- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason information on treatments administered to farmed salmon, and for which the fish are in a withdrawal period as detailed in Schedule 1C of The Aquatic Animal Health (Miscellaneous Modifications) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, at the time of their escape must be provided by fish farmers on escape initial notification forms, when it is not published on the Scotland’s aquaculture website along with other information provided on the forms.
Answer
Scottish Government requires that fish farms submit information on treatments administered to farmed fish for which they are in withdrawal, in addition to site disease information and mortality rates, in order to inform the fish health inspectorate of fish health at the time of escape. Scottish Government is considering adapting its current publication system to include this information.
The risk to the public of consuming treated escaped farmed salmon is negligible.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11994 by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 November 2017, whether subsequent inspections of businesses subject to fixed monetary penalties for long-term non-compliance with waste regulations have found them to be compliant.
Answer
Of the two businesses subject to fixed monetary penalties, one was inspected on 18 May 2017 and found to be compliant at that time.
The second business was scheduled for re-inspection on 17 November 2017 and its compliance status will be advised when the information is available.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 23 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met the (a) Kennel Club and Scottish Kennel Club, (b) Dogs Trust and Scottish Dogs Trust, (c) Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (d) Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, (e) Association of Pet Dog Trainers, (f) Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, (g) Association of Animal Behaviour and Training Council and (h) Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association regarding regulation of electronic shock training devices for dogs.
Answer
The Scottish Government has met with a number of stakeholders regarding the regulation of electronic dog training collars. These include the Kennel Club and Scottish Kennel Club; Dogs Trust; the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether publishing details of investigations by charities into potential criminal activity in animal welfare cases would be in the public interest, and what discussions it has had on ensuring public access to such information.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no position on those investigating actual or potential animal welfare crime publishing information of these activities, other than to advise them strongly to remain within the applicable law, notably the Contempt of Court Act 1981. Such organisations may publish information as they see fit, although they are unlikely to do so if this will prejudice investigations or potential prosecutions. Organisations whose investigations have resulted in a successful prosecution often publicise the decision of the Courts.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 21 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what minimum criteria businesses must meet to be considered "fully compliant" with waste disposal regulations.
Answer
The minimum criteria businesses must meet to be considered "fully compliant" with the duty are to:
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take all reasonable steps to ensure the separate collection of dry recyclable waste, and/or
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take all reasonable steps to ensure the separate collection of food waste produced by the food business (where a rural exemption is not applicable).
As defined in amendments made by the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 to Section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, this can be summarised as:
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Segregating all target dry recyclables (plastics, metal, glass, paper & cardboard) generated. Businesses will be expected to have and use an internal material segregation system that matches an external recycling collection service from an authorised provider. Recyclables should be free of contamination, e.g. glass should be separately collected from paper and cardboard.
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SEPA’s Food Waste Management Guidance sets out the expectations across the food waste supply chain in order to achieve high quality recycling. Only food waste managed in accordance with this guidance will fulfil the waste acceptance permit condition at food waste treatment facilities. https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/219841/wst-g-049-food-waste-management-in-scotland.pdf.
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All businesses must be compliant with duty of care for waste as set out in the Scottish Government's statutory Duty of Care Code of Practice.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 14 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what review it has conducted of unpublished reports that it has commissioned using public funds and when it will present the findings.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not maintain a central register of reports as there is no single definition of a report. We have not conducted a review of reports published or unpublished. We have a commitment to open government including pro-active publication where possible. Scottish Government also follows the Model Publication Scheme developed and approved by the Scottish Information Commissioner.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many research and policy papers have been commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland in each of the last three years; what proportion remain unpublished at least six months after their completion date, and what the total cost has been of the work involved in compiling these unpublished papers.
Answer
I have asked Zero Waste Scotland's Chief Executive to contact the Member to provide the information requested.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 9 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of public sector vehicles use alternative fuels.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
However, through our Switched on Fleets programme we have supported the purchase or leasing of around 400 Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles across the public sector in Scotland.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) published and (b) unpublished research it has commissioned regarding the potential effects of increased circular economic activity on the labour market.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not commissioned any research regarding the potential effects of increased circular economic activity on the labour market. Our circular economy strategy identifies the potential economic and environmental opportunities underpinning the prioritisation of our actions. We would expect the employment benefits of these interventions to become clearer as implementation proceeds.
- Asked by: Maurice Golden, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Submitting member has a registered interest.
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 October 2017
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 November 2017
To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses currently identified by SEPA as being non-compliant with waste regulations have been so for more than (a) six months and (b) a year.
Answer
A total of six businesses have been identified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) as being non-compliant for
6 months. These businesses have been given advice and a letter from SEPA setting out how to comply. Further inspections to confirm that they have become compliant with the Waste Regulations are scheduled in November 2017.
No businesses have been identified by SEPA as being non-compliant for 12 months or more.