Jean Urquhart

3 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial modelling of the new areas of natural constraint payment system it has carried out, and what the results were.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Work is currently underway to consider the designation and scheme design for Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC), and this process will include modelling of the options for the new scheme, within the scope of EU rules, before it is introduced in 2018. We are…

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of single farm payment applications in each parliamentary region that have been approved (a) has been paid and (b) is awaiting payment, also broken down by the average (i) value of the payment and (ii) holding size of the farm.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I can provide some information on the regional breakdown of the Basic Payment Scheme. The information requested is not categorised by parliamentary region and I am therefore supplying the best alternatives I can at present which is the information relating to…

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional staff it has recently recruited or redeployed to offices in crofting areas to help process rural payments.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The rural payments and inspections division have recruited 36 additional staff in order to help speed up processing and payments. The location of each of these staff members is shown on the following table: Office Staff Recruited Ayr 2 Hamilton 0 Dum…

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many crofters have (a) applied and (b) received payment for common grazing shares under the basic payment scheme, and whether problems with processing applications have led to a delay.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are currently processing all of the outstanding land issues including common grazing. The information is not yet complete and we are therefore unable to give a response to this question at the moment.

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much basic payment scheme funding has been awarded to crofters, and what proportion of the scheme's budget this represents.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Basic Payment Scheme application form does not ask applicants to specifically define themselves as crofters and it is therefore not possible to give a definitive answer to this question however I can advise that as of 23 February 2016, payments have been …

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many crofters in (a) Skye and (b) the rest of the country have (i) applied for and (ii) received basic payment scheme funding.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The basic payment scheme application form does not ask applicants to specifically define themselves as crofters and it is therefore not possible to give a definitive answer to this question however I can advise that as of 23 February 2016, payments have been …

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its common agricultural policy area payment scheme computer system is now fully operational.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It has always been envisaged that the rural payments and services IT system would be delivered in phases however, payments are currently being made in accordance with the European Union common agricultural policy window which closes on 30 June 2016.

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its common agricultural policy area payment budget has been top-sliced to pay for the area payment computer system and, if so, what the average cost has been to applicants, expressed as a percentage of the amount due.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The common agricultural policy area payment budget has not been top-sliced to pay for the area payment computer system.

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether payments from the crofting counties agricultural grant scheme are being delayed because of problems with processing area payment applications and, if so, what action it is taking.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Payments for this scheme are not calculated using the IT that supports the Basic Payments Scheme and are therefore not affected by IT issues however we have recruited additional staff to give greater capacity in dealing with all common agricultural policy pay…

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is for the (a) less favoured area support, (b) agri-environment climate and (c) Scottish suckler beef support scheme and when it will begin payments.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Budget and payment timetable information relating to the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme and the Agri- Environment Climate Scheme are available on-line at: https://www.ruralpayments.org/publicsite/futures/topics/all-schemes/ The 2015 budget for the Scottis…

28 Jan 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of single farm payment applications in the Highlands and Islands and in the rest of Scotland has been paid as of the end of January.

13 Jan 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the action that it is taking to take forward the proposals of the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

4 Nov 2015 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what criteria it uses when selecting or accepting artwork for display.

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the name of the claimant and the area of land for which an environmental assessment was submitted for each basic payment claimant who is a legal rather than a natural person and who submitted such an assessment by 31 August 2015.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to S4W-27853 on 20 October 2015, the Scottish Government cannot provide any information of this sort until the validation and processing of all claims has been completed. All answers to written parliamentary questions are avai…

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many basic payment claimants submitted an environmental assessment for all or part of their land by 31 August 2015, and what the total area of land was for which such assessments were submitted, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Until the validation and processing of all claims has been completed the Scottish Government cannot provide this information.

