Fergus Ewing

15 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the presence of parasites of the Argulus species will be included as a matter to be notified to its Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD), as a notifiable disease or parasite, under the terms of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill; what steps are being taken …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The bill contains provision (section4) for ministers to modify the definition of “parasite” and thereby include Argulus,if there was a need to do so.</p><p>We do not believe there is sucha case at present, but together with the Fisheries Research Services (FR…

15 Nov 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the restoration of Castle Tioram would provide benefits to Scotland¿s tourism industry; whether it is satisfied with Historic Scotland¿s position in respect of such a restoration, and what value it places on the significance of cross-party support from MSPs for i…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: There is no currentapplication for the restoration of Castle Tioram. Any application for scheduledmonument consent to restore the castle will be considered on its own meritsunder the established procedures. Since the final decision could be forScottish minist…

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs are of rate relief to businesses affected by the Edinburgh trams project in each year of construction and whether agreement has been reached on this issue and, if so, with whom and on whose authority.

Answer · Tavish Scott: This is entirely a matter forthe City of Edinburgh Council as promoter of the Edinburgh Tram project. We are verypleased that agreement has been reached on this matter and the overall project iscontinuing according to programme.</p>

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current estimated costs are of each of the projects in its strategic transport programme.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer to the statement I madein Parliament on 16 March 2006 (see <i>Official Report</i>, c 24049) in which Iprovided an update on progress on our capital transport plan for new rail and roadinvestment. The following table lists the estimated costs mentioned…

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether hydro schemes proposed by communities or community organisations will be eligible for assistance under any replacement for the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The consideration of any continuationor replacement for the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme depends on decisions on the AggregatesLevy still to be announced by the Chancellor, and on subsequent decisions by Scottishministers on distribution of any fund…

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in respect of a replacement for the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In reply to question S2W-28102on 13 September 2006, I stated that the Community EnvironmentalRenewal Scheme was designed to assist communities in the vicinity of past or presentquarries subject to the Aggregates Levy, and that the position on funding afterMar…

24 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development was advised to refuse to attend a meeting organised by the Moorland Forum at Langholm if a representative of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association was present and, if so, what the reason was for this advice and by whom it wa…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I received no such advice.</p>

24 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development’s office has acknowledged and replied to the Scottish Gamekeepers Association’s letter of 2 August 2006.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is no record of such aletter being received in the Executive. I would invite the ScottishGamekeepers’ Association to re-send the letter.</p>

11 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has been made aware of by Transport Scotland or the Office of Rail Regulation regarding their discussions on track access charges on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland’s intentionin discussions with the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is to seek track accesscharges at a level such that the overall costs to operators of using the new routeare no greater than the current costs of using the Forth Bridge rout…

11 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to Transport Scotland regarding track access charges on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland is partof the Scottish Executive, directly accountable to Scottish ministers. Consequently,no such direction or guidance has been given.</p>

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates it would cost to make the railway from Inverness to Perth double track in its entirety; how long it estimates it would take to complete this work, and how the estimated (a) cost of and (b) timescale for completion of any such project compares with the estimated cost of, …

Answer · Tavish Scott: Network Rail owns and operatesScotland’s rail infrastructure. Estimates on the cost of enhancing the rail networkand likely timescales could best be estimated by Network Rail.</p><p>The Edinburgh Airport Rail Linkscheme has a budget of £496.987 million at 200…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new Warm Deal scheme and central heating programme will be open for applications.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The programme has remained openfor applications during the re-letting of the contract for a Managing Agent.</p><p>Eaga Partnership continued to…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals are on the waiting list, opened by the Eaga Partnership Ltd in April 2006, for referrals under the Warm Deal scheme and central heating programme.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The number of applicants on theWarm Deal Programme list, as notified by Eaga, was 2,204 at the end of September2006.</p><p>The number of applic…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of the contract awarded by Communities Scotland to British Gas for the delivery of the next stage of the Warm Deal scheme and central heating programme.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Copies of the contract are availablein the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number No 40709). For reasonsof commercial confidential…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) initial and (b) secondary work was carried out on the A9 road junction at Grainish by Aviemore; in each case, what the total cost of the work was and who will meet the cost, and whether the secondary work carried out was for the purpose of rectifying the previous work and, if so,…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The initial works involved simplifying the layout of the junction through removal of the acceleration and deceleration lanesincluding the associated traffic island and resurfacing the carriageway oneither side of the junction. The cost of this design and buil…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the visit of the coastal and marine national park campaign bus to Mallaig should have been arranged with prior consultation of the fishermen in the areas of the proposed visits and, if so, why such consultation was not carried out.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28825 on 26 October 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it consulted anybody in Mallaig before fixing the date of the visit of the coastal and marine national park campaign bus to Mallaig and, if so, who was consulted; whether the Mallaig and North West Fishermen’s Association was consulted, and whether the Executive received represent…

