Elaine Murray

24 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how premises contiguous to those in which foot-and-mouth disease has been identified are made aware of the situation and how long the process of informing contiguous premises should take.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The occupiers of contiguous premises are identified and advised by telephone as quickly as possible. There is no pre-determinable time for doing this. But the target set for culling stock on contiguous premises is 48 hours from the identification of the relev…

24 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum period of time is which can elapse between a case of foot-and-mouth disease being confirmed and the information regarding the premises involved being made public.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Once a farm has been confirmed as having foot-and-mouth disease, details of the infected premises is included in the Scottish Executive Daily Press Release which is issued at 7pm.

24 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) sheep, (b) beef cattle, (c) dairy cattle, (d) pigs, (e) deer, (f) goats and (g) other species have been pre-emptively culled in Dumfries and Galloway as of 24 April 2001 as part of the eradication of foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As at 30 April 2001, the following number of animals have been culled: sheep -382,333; cattle - 21,776; pigs - 57; goats - 276; other - 1.

24 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of all premises which have been involved in (a) the cull of sheep within a 3km radius of a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease and (b) the cull of sheep due to a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease on contiguous premises, as of 24 April 2001.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Details of infected premises are published. I do not consider that there is any need to list other premises within 3km, nor to distinguish whether they have been involved in the 3km or the contiguous sheep culls.

23 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any proposals relating to the preservation of pedigree and hefted sheep in areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease and whether it has had any discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on this issue.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer to the Ministerial Statement I gave to Parliament on 26 April 2001 where policy on the position of rare breeds of sheep and hefted sheep was clarified.

18 Apr 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the Economic Recovery Plan submitted to the First Minister by Dumfries and Galloway Council and partner organisations on 18 April 2001.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is giving urgent consideration to the Dumfries and Galloway Economic Recovery Plan which was presented to the First Minister on 18 April. The Executive will wish to ensure that the action taken in Dumfries and Galloway is consistent with the wid…

9 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether businesses in Dumfries and Galloway with a rateable value greater than #12,000 are entitled to any form of rates reduction if they have been adversely affected by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and, if so, what criteria are used to determine whether the outbreak has been r…

Answer · Angus MacKay: All businesses in Scotland are eligible to apply to their local authorities for rates relief if they suffer hardship as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak. Authorities are expected to fund 25% of the cost of the relief, as usual, for businesses with a ra…

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the term "boundary" is defined when determining whether a farm is contiguous to one where an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been identified and whether intervening water, woods or wasteland are disregarded.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The first step is to consult detailed local maps which set out individual farm boundaries and identify those farms which are next to infected premises. All the local factors, including separation distances due to intervening water, woods and wasteland are the…

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is investigating the possibility of council tax relief for businesses run from home affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There is a comprehensive council tax rebate system available to everyone who might have difficulty in meeting their council tax liability. Overall responsibility for the scheme lies with the Department of Social Security and is a reserved matter.<P>Businesses…

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the group set up to examine the wider impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak intends to examine the effect of the outbreak on the dairy industry in the south west of Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Impact Assessment Group has been established to assess the impact of foot-and-mouth disease across all sectors and areas. As such the group will pick up on the wider effects the outbreak is having on a wide range of sectors including dairying. Regionally …

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of businesses in Dumfries and Galloway have a rateable value below #12,000 and whether all such businesses will qualify for 95% reduction of rates under the rates relief package announced on 28 March 2001.

Answer · Angus MacKay: As at 1 April 2000 around 86% of businesses in Dumfries and Galloway had a rateable value of £12,000 or less. <P>All businesses are eligible to apply for rates relief of up 100% if they can demonstrate that they are suffering hardship as a result of the foot …

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review its decision on the use of modulation in order to make available assistance for early retirement schemes for farmers, particularly tenant farmers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I will be considering a range of options, in liaison with the agricultural industry, to assist with its recovery from the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak.

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in areas where stock has been lost as a result of foot-and-mouth disease, swapping of quotas between sheep and cattle when restocking is under consideration.

Answer · Ross Finnie: While I will bear this suggestion in mind I should point out that this would require changes to be made to EU legislation which in turn would require the approval of the EU Council of Ministers.

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when farmers who have lost stock because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak will receive compensation.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The target for paying farmers compensation for stock which have been compulsorily slaughtered is 21 days.

