Parliamentary questions

Maureen Macmillan

249 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the lists of (a) species and flora and fauna and (b) habitats considered by the Scottish Ministers to be of principal importance for the purposes of section 1(1) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive today published the Scottish Biodiversity List on the BiodiversityScotland website at: <a href="http://www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk/pageType2.php?id=35&type=2&navID=92">http://www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk/pag…

8 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will announce the key performance targets it has set for Fisheries Research Services for 2005-06.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have set the following targets for Fisheries Research Services for the financial year 2005-06. Delivery of Service:To achieve 95% of the performance targets set in the schedules to the service level agreement.To achieve 86% of the miles…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an announcement on the proposal to build a three megawatt hydro-powered generating station at Douglas Water, near Inveraray.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I can announce that the Scottish ministers have granted consent to this proposal in terms of section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Additionally, this consent carries deemed planning permission in terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997</p…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the proposal to increase the generating capacity of the existing wind-powered generating station at Causeymire in Caithness.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I can announce that the Scottish ministers have granted consent for this proposal in terms of section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. This will increase capacity at the wind farm to 55.2 Megawatts. This announcement follows a lengthy consultation proce…

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to support children of migrant workers.

Answer · Robert Brown: The children of migrant workers are entitled to the same levels of education, health care and social support from local authorities and NHS boards as the children of our indigenous population. The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) …

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring the impact of the Charities and Trusts Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 on very small voluntary organisations to establish whether they have the capacity to carry out their duties under the Act.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has committed itself to reviewing the impact of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and associated regulations within ten years of it coming into force.

3 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been made on the future of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Following the Executive’s review of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board initiated last year, and taking account of views expressed in the course of a public consultation exercise, we have concluded that the board should continue to operate within the existi…

18 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 19 to 20 September 2005.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture andFisheries Council in Brussels on 19 and 20 September 2005, together with Margaret Beckett, Ben Bradshaw and Jim Knight.Two Environment Council matterswere included on the agenda in the absence of a meeting of Environment M…

8 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 18 to 19 July 2005.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Margaret Beckett, Ben Bradshawand Jim Knight attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on the18 July 2005. As I was on holiday I did not attend.The UK Presidency presented itswork programme for the next six months. This included, among…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on performance targets set for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for 2005-06.

Answer · Ross Finnie: For the year 2005-06 the ScottishFisheries Protection Agency’s financial resources will provide for the followinginputs from the surveillance and enforcement assets at its disposal:Air:Total flying hours contracted – 1,900<p class=M…

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, held in Luxembourg on 20 to 21 June 2005.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 June 2005 together with Margaret Beckett, Lord Bach and Carwyn Jones. On agriculture, the Council reached agreement on a new EU Rural Development Regulation for 2007-2013. The …

23 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that First ScotRail is committed to retaining the sleeper services to Scotland, in particular the West Highland service to Fort William, and whether it is aware of any changes proposed to the sleeper services run by First ScotRail.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Under the franchise agreement, First ScotRail is required to maintain the current level of sleeper services, including the service to Fort William. There are currently no proposals from First ScotRail to change the service level commitment in respect o…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be given to Unst, in light of the Ministry of Defence withdrawal from the island and the consequent economic and social impact of the loss of civilian jobs and around 200 of the 700 residents of the island.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Shetland Enterprise will establish a dedicated response team, based on Unst, to take forward a strategy and actions to mitigate the impact of job losses. An Economic Impact Assessment and North Isles skills audit has also been commissioned and this will help …

25 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-17448 by Nicol Stephen on 19 July 2005, whether it will include the relevant trade unions in any discussions on how the Arjo Wiggins paper mill at Corpach might be kept open as a going concern.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has asked Scottish Development International and Lochaber Enterprise to take the lead in working closely with the company to explore all feasible options for the future of the facility. As part of their efforts Lochaber Enterprise has b…

22 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 30 May 2005.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 30 May 2005 together with Margaret Beckett. On agriculture, the Council agreed a technical regulation on the financing of CAP measures for the 2007-2013 period. The UK welcomed its provisi…

20 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult the relevant trade unions over the proposed closure of the Arjo Wiggins paper mill at Corpach.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Discussions with the trade unions will form part of the response to any closure at the Arjo Wiggins paper mill at Corpach. These discussions will be part of the Executive’s PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) Framework which is aimed at ensuri…

20 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it will make available to emergency planning strategic co-ordinating groups so that they can continue to lead improvements in civil protection capabilities.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The eight strategic coordinatinggroups across Scotland will have a crucial role to play in ensuring that thenew duties imposed by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 are taken forward in theirareas. The Executive is committed to providing appropriate support par…

1 Jun 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the consultation on Developing a Strategic Framework for Scotland's Marine Environment.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I published a summary of responsesto the consultation on 30 September 2004, this was placed on the Scottish Executive website and copies were sent to Scottish Parliament Information Centre,and I intend to announce the broad elements of a marine and coastal st…

20 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the proposal to build a maximum 3 megawatt hydro-electric generating scheme at River E, near Loch Mhor, Inverness-shire.

16 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on proposals for a scheme to replace the Bull Hire Scheme.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am publishing a consultation paper today which sets out our proposals for a new Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme. This will replace the Bull Hire Scheme which was previously operated by the Crofters Commission. That scheme was ended because it did…

11 May 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on implementing the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy in respect of enhancing protection afforded to ancient woodland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Our Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Implementation Plans for 2005 to 2007 were published on 31 March this year. These plans include a range of targets for conserving biodiversity in Scotland’s woodlands. Forestry Commission Scotland and the Executive’s …

9 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 26 April 2005.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 26 April 2005 together with Lord Whitty. Following the signing of the accession treaties for Bulgaria and Romania, ministers from those countries attended the Council, in their capacity …

20 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will urge Grampian Country Foods, in order to avoid any compulsory redundancies, to reverse its decision to close its pork plant in Buckie.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Executive officials met the Grampian Country Food Group (GCFG) to explore whether there were any alternatives to the closure of the Buckie facility. GCFG confirmed that they had only reached this difficult decision after a full review of their pork business a…