them as the situation progresses. I have also taken the decision to organise a meeting with the supermarkets later this summer. The meeting will be hosted jointly by the Scottish Government and industry, and will be facilitated by Seafood Scotland. I hope that the meeting will help us to find a way forward to ensure that the people of Scotland and the rest of the UK have the opportunity to continue to buy Scottish mackerel.

Question reference: S4W-08514

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and retailers on the suspension of Scottish mackerel’s Marine Stewardship Council

certificate.

Question reference: S4W-08515

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 July 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has met retailers to discuss the suspension of Scottish mackerel’s Marine Stewardship Council certificate.

Question reference: S4O-01132

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle water pollution.

Question reference: S4W-07280

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 31 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when the draft National Marine Plan will be published.

Question reference: S4W-07048

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 17 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06594 by Richard Lochhead on 2 May 2012, whether the stakeholders will include Scotland-wide organisations with an interest in rural affairs.

Yes, the Scottish Government has already sought the views of national organisations. These include the Scottish Community Alliance, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Carnegie UK, COSLA, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Development Trusts Association Scotland. This list is by no means exhaustive and we will continue to seek the views of any national organisation that has an interest in rural affairs.