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the use of vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease prior to the slaughter of animals within the 3km firebreak 'one.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer to the ministerial statement I gave to Parliament on 5 April 2001 where policy on the use of vaccination was clarified.

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to any problems which may be caused by the slaughter of hefted sheep as a consequence of foot-and-mouth disease, and whether additional resources will be available to train new hill flocks.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive recognises the difficulties of replacing any hefted sheep which have to be slaughtered. However, eradication of the disease is the top priority. Sheep are masking this disease and for that reason any flocks within 3km of an infected pre…

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why there are no foot and mouth disinfection points on the M74 and the A76.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Veterinary advice, based on risk assessment, is that the disinfection of trunk roads is not necessary in order to prevent any risk of the disease spreading. However, if a council wishes to proceed with the installation of disinfection facilities this is accep…

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is provided regarding the transport of unaffected animals to slaughterhouses through foot-and-mouth disease infected areas and whether the use of cattle floats with open side flaps is permitted.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Animals can only be moved under licence direct from farm to slaughterhouse. Journeys through an Infected Area are permitted by trunk road, motorway or railway and may come within 3km of an infected premise. Animals going to slaughter are checked for any signs…

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum period of time should elapse between the notification of slaughter of animals on farms contiguous to those on which foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed and the slaughter of those animals.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer to the ministerial statement I gave to Parliament on 5 April 2001 which outlined the disease control strategy being implemented.

28 Mar 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are currently being taken to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: My statement this morning explained how eradication of this disease is being tackled.

27 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support businesses affected by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Following extensive consultation with the industry affected, the Executive has decided to put resources behind a three-part emergency package of assistance for 2001-02 to help stabilise businesses in Scotland hit by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. This i…

22 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Dumfries and Galloway will affect the introduction of (a) the fibre optic cabling for the area or (b) the cross-country gas line from Beattock to Brighouse bay, and what restrictions will be placed on contractors during this work.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Services, such as gas, electricity and water can gain access to the countryside where repair/maintenance work is deemed essential. Prior to entering an area where there are restrictions such services are required to give advance notice of their visit. Vehicle…

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the National Lottery distributing bodies regarding the support of visitor attractions which have been closed by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and what the outcome of any such discussions has been.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Together with the UK Government, we are looking at every possible way in which affected businesses might be assisted. I am confident, however, that the emergency package of measures that we have announced on 28 March will tackle the immediate difficulties fac…

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government and local authorities regarding the suspension of business rates for businesses which have been forced to suspend their activities due to the current outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Details of the Executive's package of assistance were announced in response to question S1W-14552 on 28 March 2001.

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what responses it has received from Scottish banks and financial institutions regarding assistance with overdrafts and leasing agreements for agricultural, tourist and other businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Rhona Brankin and I met with the agricultural representatives of the Clearing Banks on 19 March. Following that meeting, on 21 March, the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Gaelic discussed the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on bu…

15 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is represented on bodies determining science strategy at a UK level.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is represented on a number of UK Science Policy Groups and Organisations. It is represented at ministerial level on the Ministerial Science Group (MSG), and at official level on both the Chief Scientific Advisor's Committee (CSAC) and t…

15 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice has been received from the Chief Veterinary Officer regarding the period of time which must be observed before areas where foot and mouth disease has been identified can be restocked with livestock.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Restrictions remain in force for a minimum of 30 days following the cleansing and disinfection of the last infected premise in an Infected Area. However a number of factors affect the timing of cleansing and disinfection such as disposal of slurry and manure …

15 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of foot and mouth disease in Scotland have been identified as having been contracted by air-borne transmission and how many by direct contact.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Initial studies based on observations made in other countries suggest that airborne transmission from infected premises has not been a prominent feature of the current foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The spread appears mainly to be by direct contact particul…

14 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the capacity penalty arrangements applying to the transfer and aggregation of fishing vessel licences.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The operation of fishing vessel licensing arrangements has been recently reviewed by a joint industry/departmental working group and a copy of the group's report is being placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.<P>The working group has recommended that th…

13 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any discussions have taken place, or are planned, with Scottish Enterprise regarding the problems faced by rural enterprises as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive is in daily contact with Scottish Enterprise, and especially Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway, to discuss the implications of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on the economy. Both organisations are represented on the Executive's Foot…