Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-18385

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 6 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list meetings that the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has had with representatives of the major supermarket chains since March 2008, also showing (a) the date each meeting took place, (b) the name of the supermarket chain that was represented and (c) what was discussed.

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment meets regularly with representatives of the major supermarket chains. Some of those meetings which have taken place include:

Retailer Discussion Day - 8 April 2008

Asda

Sainsbury''s

Morrisons

Tesco

M&S

Somerfield

The Co-op

Waitrose

Scottish Retail Consortium

Discussion centred on what retailers thought should be included in the National Food Policy and what the key issues were for them.

Scottish Fisheries Council “ 13 May

Marks and Spencer

Discussion included the setting of fisheries research priorities, fuel costs, the market potential of Scottish seafood in Europe and TAC prospects for 2009.

Waste in Scotland “ 15 May 2008

Sainsbury''s

Tesco

The Co-Op

Marks and Spencer

Waitrose

Asda

Morrisons

Scottish Retail Consortium

British Retail Consortium

Discussion included issues relating to waste reduction in Scotland.

Sustainability of the Pig Sector - 15 May 2008

Asda

Morrisons

Somerfield

The Co-op

M&S

Waitrose

Tesco

(Sainsbury''s submitted a written statement as they were unable to attend)

Scottish Retail Consortium

Discussion centred on the sustainability of the Pig Sector.

Royal Highland Show - 19 June 2008

The Co-Op

M&S

Sainsbury''s

Asda

Tesco

Discussion centred on the National Food and Drink Policy and Environmental issues.

Meet the Buyer Event - 1 August 2008

Asda

Discussion centred on the National Food and Drink Policy and the supply chain.

Scottish Fisheries Council “ 9 September

Marks and Spencer

Discussion included the setting of fisheries research priorities, fuel costs, the market potential of Scottish seafood in Europe and TAC prospects for 2009.

Supermarket Summit - 24 September 2008

Asda

Sainsbury''s

Tesco

Morrisons

M&S

Somerfield

Waitrose

The Co-Op

Scottish Retail Consortium

Discussion included the National Food and Drink Policy, Supply chains, Public Health in Scotland, Zero Waste Strategy, Energy and Homecoming 2009.

Matheson''s “ 24 November 2008

Marks and Spencer

Discussion centred on issues relating to the organic pork sector in Scotland.

Question reference: S3W-18540

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is in the single outcome agreement for the delivery of community education facilities in Edinburgh.

The City of Edinburgh Single Outcome Agreement commits the City Council and its partners to a series of important local outcomes related to their policy priorities which include:

The protection of children and vulnerable adults and early intervention with vulnerable families.

Supporting educational excellence at all levels.

Tackling deprivation, inequality and disadvantage in the community across a number of programmes including the Fairer Scotland Fund, helping long-term unemployed back to work and closing the attainment gap.

Working with the community and voluntary sector, supporting vulnerable people and increasing service quality in neighbourhoods.

I would expect provision of community learning and development (as community education is now described) by the council and its partners to contribute significantly to delivering on these priorities. A number of important specific contributions are detailed in the single outcome agreement (please refer to information provided below). Equally it is important to note that COSLA and the Scottish Government have agreed that Single Outcome Agreements are intended to be high-level strategic documents setting long-term outcomes for local priorities. Much of the contribution that community learning and development will make to the priorities should therefore be detailed in supporting plans and strategies for the city and for specific areas. You should of course be able to access these through Edinburgh''s Community Planning Partnership.

The City of Edinburgh single outcome agreement is available to the general public on the Improvement Service Website using the following link:

http://www.improvementservice.org.uk/component/option,com_docman/Itemid,43/task,cat_view/gid,561/dir,DESC/order,date/limit,5/limitstart,10/.

The following information summarises what the single outcome agreement says about the provision of community learning and development in the City of Edinburgh.

