Parliamentary questions
Fergus Ewing
2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to the proposed tendering of Clyde and Hebridean Ferry Services, it has now developed a scheme in respect of pension provision for Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) staff and, if so, whether the scheme has been approved by the CalMac pension fund trustees, the company and…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executiveattaches great importance to the future of the CalMac workforce and iscommitted to protecting the pension position of transferring staff. the Executive is working closely with the CalMac pension fund trustees, CaledonianMacBrayne Limited…
15 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether advice has been provided to the Minister for Justice by any civil servant in the Justice Department in relation to the decision to settle the civil action raised by Shirley McKie in the Court of Session for damages to the sum of £750,000; whether the decision to pay this sum was c…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Justice Department providedadvice to ministers having taken full account of the Memorandum to Accountable Officersfrom the Principal Accountable Officer and the Scottish Public Finance Manual<i>.</i></p><p>At all times ministers have beenmindful of the ne…
3 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) regarding the scheme of charges to be payable to SEPA in respect of energy schemes; whether it will publish that advice and what the reasons are for its position on the matter; whether it has been advised b…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is currentlyconsidering the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) response to itsconsultation on the Water Environment charging scheme. The consultation resultedin a significant number of responses, including one from Kingussi…
2 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans there are in respect of poultry with no access to enclosed areas in the event of an avian flu outbreak in the United Kingdom.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Planning the response to a legalrequirement for birds to be housed is a matter for individual poultry-keepers. Insupport of this the Executive has published guidance on the issues which individualpoultry-keepers will wish to take into account. A wide range of…
2 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what previous experience Fisheries Research Services (FRS) has in relation to salmon farming and what expertise there is within FRS regarding the sector.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Fisheries Research Services’(FRS) previous experience in salmon farming principally resides with staff of theFish Health Inspectorate who visit salmon farms on a regular basis in the courseof implementing the statutory fish health regime. Extensive experience…
2 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will, prior to introducing any legislation which provides that there will be a regulator for the salmon farming sector, meet MSPs with a constituency interest in order to discuss the impact which the measure may have upon the industry and, in particular, on employment in the mo…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I or my officials would be happyto meet MSPs with a constituency interest to discuss the contents of the Aquacultureand Fisheries Bill once it has been introduced to Parliament in the summer.</p>
2 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Fisheries Research Services (FRS) will be responsible for delivering the services of the regulator for the aquaculture sector and, if so, what the extra costs to FRS will be of so doing.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to theanswers to questions S2W-23422 on the role of the regulator and S2W-23420 on thecosts of regulation on 3 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whic…
2 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the cost of the proposed regulator for the aquaculture sector.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23420 on 3 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
2 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will postpone the introduction of any legislative measure which provides for a regulator for the salmon farming industry in order to allow a reasonable period in which to assess the effect and effectiveness of the code of practice, which has been published and which the industr…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There are no plans to postponethe introduction of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill.</p>
27 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date or dates the Scottish Executive’s Cabinet has discussed the Scottish Criminal Record Office; in particular whether a complaint made in August 2001, referred to in a Sunday Times article on 26 February 2006, was raised expressly or by reference with the Cabinet or in any pape…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information relating to the proceedingsof the Scottish Cabinet is considered exempt from disclosure under sections 29 (a)and (b) and 30(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.</p>
27 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date or dates the Scottish Executive’s Cabinet has discussed the Shirley McKie case.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information relating to the proceedingsof the Scottish Cabinet is considered exempt from disclosure under sections 29 (a)and (b) and 30(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.</p>
27 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the former Minister for Justice, Mr Jim Wallace MSP, asked his department to investigate the issues described in a Sunday Times article on 26 February 2006 as having been reported to him by a “whistleblower” from within the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) who alleged that t…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I understand this letter wassent to the Lord Advocate. A reply was sent on his behalf requesting further informationin relation to the point raised which concerned Crown Office, in respect of a particularcase. This information was subsequently provided and it…
27 Feb 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether, in any decision on whether to initiate court action against the construction managers arising from breaches of contract or delictual obligations in relation to the Holyrood Project, any individual who played a part in the selection of Bovis as construction mana…
Answer · George Reid: Decisions as regards the initiationor otherwise of court action are for the Corporate Body. The Post-Completion AdvisoryGroup is not part of that decision-making process.</p>
27 Feb 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether any possible court action or actions for recovery of sums due from contractors or others in respect of the Holyrood Project have become extinguished through the operation of prescription.