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence that crofting land that has been apportioned and improved has not since reverted is required for the purpose of allocating it to a payment region.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: If crofters were not satisfied with the payment region provisionally allocated to their land they could submit a request for a review. In seeking a review, they need to provide evidence of the status of the land in relation to the objective criteria (see repl…

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers soil samples an effective means of demonstrating whether land has been maintained in good agricultural condition.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The framework provided by the European Commission under which Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) has to be defined does not include the nutrient status of soils. Accordingly there is no requirement to carry out soil samples as a test of GAEC…

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether maps produced by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute have been used to allocate land in Shetland to payment regions and, if so, when they were produced.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government used objective criteria which took account of a land parcel’s Land Cover of Scotland 1988 (LCS88) data, Less Favoured Area Support Scheme grazing category, and the crop code used to claim Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS) on the Single…

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether aerial photography is used to determine the payment region to which agricultural land is allocated and, if so, what information it holds regarding the age of the aerial photographs used, if not, what methodology is used.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The payment region to which land is allocated was determined by its current vegetative cover and its Less Favoured Area Support Scheme grazing category. The principal sources of evidence used for vegetative cover were the crop code used to claim Single Farm P…

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) farmers and (b) crofters will be required to provide regular soil samples in order to receive common agricultural policy payments under the new area-based support regime.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There will be no requirement for farmers or crofters to provide soil samples in order to receive common agricultural policy (CAP) payments. We are awaiting commission approval to implement CAP ‘greening’ requirements though a national certification scheme fro…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the interpretation of European regulations concerning Basic Payment Scheme payments in relation to common grazing land put forward by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 March 2015, and whether it will review the allocation of such payment…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government notes the change of policy in relation to common land by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, following a legal challenge. However, the legal basis relating to common land in England is different from that applying …

19 Nov 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to tackle negative perceptions of immigration in Scotland.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government firmly rejects negative rhetoric around immigration that can fuel fear and misunderstanding. Migrants are vital for our economy and society and make an enormous contribution to Scotland. The Scottish Government Equality Unit is provid…

16 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can offer to NHS boards covering remote and rural areas to provide necessary GP cover.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is working with NHS Highland to promote a range of initiatives to recruit and support GPs working in remote and rural areas throughout Scotland. One strand of work, being supported by £1.5 million funding from the Scottish Government …

5 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a minimum national set of (a) standards or (b) qualifications for people appointed as quality improvement officers for local authorities.  

Answer · Michael Russell: There are no nationally defined standards or qualifications for Quality Improvements Officers (QIOs). Standards and qualifications required for people appointed as QIOs are set by local authority employers. The definition of the type of work to be undertaken…

5 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to local authorities on how to support teachers and others working with young people in the event of them being subject to threats, abuse and allegations.

Answer · Michael Russell: The General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct offers guidance to teachers as to how they should behave in relation to pupils which, if adhered to, should minimise the risk of complaints and/or allegations being made against t…

5 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that there is consistent support for teachers and others working with young people in the event of them being subject to threats, abuse and allegations.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government takes the issue of threats and abuse in schools very seriously. However, the employment and welfare of teachers in schools is a matter for local authorities. As employers, each authority will have support provisions in place to help s…

5 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a universal flat cost for Home Reports as part of its review of their operation.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Scottish Ministers have no powers to set the cost of Home Reports under the existing Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and costs are determined by the market. The Scottish Government’s scheduled five year review of the Home Report will examine how well the Home Re…

19 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions of the Claim of Rights Act 1689 in relation to the right to appeal to the monarch against perceived judicial injustice remain in force and, if not, what information it has on when these were revoked and for what reason.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The provisions of the Claim of Right Act 1689 in relation to the right to appeal to the monarch against perceived judicial injustice remain in force to the extent that the right is now exercisable via appeal to the United Kingdom Supreme Court, in accordance …

12 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would recognise Palestine as an independent state and vote to allow it full membership of the UN.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: It is for an independent Scotland to decide its own future foreign policy. The current Scottish Government supports a two state solution for the Israel and Palestine situation. The current Scottish Government is supportive of direct negotiations between Israe…

8 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the European Court of Human Rights as a valid avenue of appeal in relation to criminal cases in which interim suspension of sentence is granted pending appeal on the grounds of violation of human rights.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Determination of legal issues relating to the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) is generally for the domestic courts. Where it is considered that the domestic courts have not properly decided any ECHR issue, a direct application may be made to the Eu…