Eleanor Scott

14 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will be saved as a result of its withdrawal of livestock improvement schemes.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We did not close these schemesin order to save money, and there is no intention to cut the overall budget forcrofting support.</p>

14 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the consultation on livestock improvement schemes will be made public and what the reasons are for withdrawing certain schemes prior to the release of these results.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-7131 on 5 April 2004. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

14 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the withdrawal of livestock improvement schemes contributes to the plan for the eradication of scrapie from sheep flocks.

Answer · Allan Wilson: It is in the long-term interestof all Scottish farmers and crofters to eradicate scrapie from their sheep flocks.The Ram Purchase Scheme and the Shetland Ram Scheme will have contributed to thelevels of scrapie resistance in flocks which used scrapie genotype…

14 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure genetic diversity in small herds of cattle in remote areas following the withdrawal of livestock improvement schemes.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We remain convinced of the importanceof support for cattle improvement in the crofting counties and will be working closelywith key interests over the next three months to work up a replacement scheme witharrangements which will deliver this objective, give c…

1 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the fluoridation of drinking water supplies.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5804 on 9 February 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…

26 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Gaelic language schemes such as the Gaelic Language in the Primary School scheme are eligible for funding from the #4 million fund for primary school language teaching announced in its news release SEED451c/2004.<p>The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:<p> A dh'…

Answer · Peter Peacock: GaelicLanguage in the Primary School schemes are eligible for funding under the Scottish Executive Language Fund and a number of local authorities are currently using thefunding to support Gaelic for learners.</p><p><i>The Executive has provided the following…

26 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary school pupils are taught Gaelic through the Gaelic Language in Primary School scheme and what plans it has to expand this scheme and Gaelic medium education.<p>The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:<p>A dh'fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba cr mheud s…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested aboutthe number of primary pupils taught Gaelic through the Gaelic Language in PrimarySchool Scheme is not held by the Executive. The scheme is managed at local authoritylevel by Highland Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and a cons…

26 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary school students are currently studying Gaelic as a subject for learners.<p>The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:<p>A dh'fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba cr mheud sgoilear a tha a' dhanamh G`idhlig mar chuspair do luchd-ionnsachaidh aig lre na h-`…

Answer · Peter Peacock: In2003-04 there were 2,513 secondary school students studying Gaelic as a subjectfor learners in thirty-four secondary schools. This represents an increase of 6%over the previous year’s total of 2,370.</p><p><i>The Executive has provided the following Gaelic …

26 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to expand Gaelic as a subject taught to learners in secondary schools.<p>The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:<p>A dh'fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba dh na planaichean a tha aca gus G`idhlig a leudachadh mar chuspair a tha ga theagasg do luchd-i…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive welcomes the increase of students taking Gaelic as a subject for learnersat secondary school and has put in place a number of measures to ensure that thiscontinues. Although this is a matter for local authorities the Executive’s plansto…

10 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent decision by Moray Council on a #95 million flood management scheme complies with the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: At this time, the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 does not yet apply to thedecisions of councils.</p><p>We arecurrently developing the necessary secondary legislation to implement theprovisions of that Act.</p>

25 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many abattoirs there currently are and how many have closed down in the last 20 years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I amadvised by the Food Standards Agency, that there are currently 44 red meat and ninepoultry meat abattoirs licensed by the Food Standards Agency in Scotland.</p><p>In 1984,the number of licensed red meat abattoirs was 79 indicating that 35 premiseshave cea…

21 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individual members of the public, apart from farmers, responded to the consultation CAP Reform: Opportunities for Scotland and what efforts the Scottish Executive made to ensure that members of the general public had the chance to fully participate.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There were69individual responses to the consultation paper <i>CAP Reform: Opportunitiesfor Scotland</i> from non-farmers.</p><p>The Executiveencouraged wide participation in the consultation through public meetings, stakeholdermeetings, and extensive use of t…

22 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where the third phase of the Sustainable Scottish Marine Environment Initiative will be piloted; what this phase will involve, and whether there will be a moratorium on new aquaculture developments in the pilot locations while the local communities are consulted about the management of th…

Answer · Allan Wilson: No decision has yet beentaken on where the third phase of the Sustainable Scottish Marine EnvironmentInitiative (SSMEI) will be piloted. The third phase of SSMEI is intended toimplement and evaluate the pilot management schemes that are being specifiedunder P…

22 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that there are no negative impacts of sea lice originating from fish farms.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No.</p>

1 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the effect of toxic chemicals on public health.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive maintains a consistent policy that all risks to the public health shouldbe properly controlled. The diverse range of health risks posed by toxic chemicalsdemands a range of control measures. These include legislation to minimise publice…

24 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed crofting reform legislation will include provision to establish new crofts outwith the existing crofting counties.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There are currently no plansto include such a provision.</p>

15 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it is making to the development of a UK government position on the forthcoming European chemical regulation, the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) and what plans it has to consult on REACH and carry out a study on the effects of chemical and…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive alerted stakeholdersin Scotland to the eight-week internet consultation on the workabilityof the proposed system for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals(REACH) held over the summer months by the European Commission. </p><…

27 Aug 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage catering departments of public bodies and local authorities to source locally-produced food.

Answer · Andy Kerr: European law on public procurement prohibits discrimination between suppliers on grounds of nationality or locality. However, those involved in purchasing foodstuffs should always take full account of factors such as quality, freshness and, where relevant, su…

11 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend environmentally sensitive area (ESA) scheme agreements that are due to come to an end before land management contracts are in place in order to safeguard any ecological and economic benefits of the scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I am currently considering arrangements for continued agri-environment support for farmers and crofters coming to the end of their 10 year ESA scheme agreement. I intend to make an announcement shortly.

10 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-6715 by Ross Finnie on 27 March 2003, what interaction it has had with relevant authorities in Northern Ireland concerning the application by Ballymoney Power for an integrated open-cast lignite mine and power station near Ballymoney, County Antrim, …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has been in regular contact with both the environment group and the planning service of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) which are dealing with the Ballymoney planning application. The Executive submitted its views on the application on 13 May …

4 Jun 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take forward its commitment in A Partnership for a Better Scotland to protect and enhance the coastline and whether areas such as Wester Ross or the Inner Hebrides are being considered for marine national park status.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We are committed to implementing the EU Recommendation on integrated coastal zone management. This requires that we develop a strategy for the integrated and sustainable management of Scotland's coasts. This strategy includes the options of establishing a Nat…

26 May 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what standard will be used to define the proposed new energy banding system to classify houses according to energy efficiency.

Answer · Margaret Curran: No decision on the detail of the energy efficiency element of the proposed Decency Standard has yet been taken, pending consultations and discussions on the Scottish Social Housing Standard, on the Housing Improvement Task Force recommendations on a cross-ten…

19 May 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what extra resources it will make available for the purchase of digital hearing aids and for staff training, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is fully committed to the policies set out in <I>A Partnership for a Better Scotland</I>. We are currently considering the detailed implementation of those policies, including the associated funding strategy.