Eleanor Scott

7 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of difficulties experienced by residents in rural areas such as Poolewe who have applied to BT for broadband access but have experienced delays of up to eight weeks before BT is able to establish whether a broadband connection can be made from any given address and wha…

Answer · Tavish Scott: BT have told us that thedelays in testing lines for broadband access in Poolewe have been caused by storm-damagedcable and faulty exchange equipment. Both are now being replaced and residentsshould shortly see a marked improvement in service.</p>

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it is making in locally produced renewable hydrogen systems and developing the technology to convert cars and other oil-using systems to renewable hydrogen.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Forum for Renewable EnergyDevelopment in Scotland (FREDS) has established a hydrogen sub-group which willreport next year with guidance on how the Scottish Executive and other public agenciesshould be investing to develop hydrogen and fuel cell technologi…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that renewable hydrogen energy systems are viable technology for meeting some of Scotland's non-electric energy needs.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We believe that renewable hydrogensystems do have the potential to make a contribution to Scotland’s non-electricenergy needs. This potentially will grow significantly as hydrogen technology improvesand develops.</p>

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what system is in place for ensuring that information about predicted tidal surges is passed to local authorities and communities that may be affected.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is for Scottish local authorities to identify areas at risk from high sea levels. Where such areas are identified, the local authority can ask the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to consider installing a flood warning scheme.</p> <p>To date S…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the system of early warning of storms and tidal surges around Scotland's coastline.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19383 on 30 September 2005. which outlines the existing arrangements for the provision of coastal flood warning schemes. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to crofting communities in the Western Isles to develop and protect natural storm defences, such as dunes.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is no special support available to crofting communities for this purpose. However, Western Isles Council has discretionary powers under the Coast Protection Act 1949 to contribute towards the costs of any coast protection measures the Council considers …

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the use of temporary and moveable electric fencing to manage the growth of natural storm defences, such as dunes, using marram grass.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive recognises that the coast of Scotland is a complex environment where many of the interactions between natural processes and human activities are not always well understood.</p> <p>Scottish Natural Heritage consider the use of dune fencing as one…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to pursue a scientific study of the ability of the causeways and storm defences in the Western Isles to withstand any increase in severe weather events due to climate change.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive is working closely with the UK Government and the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) to develop a comprehensive adaptation strategy to ensure Scotland as a whole is prepared for the threats posed by climate change.  More specific research, inc…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that there is no repeat of the loss of life that occurred during the January 2005 storm on South Uist.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive is committed to improving Scotland’s ability to cope with any emergency. That is why we are investing in our front line services and acting to strengthen the eight regional emergency co-ordination and planning groups which co-ordinate e…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the biodiversity cropping measure under Tier 2 of the Land Management Contracts Menu scheme has had satisfactory uptake and whether it will increase support for this measure in 2006.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Fifty seven farmers and crofters have opted for the biodiversity cropping measure, involving 120.27 hectares. There are no plans to increase the level of support for this measure.</p>

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many organically-certified farmers and crofters have not entered into Tier 2 of the Land Management Contracts Menu scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Participants in the scheme are not required to provide information on their organic status and my department does not hold a register of organically-certified farmers and crofters. Therefore I cannot provide information on their participation in the Land Mana…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will enable common grazings to be brought into Tier 2 of the Land Management Contracts Menu scheme in 2006.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Menu Scheme enables land managers to carry out measures up to the limit of their individual allowance. The share of a common grazing contributes to this allowance at present and will continue to do so next year. From 2007, Tier 3 of LMCs will enable group…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to gather feedback on the menu of measures under Tier 2 of the Land Management Contracts Menu scheme and what plans it has to revise the menu for 2006.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Feedback has been gathered from the LMC Stakeholder Group which represents a wide range of industry and environmental bodies, and from other interested parties. It is intended to make minimal changes to the Menu Scheme for 2006. Work has been commissioned to …

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any inconvenience caused to farmers and crofters by the land management contract forms having to be filled out during the lambing season and whether it will ensure that the deadlines for completion of application forms in 2006 are farmer-friendly.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I am aware that the issue of land management contract application forms this year did coincide with the lambing season. It was precisely for this reason, and the desire to give farmers and crofters more time to reflect on what options best suited their indivi…

31 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend its procurement rules to allow the purchase by public bodies of timber certified under the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) schemes, as has happened at a UK level.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has no plans to amend its procurement rules. The policy and guidance is that purchasers should specify in orders and contracts that suppliers must provide evidence that timber has been lawfully obtained from forests or plantations that …

