Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative financial support will be available to crofters in relation to the costs of hiring a bull when the Scotland Rural Development Programme ends.
Answer · Michael Russell: It is too early to say what the arrangements for EU support might be after 2013.</p>
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how crofters can make an application to obtain financial support to hire bulls from private bull hire enterprises.
Answer · Michael Russell: Future arrangements to mitigate transport costs of private hire, as noted in the Scottish Government''s response to the Shucksmith Inquiry, will be put to the European Commission in the first half of 2009. These arrangements will be designed to ensure that hi…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Michael Russell on 1 October 2008 (Official Report c. 11309), what proportion of bull hire costs will be met by the Scotland Rural Development Programme.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17655 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications to the Scotland Rural Development Programme that relate to the transport costs of bulls in a private bull hire scheme are guaranteed to be approved.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17655 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/A…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what calculations and assumptions lay behind the cost figures quoted in the statement by Michael Russell on 1 October 2008 (Official Report c. 11309) that referred to changes in the Bull Hire Scheme.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that private bull hire enterprises have sufficient experience and expertise to transport bulls safely to all island communities.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17650 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what obligation private bull hire enterprises will have to provide bulls for hire to crofters in the most remote communities.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with private hire companies about the market opportunities which will become available to them in future as a result of the removal of subsidised state hire provision. No obligation can be placed on such companie…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there is competition in the private bull hire market in the most remote communities.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17650 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with private bull hire enterprises about taking over the market for bull hire in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17650 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the giving away or selling of Crofters Commission bulls at below market rates raises any state aid implications.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with buyers of calves about the proposal to end the Bull Hire Scheme.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what veterinary advice it took on the implications of ending the Bull Hire Scheme prior to making the decision to end it.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any animal welfare issues associated with the ending of the Bull Hire Scheme and, if so, what those issues are.
Answer · Michael Russell: The ending of the Bull Hire Scheme does not raise any novel animal welfare issues. New owners and keepers of animals will have a responsibility to ensure their welfare in accordance with the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Welfare of Far…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that bulls should be kept indoors in the winter.
Answer · Michael Russell: There is no specific requirement to keep bulls indoors in the winter. However, the Welfare of Farm Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2000 state that animals not kept in buildings must, where necessary and possible, be given protection from adverse weather condit…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the special care requirements of bulls as opposed to other cattle.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17644 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Bull Hire Scheme has made a positive impact on the quality of cattle produced in the Highlands and Islands since its inception.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government considers that the scheme at one time made a positive impact in terms of the maintenance of cow numbers, environmental benefits and local economic activity. However, the Scottish Agricultural College 2003 report (Bib. number 32088) con…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what records it holds that show the original purpose of the Bull Hire Scheme.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17638 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long the Bull Hire Scheme operated by the Crofters Commission has been in existence.
Answer · Michael Russell: Cattle improvement measures have been available since the end of the 19th century, operated under powers provided by the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act 1897. Records from that time are not readily available, though information may be held in the public ar…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has an estimate of the number of crofters who own a bull and what proportion of crofters that represents.
Answer · Michael Russell: The June 2007 Agricultural Census indicates that 470 registered crofts, or holdings containing crofts, had a total of 735 bulls on them. In the same year, the Crofters Commission provided a total of 121 hires. It is not known how many of the remaining bulls w…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the proportion of cattle in the crofting counties that were in calf to a Crofters Commission’s bull in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (ci)2005, (d) 2006 and (e) 2007.
Answer · Michael Russell: This information is not collected by the Scottish Government.</p>
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which islands received a bull or bulls through the Crofters Commission’s Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.
Answer · Michael Russell: The following islands received a bull or bulls in years 2006, 2007 and 2008</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=87 valign=top > <p align=center >2006</p> </td> <td valign=top > <p align=center >2007…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bulls the Crofters Commission owns and administers for hire to crofters.
Answer · Michael Russell: In 2008, the Crofters Commission maintained a herd of 132 bulls to provide hire services to crofting groups. Details of hires in 2006, 2007, and 2008 are as set out in the table below. As hire groups are usually made up of a mixture of crofters, grazings comm…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much notice of a farm inspection should be given to a farmer.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Provided that the purpose of the control is not jeopardised, on-the-spot checks may be announced. The announcement shall be strictly limited to the minimum time period necessary and shall not exceed 14 days.</p> <p >However, for on-the-spot checks concerning…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances a farm inspection would be suspended.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: EC regulations state that inspections shall in general be unannounced. There are provisions within these announcement rules that allow exceptionally up to 48 hours notice in instances where it is known, for example, to be difficult to gather stock or in remot…
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many suckler cows have been farmed in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2006-07, broken down by region.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The requested information is given in the following table:</p> <p >Number of Suckler Cows by Agricultural Region</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=160 rowspan=2 valign=top > <p align=center > </p> …
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the result was of any consultation with the farming industry to assess the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of the vaccination, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme should the rest of the United Kingdom not undertake compulsory vaccination.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: A mass vaccination supported by compulsion was agreed by stakeholders to be the only effective way of protecting Scotland''s livestock from the risk of bluetongue virus becoming established in Scotland. The approach to vaccination elsewhere in Great Britain i…
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was carried out with the farming industry to assess the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of the vaccination, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme should the rest of the United Kingdom not undertake compulsory vaccination.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17468 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the result was of any consultation with the farming industry to assess the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of reduced exports, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17468 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliam…
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was carried out with the farming industry to assess the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of reduced exports, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17468 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
4 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the result was of any consultation with the farming industry to assess the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of the vaccination, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17468 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…