Mr Alasdair Morrison

25 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessments guidance.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Peat Landslide Hazard andRisk Assessments guidance will be published on the Executive’s website today. Thewebsite link is as follows <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/161862">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/161862</a>.</p><p>The publication wasdeveloped in co…

13 Dec 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the provision of new public private partnership schools will have on young people in the Western Isles.

Answer · Hugh Henry: New school facilities in theWestern Isles will, as elsewhere, create a modern learning and teaching environmentin which young people will get the very best opportunity to realise their full potential.</p>

8 Nov 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in relation to the schools public private partnership in the Western Isles.

Answer · Robert Brown: The council is responsible fortaking this forward. I understand that they are currently in dialogue with biddersand aim to reach a decision some time in the New Year.</p>

20 Sep 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase safety in the fishing sector and protect the well-being of fishermen at sea.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Vesselsafety and safety at sea issues are matters reserved to the UK Government.</p><p>However, underthe Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) programme, the Executiveis promoting safety at sea for fishermen by providing grant aid to fund safetyt…

7 Jun 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that education has a role to play in drug prevention.

Answer · Hugh Henry: One of the key priorities of the Executive’s national drugs strategy is to ensure young people are aware of therisks of drug taking and of the benefits of a positive and healthy lifestyle. Educationis absolutely central to that. All schoolsin Scotland now pro…

3 May 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the contribution of golf tourism to the Scottish economy.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Golf tourism is worth over £300million to the Scottish economy, and the golf industry sustains around 7,000 jobs.</p>

18 Jan 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to enhance the status of vocational education.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Determined to Succeed strategy, which aims to better prepare young people for the world of work and life together with the new Skills for Work courses being developed, and improved school and college links are all designed to widen vocational opportunitie…

4 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the legislation governing burial and cremation is expected.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The review is currently underway. The review group is holding its first meeting today, with a membership assembled from relevant interests. The group is chaired by Mr Robert Brodie CB, and its remit is:</p><p>“To review the Cremation Acts of 1902 and 1952 (an…

23 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the availability of Gaelic-medium education.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is committed to supporting and encouraging authorities to increase the availability of Gaelic-medium education through the provision of funding, guidance, training, teacher support and resources.</p>

26 Jan 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scottish companies can benefit from the London 2012 Olympic bid.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Scottish companies have already benefited from the Olympic bid through securing major contracts to produce the candidate file and manufacture banners and flags. Should the bid be successful, there will be a range of opportunities for Scottish companies to com…

12 Jan 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make offenders compensate victims of crime.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: As outlined in the Criminal JusticePlan, we will explore the potential for imposing a financial surcharge on all thoseconvicted of an offence and using the sums raised to help the victims of crime.We will also examine ways in which we can encourage the greate…

27 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 21 and 22 April 2004.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Margaret Beckett and Ben Bradshawrepresented the UK at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on21 and 22 April 2004. </p><p>The Council concluded its considerationof proposals to reform four Common Agricultural Policy regimes: those for cotton,o…

1 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how well Scottish farmed salmon is doing in the market following the recent &#147;food scare&#148; and what is being done to improve the position.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I understand that following an initial down-turn in sales (as high as 20% in some markets) disruption isstill evident, particularly in wet fish counter sales. Although most marketshave experienced a slow but steady improvement in sales, movement of certainkey…

9 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Council of Europe to publish its report on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in the United Kingdom.

Answer · Peter Peacock: That report was publishedtoday, and it addresses recommendations to the UK Government on areas where theCouncil of Europe considers action is required to ensure that its charterobligations are met. Specific recommendations are made in relation to Scots andGae…

8 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the commercial planting of genetically modified (GM) crops.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive recognisesthat the public are uneasy about GM and that there is limited support for thecommercial planting of GM crops in Scotland. The biotechnology companies have yet to persuadeScottish farmers and consumers that there are real benefits to be…

