Alex Fergusson

26 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has, in the light of the cut in European Regional Funding for Dumfries and Galloway, to minimise the effect of the shortfall and to improve employment prospects within that region.

Answer · Henry McLeish: While proposals for the new Assisted Areas to operate from 1 January 2000, announced recently, would reduce the population coverage in Dumfries and Galloway by a little more than half, substantial areas of economic development opportunity, the great majority…

19 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-270 by Ross Finnie on 13 July, what measures at the disposal of the European Commission it intends to encourage the Commission to use to assist the pig farming industry in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We shall continue to press the European Commission to use the main measures - namely export refunds and private storage aids - at its disposal in as cost-effective a way as possible to help deal with over-production in the pigmeat sector.

29 Jun 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what plans the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has to encourage the use of indigenous materials in the construction of the new Parliament and its surroundings and whether it is aware of the concern of Scottish business in relation to the proposed use of materials from overseas.

Answer · David Steel: The SPCB is aware of the views of Scottish business and supports the use of indigenous materials in the construction of the new Parliament building. All materials must meet certain requirements in terms of suitability, quality, availability, sustainability an…

29 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prevent composite class si'es rising from their present limit of 25 to 30 as a result of regulations (S.I. 1999/1080) to reduce overall class si'es to 30.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Regulations ensure that the commitment to class sizes of 30 or less in P1 to P3 will be delivered by August 2001. Local authorities are being supported with £48.2 million over this and the next 2 years through the Excellence Fund to achieve this.

29 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the lack of financial assistance available to Scottish pig farmers what plans does it have to prevent the collapse of the Scottish pig farming industry.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I sympathise with the current plight of Scottish pig producers, which arises from overproduction at national EU and world levels. The Scottish Executive is precluded by EU rules from providing direct financial assistance to this sector. But we will encourag…

9 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to route underground sections of the 28 mile long powerline that is to be constructed through Carrick in order to service the interconnector to Northern Ireland, bearing in mind that (a) The last UK Government agreed that undergrounding of certain sections would do less …

Answer · Henry McLeish: I have no such plans. Consent for the construction of an overhead electricity line through South Ayrshire was granted in 1997, and there is in any event no statutory basis on which it can be revisited.