Within the Single Outcome Agreement, Community Learning and Development (CLD) is reported to contribute to the following national outcomes:

National Outcome 4 - Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

Work is underway by CLD staff in partnership with youth agency colleagues to set up Local Youth Forums in each community planning partnership area. There is activity surrounding the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme as equipping young people with a range of relevant life skills. Relevant indicator used to measure progress in the single outcome agreement is the number of young people achieving the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Required action by local partners includes: commitment to develop more qualitative measures using local forums; make arrangements to obtain young people''s views, and develop measures to assess the extent to which they are achieving the outcome in relation to confident individuals.

National Outcome 5 - Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed.

Required action by local partners commits to delivering the Early Learning and Literacy programmes along with NHS Lothian and the Council''s Services for Communities. There is also commitment to deliver the Live Literature programme, supporting greater access to reading for customers; as well as commitment to improve support for young children and their families so that children are ready to succeed.

National Outcome 7 - We have tackled the significant inequalities in Scottish society.

Edinburgh''s SOA acknowledges significant literacy and numeracy needs. CLAN Edinburgh works with literacies learners, creating individual learning plans and personal targets. The local outcome is to improve adult literacy and numeracy. Local indicators include: an increase in the number of new City Literacy and Numeracy (CLAN) learners; an increase in the percentage of CLAN leavers achieving all or part of their agreed personal learning plan goals.

Question reference: S3W-18220

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15362 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 August 2008, when it will launch its consultation on improving the energy performance of existing domestic buildings.

Question reference: S3W-18423

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is available to assist local authority planners and environmental health officers in the assessment of planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

These documents provide information and guidance to planning authorities on the technology, including fuel types and processes, and the planning issues to be taken into account when considering planning applications.

Guidance and screening tools to help local authorities assess the potential air quality impacts of such planning applications will be included in the revised guidance issued to authorities to assist them in undertaking their local air quality management duties under the 1995 Environment Act. This guidance is due to be published by the end of 2008.

Question reference: S3W-18424

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the precautionary principle should be applied by local authorities to planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

Scottish Government planning policy and advice on biomass is contained in:

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (2007),

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45, Renewable Energy Technologies (2002) and,

PAN45 Annex, Planning for Micro-Renewables (2006).

The contents of these documents are material considerations to be taken into account by the planning authority in the determination of planning applications that incorporate wood-burning biomass energy elements.

PAN45 Annex highlights that certain wood fuel boiler systems have been approved for use in areas covered by Smokeless Zone Regulations and indicates that a list of such technologies is available at:

www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.uk.

Question reference: S3W-18538

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of budget cuts by City of Edinburgh Council, what action it proposes to alleviate the pressure on human and financial resources experienced by community centres and similar community services.

The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Question reference: S3W-18539

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of budget cuts by City of Edinburgh Council, whether it is aware of the pressure experienced by those delivering frontline services in the voluntary and statutory sector.

The concordat between Scottish Government and COSLA established a new way of working based upon mutual respect, trust and partnership. The concordat makes it clear that it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate resources on the basis of local needs and priorities, including the key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments of the Scottish Government.

In that context, the funding of local services is entirely a matter for local authorities and their partners.

Question reference: S3W-18403

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies it is envisaged will be involved in bidding for leases for management and cutting rights over the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The bidding process for any management lease would be subject to public procurement rules. It is not possible to predict the number of potential bidders at this stage.

Question reference: S3W-18419

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the impact of the current economic downturn has been factored into the financial assumptions behind the proposals for the leasing out of at least 25% of the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate at:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM.

The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

The impact of the current economic downturn is one of the many factors that will influence our decision on the leasing option.

Question reference: S3W-18412

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 December 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee that there will be no redundancies as a result of proposals for leasing out management and cutting right over parts of the national forest estate.

Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation currently being carried out on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7KUMVM. The consultation closes on 27 January 2009. All responses will be carefully considered and will be taken into account as part of a wider options review being carried out by Forestry Commission Scotland.

There will be no compulsory redundancies as a result of any leasing arrangement arising from the consultation exercise and wider options review.

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