28 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are available to fishery boards to avoid exploitation by the use of mixed stocks coastal nets in areas adjacent to rivers with Special Areas of Conservation status.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: A District Salmon Fishery Board may apply to Scottish ministers for Salmon Conservation Regulations, which may be made under the provisions of Section 38 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 where ministers consider that …

28 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why catch information is withheld from salmon fishery boards until after the fishing season is closed, given that effective management of migratory fish requires information on catch returns to be available to boards during the fishing season in order for them to take in-season conservati…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Catch statistics are collected annually from proprietors or operators of salmon fisheries by Fisheries Research Services under the provisions of Section 64 (1)(b) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003. Data are collected b…

26 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it applies the precautionary principle to decisions on the natural heritage in the case of scallop fishing in the Firth of Lorne Special Area of Conservation.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Consideration of the issues relating to the Firth of Lorn and Loch Creran Special Areas of Conservation by the Scottish Executive includes the application of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, which requires steps to be taken to avoid the deterioration of h…

26 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage’s assessment of mobile fishing gear impacts in the Firth of Lorne will address the issue of reefs smothered by silt which has been disturbed by dredgers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Natural Heritage’s planned Assessment of Mobile Gear Fishing Impacts on the Special Areas of Conservation features in the Firth of Lorn will include an assessment of the potential impact on reef habitat by the deposition of sediment arising from dred…

26 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage’s assessment of mobile fishing gear impacts in the Firth of Lorne Special Area of Conservation will prevent those impacts and, if so, in what way.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No. Scottish Natural Heritage’s work will assess whether and if so how the use of mobile fishing gear impacts on the Special Area of Conservation interests in the Firth of Lorn and will inform consideration of whether long term measures may be required to pro…

26 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will impose restrictions on scallop fishing in the Firth of Lorne Special Area of Conservation for the duration of Scottish Natural Heritage’s assessment of mobile fishing gear impacts and, if so, what the (a) nature of these restrictions and (b) compensation payable to affecte…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Decisions will be taken on whether or not to impose restrictions in the Firth of Lorn and Loch Creran Special Areas of Conservation and what the nature of these might be once consideration of the issues relating to the sites is complete. These decisions will …

30 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whom it will consult in its deliberations about whether there is a case for a prohibition on scallop fishing within the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation and what the timescale for a decision on this matter will be.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is consideringwhether or not there is a case for a prohibition on scallop fishing within the Firthof Lorn Special Area of Conservation and in doing so has so far consulted ScottishNatural Heritage and Fisheries Research Services. Decisions on wh…

25 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring regime will be implemented at Loch Sheilavaig to ensure that infectious salmon anaemia has been eradicated.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) was never confirmed at Loch Sheilavaig. Now that ISA controls have been lifted, veterinary surveillance in Loch Sheilavaig will revert to routine fish farm inspections with testing of samples for ISA only where stock show signs…

25 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmed fish are known to have escaped into Scottish waters in each year since 1999.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The number of reported escapes from Scottish fish farms in each year since 1999 has been; 273,863 (1999), 501,981 (2000), 94,010 (2001), 449,805 (2002), 157,997 (2003), 92,647 (2004). Statutory reporting of escapes was introduced in 2002.</p><p><i>The followi…

25 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to assess the impact of escaped farmed fish on native fish populations.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive introduced legislation in May 2002 requiring fish farms to notify the Scottish Executive of any escape of fish or any incident that may have led to an escape.</p> <p>Fisheries Research Services have been monitoring the effects of escape…

25 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to prevent escapes of fish from fish farms.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive introduced legislation in May 2002 which requires the mandatory notification of all escapes of farmed fish. Any suspected escape, or circumstance which gives rise to a significant risk of escape, should also be reported to the Executive. This le…

25 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties are incurred by fish farms from which fish escape.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Fish farmers are expected toassist local wild fishery interests with the costs of recovery of escaped farmedfish. Failure to notify Scottish ministers of an escape incident also carries amaximum penalty of a £2,500 fine.</p>

25 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to trace the origins of the suspected incidence of infectious salmon anaemia in Loch Sheilavaig.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Infectious salmon anaemia was never confirmed at Loch Sheilavaig. The results of an investigation into matters, including why the presence of the disease was suspected, are expected by the end of this month.</p>

25 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any compensation will be payable by it to Marine Harvest in respect of measures taken to control the suspected case of infectious salmon anaemia in Loch Sheilavaig.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Compensation is not available in respect of fish disease controls.</p>

25 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures were taken to control the suspected outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia in Loch Sheilavaig.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Control measures involved restricting movement of stock and equipment capable of spreading infectious salmon anaemia virus; harvesting and processing of stock under biosecure conditions, and voluntary culling of stock, ensiling in acid to inactivate any virus…