Answer · Ross Finnie: In preparation for the Coastaland Marine National Park roadshow permission was sought where necessary for thesiting of the vehicles at the venues to be visited.</p><p>Contact was made with local interestsin Mallaig and my officials have also been in correspon…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue directions that public agencies and non-departmental public bodies should not provide sponsorship or other payments to charities and that such payments should be the responsibility of local or central government.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive has no plans toissue general directions of this nature or place restrictions on agencies and NDPBbeyond those already set out in founding legislation, financial framework documentsand the <i>Scottish Public Finance Manual</i>.</p>

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the total sums paid by (a) Scottish Natural Heritage, (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, (c) Scottish Enterprise, (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (e) Communities Scotland to charitable organisations in each of the last five years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28822 on 30 October 2006. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that public agencies and non-departmental public bodies should provide sponsorship or other payments towards the cost of charitable events and whether this is within the statutory financial competence of such organisations.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The issue of sponsorship or paymenttowards charitable events is an operational matter for individual NDPBs to considerwithin the powers granted to them and subject to the requirements of their financialframework documents and the <i>Scottish Public Finance Ma…

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide assurances to the staff of the Crofters Commission that they will not lose their status as civil servants in future and that it will not be within the remit of the inquiry into crofting to propose that the commission should become a non-departmental public body.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I can give no suchassurance.</p>

3 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the staff of the Crofters Commission will be represented on the committee of inquiry on the future of crofting.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Decisions about thestructure and membership of the committee of inquiry have yet to be made.</p>

2 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take any steps to promote the continuance and survival of community radio stations.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matterand is the responsibility of the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS).</p>

2 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any contact with community radio stations such as Lochbroom FM, Oban FM, Argyll FM, Caithness FM, Nevis Radio, Speysound Community Radio, Isles FM, Ross FM, Two Lochs Radio, Cuillin FM and Ness Community Radio and whether it has any concerns that the existence of any of…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matterand is the responsibility of the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS).</p><p>The Phonographic PerformanceLtd (PPL) is a not for profit organisation that issues licences to play music inpublic places and collects roya…

2 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of charges being faced by community radio stations in respect of broadcasting over the web; whether it will take any steps to protect community radio from the financial consequences of any such charges; whether it considers that any legislative reform should be made to…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matterand is the responsibility of the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS).</p>

29 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of trunk roads on which there are swing bridges, indicating the location of each bridge.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Swing bridges are located onthe A82, A83 and the A830 trunk roads. In total there are six locations where swingbridges carry the trunk road over canals. The locations are as follows:</p><p>A830at Mallaig Road at Banavie - just north of Fort William</p><p>A82a…

29 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that British Waterways has confirmed that it wishes to see a tunnel or aquaduct at Tomnahurich, rather than another swing bridge, and whether the Executive considers that a swing bridge is a suitable and appropriate option in this instance.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I have discussed this matterwith the Director of British Waterways in Scotland and am aware of their position. A technical assessmentof the proposed Inverness Southern Distributor Road, including the canal crossing,is proceeding through a working group led by…

29 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its position on classifying the Inverness link route as a trunk road and what the impact of such a classification would be on the Executive’s transport budget.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Inverness Southern Distributor Road is a local road and the responsibility of Highland Council.</p><p>The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to review the trunk road network. </p><p>The possibility of investment on the Inverness Southern Distribut…

27 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Agricultural College has received the responses to the consultation on the Scottish Rural Development Plan (SRDP); whether the college has collated and analysed the responses and, if so, when it completed the work; whether the results of the analysis will be made publ…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The consultation on theScotland Rural Development Plan 2007-13 attracted 259 written responses, whichhave been analysed by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) on behalf of the Scottish Executive. The final report has since been finalised and published ont…

27 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the responses to its consultation on the proposed Scottish Rural Development Plan, also showing the names of those who were consulted and an analysis of the responses to the questions asked in the consultation process.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-28729 on 25 October 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliaments website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…