- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a delay in the submission date for the application by the Scottish Natural Heritage to the Heritage Lottery Trustees in respect of Kinloch Castle from September 2001 to January 2002 at the earliest and what the reasons are for any such delay.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Historic Buildings Inspectorate first recommended that Scottish Natural Heritage explore Heritage Lottery Funding as a means of carrying out work to the Category A listed Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum.
Answer
The Historic Buildings Inspectorate's report, which draws attention to the possibility of Heritage Lottery Funding, was sent to Scottish Natural Heritage on 12 March 1996.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns regarding the stewardship of Rum by Scottish Natural Heritage and, if so, what steps it will take to address these.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no such concerns.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in the interests of social and economic development on Rum that Scottish Natural Heritage is its owner and whether it would consider the transfer of part or all of the ownership of Rum to a third party.
Answer
Rum is owned and managed by Scottish Natural Heritage as a National Nature Reserve and this arrangement should continue. The Scottish Executive supports the aims of encouraging the sustainable development of the community alongside the effective management of one of Scotland's most important National Nature Reserves.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date (a) the Historic Buildings Inspectorate carried out its inspection of Kinloch Castle and (b) the Inspectorate's report was communicated to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and what action SNH has taken since to implement the report's recommendations.
Answer
The Historic Buildings Inspectorate visited Kinloch Castle on 7-10 February 1996 at the request of Scottish Natural Heritage. The Inspectorate's report was communicated to Scottish Natural Heritage on 12 March 1996. The management of Rum is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. I suggest the Member arranges to meet with Scottish Natural Heritage to discuss these and other issues more fully.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 6 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16022 by Mr Jack McConnell on 13 June 2001, whether any institutions offer a part-time course for qualification as a primary school teacher that is recognised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland and, if not, whether it will take steps to ensure that such a course is provided.
Answer
A part-time Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) primary course at Strathclyde University, accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland and approved by the Scottish Executive, will be piloted in session 2001-2002.
A key feature of this part-time route is a formal agreement with four local authorities in the west of Scotland (Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and Stirling) to recommend and sponsor students from their non-teacher school employees. The first cohort in session 2001-2002 will have 20 students.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the contract let to Environmental Resources Management Ltd on 30 October 2000 in relation to the need for improved information on rural land holdings and on beneficial ownership.
Answer
The estimated cost is £23,030.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform regulations on the specifications of construction materials and waste management in relation to the use of aggregates and whether any such changes will lead to a lower proportion of waste material and produce environmental gain.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is fully committed to seeking opportunities for sustainable construction and current standards already encourage such techniques.
As an example, the Scottish Executive Development Department is a signatory to the latest May 2001 version of the Specification for Highway Works, which incorporates new specification clauses permitting wider usage of recycled or secondary materials in road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance. This Specification will be utilised for all trunk road new works projects and will also be available for use by other clients, such as local authorities, where appropriate. Additionally, the Scottish Executive's Trunk Roads Divisions are actively involved in research and site trials of recycled road materials where it is hoped that these will provide further valuable support in promoting a sustainable approach to techniques for road construction.
In relation to reform of regulations for waste management, there is a long-standing governmental commitment to review the exemptions set out in Schedule 3 of the Waste Management Regulations 1994. DEFRA is taking the lead on a UK basis, with a view to the production of a consultation paper by the end of this year. The purpose of the exemptions is to encourage the re-use and recycling of waste. Specifically in terms of Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency published, in 1999, the National Waste Strategy, which sets out a framework for reduction, re-use and recycling of waste.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 1 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its policy in relation to the dipping of sheep.
Answer
The Scottish Executive keeps its sheep dipping policy under review. There are no plans to change the policy at this juncture.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the imposition of groundwater charges upon sheep producers.
Answer
The Executive has no plans to review the annual maintenance charge levied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on those sheep producers who require authorisation under the Groundwater Regulations 1998 for the disposal to land of spent sheep dip.