6 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in talks with the Norwegian Government on fish farming.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Directly following talksbetween Scottish and Norwegian officials and industry, I met with his Norwegiancounterpart Mr Ludvigsen in Oslo on Monday, 2 February.</p><p>Dialogue was bothwide-ranging and positive, exploring possible areas of future co-operation an…

2 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been made on the level of water charges for 2004-05.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Yes. I would like toannounce three decisions that we have made on water charges.</p><p>Firstly, following thefailure of Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner to come to anagreement on the scheme of charges for 2004-05, under the procedures laid d…

11 Dec 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the draft constitution for Europe in relation to Scotland's fishing industry.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The EUwould gain no more power over fisheries if the draft constitution were adoptedas it currently stands.</p>

10 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the outcome of the British-Irish Council summit held at the Museum of Welsh Life, Cardiff, on 28 November 2003.

Answer · Jim Wallace: On 28 November, Wales hostedthe fifth British-Irish Council summit meeting at the Museum of Welsh Life,Cardiff, attended by the Deputy First Minister and Peter Peacock, minister withresponsibility for Gaelic. The main role of the council is “to promote thehar…

5 Nov 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to protect the fish farming industry from illegal activities of non-EU salmon producers.

Answer · Allan Wilson: TheExecutive continues to engage with the Scottish aquaculture industry, DTI andthe European Commission in determining appropriate measures to bring stabilityto the European salmon market and reduce the risk of a reoccurrence of dumping.</p>

21 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 22 July 2003.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Italian Presidency, in its first meeting in the chair, set out its work programme for the remainder of the year. This will include implementation of the revised Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the adoption of legal texts formalising the Common Agricultural…

10 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 26 May 2003.

Answer · Ross Finnie: European Council met in Brussels on 26 May in order to discuss agriculture and fisheries. <P>On <B>agriculture</B>, the Commission reported the outcome of a recent scientific round table discussion on the co-existence of GM and non-GM crops and promised to ta…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome of the consultation on proposals for crofting reform legislation was and what conclusions it has drawn from the consultation responses.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There were 59 responses to the consultation on the white paper and the great majority were in favour of the bulk of our proposals. There was some dissent on particular proposals and helpful suggestions for improvement of others. In the light of the response I…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to announce its decision on whether to extend its proposed review of Barra air transport provision.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I have listened to the representations of the Barra community and its elected representatives. I fully appreciate their concerns that a review completed by 30 September 2003 will not be able to assess fully, and in depth, all issues relating to air transport …

12 Mar 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance or advice it gives to local authorities and other public sector employers on time off work for members of children's panels to attend children's hearings.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has published guidance for employers which explains the statutory right of members of Children's Panels to reasonable time off work to undertake their duties. The guidance explains the high value to the community of the work undertaken …

16 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) report into the arrangements by which community pharmacists may dispense NHS prescriptions and how it intends to respond to the report.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive received a copy of the OFT report today, as did ministers in the other three UK Health Departments.<P>We shall consider the recommendations in the report very carefully. The recommendations could have potentially significant implications for bot…

17 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the power to advance well-being in the Local Government in Scotland Bill will confer a power of compulsory purchase or otherwise affect existing powers of compulsory purchase.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The power to advance well-being in the Local Government in Scotland Bill will be an important enabling tool for local authorities to do anything they consider is likely to promote or improve the well-being of their communities. A local authority may use the p…

6 Nov 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is ensuring that people in the Highlands and Islands are being included in the consultation on the future of air services.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive and the UK Department for Transport have jointly conducted a series of consultation events on the Future Development of Air Transport. Highlands and Islands representatives were invited to all these events. Anyone can participate in the…

20 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the report on Phase I of its adoption policy review.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have today published the report on phase one of the adoption policy review and the Executive's response to the report. Copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22058).

16 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will announce the key performance targets it has set for Fisheries Research Services for 2002-03.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I have set the following targets for Fisheries Research Services for the financial year 2002-03.<P>Delivery of Service:<P>To achieve 93 per cent of the performance targets set in the Schedules to the Service Level Agreement.<P>To achieve 82 per cent of the mi…