- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner had any contact with Cairngorm National Park Authority planning officials concerning the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest; if so, when such discussions took place and what issues were discussed.
Answer
The Chief Planner was copied into, and acknowledged, an e-mail from the Head of Planning at Cairngorms National Park Authority to the Head of the Landscapes and Habitats Division (in his role as sponsor for the national park authority) on 7 December 2007. This e-mail re-iterated the verbal information provided to me by the convenor of the park authority on 5 December regarding the process which the park authority was following in handling the planning applications for the proposed development.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conversation between the Minister for Environment and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest was minuted and, if so, whether it will release the minute.
Answer
No minute was taken of my conversations with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on 7 December 2007 in relation to the Aviemore planning applications.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the First Minister has met or had conversations with Mr Donald Macdonald since becoming First Minister and what the location was of any such meetings.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9043 on 25 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister met any objectors to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and, if so, on what dates.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers considered using powers of direction over the Scottish Environment Protection Agency when considering the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest.
Answer
Scottish ministers did not consider using powers of direction over the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to SEPA''s role as statutory consultee for the planning applications submitted by Aviemore Highland Resort Ltd.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or ministers that are responsible for advice to planning authorities on individual planning applications when SEPA is acting in its independent statutory role.
Answer
As a statutory consultee in the planning process, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has responsibility for providing advice directly to planning authorities.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since May 2007 the Minister for Environment has raised with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency operational matters in relation to its independent statutory role in individual planning applications and in relation to which applications.
Answer
I have never raised operational matters with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to SEPA''s statutory role and advice on individual planning applications. I have, on occasion, discussed matters of process, procedure and timescales with SEPA.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is intended to operate independently of ministers in its day-to-day operational role and in relation to individuals and casework, albeit within a framework of policies and priorities agreed by ministers.
Answer
All non-departmental public bodies are required to work to, and be aware of, the Scottish Government''s strategic priorities and objectives. They operate with a degree of independence and flexibility in areas of work where direct hands on control would be inappropriate.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures ministers would normally be expected to follow before considering any direction to an independent non-departmental public body or other agency.
Answer
The procedures to be followed prior to ministers issuing any direction to a non-departmental public body or other public agency, including any requirement to consult affected parties or publish the direction, are normally set out in the relevant legislation. Different procedures apply depending on the statutory powers under which the direction is being made.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive why the Minister for Environment did not ask his private secretary or officials to have a conversation with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with regard to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and which had been the subject of representations to ministers.
Answer
I had obtained advice from officials on the general position in relation to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency''s responses to the Aviemore planning applications. However, having received urgent representations from parliamentarians from four different parties expressing concern over these applications, I decided to contact the agency to check there were no misunderstandings or matters of process for SEPA that were unnecessarily holding up proper consideration of the applications. Such actions are wholly consistent with the desire of this administration to improve the process of government and to give a better service to the people of Scotland. I believe I would have been in dereliction of my duties as a minister had I not done so.