Answer · George Reid: The Corporate Body continuesto take advice on relevant matters concerning closure of the Holyrood Project andis alive to consideration of such matters as prescription.</p>
27 Feb 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, in light of the criticisms expressed by the Auditor General in each of his three reports into the Holyrood project, what action it will take, or has considered taking, in relation to the findings of fault and, in particular, whether it has sought to take, or considered…
Answer · George Reid: The Corporate Body consideredthe reports of the Auditor General and in particular conclusions of the Audit Committeeresponded as appropriate at the time. It has no further comment to make.</p>
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of its consultation on the proposed Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, what the relationship will be between the proposed regulator and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and whose requirements for action will take precedence in law.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has yet to analyse the responses to the consultation and consider fully the provisions that will go into the bill, including the need for a regulator, its role and its relationship with other regulators.</p>
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of its consultation on the proposed Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, what liability the proposed regulator would have in the event of salmon dying as a result of the treatment carried out by, or on the instruction of, the regulator.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The issue of where the liability lies for stock lost as a result of treatment carried out by, or on the instruction of, a regulator is one that has been raised during the consultation. The Executive will give this issue due consideration alongside other point…
22 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of its consultation on the proposed Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill, what its estimate is of the total cost of the (a) consultation exercise, (b) implementation of the legislation and (c) proposed regulator and, if the regulator is the Fish Health Inspectorate within the Fisher…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Two thousand, five hundred copies of the consultation paper on the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill were produced at a cost of £18,698. In addition, the Executive held 10 public meetings across Scotland, at a total cost of £2,151. The consultation paper include…
21 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue with current funding arrangements for mountain rescue from 1 April 2006; they plan any reduction in funding, and whether it will make a ministerial statement on the matter.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Since 2003-04, the Executivehas provided £1.46 million in funding to support mountain rescue. A further grantof £300,000 will be paid to the Mountain Rescue Committee for Scotland in 2006-07.Future funding beyond that period will be considered in the context …
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that the evaluation of the speeds of vehicles recorded travelling through Cromdale on the A95 between 8 and 15 August 2005, when a temporary speed limit of 30 mph was applied, indicate that (a) the highest speeds recorded were in respect of a motorcycle travelling …
Answer · Tavish Scott: I can confirm that the evaluationof the speeds of vehicles travelling through Cromdale on the A95 during the trial30mph speed limit from 8 to 15 August 2005 is as stated in the question. I can also confirm thatofficials in the Scottish Executive (now Transpor…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15219 by Nicol Stephen on 20 June 2005, whether it will now make an order to lower the speed limit to 30 mph on the A95 at Cromdale.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The order cannot be made untilthe two objections referred to in the answer to question S2W-15219 have been properlyaddressed. Transport Scotland is currently seeking to resolve these objections asquickly as possible.</p><p>Transport Scotland hasthe operationa…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the report by James Mackay, in relation to the Shirley McKie and Marion Ross fingerprints was concluded; to whom it was communicated; whether it was passed to any civil servant of the Executive’s Justice Department; whether its contents were the subject of any report to the Justice D…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Mackay and Robertsonreport was a confidential report relating to a criminal investigation,completed on 20 October 2000. The report was submitted in full to the RegionalProcurator Fiscal at Paisley, the President of ACPOS and the Deputy ChiefConstable of S…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the document referred to in the article on pages 38 and 39 of the Sunday Herald of 19 February 2006 as the “report by three experts at the UK’s national forensic training centre in Durham” in relation to the Shirley McKie and David Asbury fingerprints; if so, on wh…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A report prepared by the NationalTraining Centre for Scientific Support to Crime Investigation was completed in June2001 and thereafter passed to the Crown Office. No Scottish minister outwith CrownOffice has seen this report. The previous Justice Minister wa…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO) executive committee meetings were attended by any civil servant from the Executive’s Justice Department; if so, what role the civil servant performed by so attending; what practice existed on reporting information regarding the discussio…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Head of Police Division2 attended meetings of the Scottish Criminal Record Office Executive Committee.His role was to keep informed about the committee’s oversight of SCRO and torepresent the Executive’s interests in any relevant matters discussed by thec…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statement contained in the article on pages 38 and 39 of the Sunday Herald of 19 February 2006 that the civil servant of the Executive’s Justice Department named in the article attended meetings of the Scottish Criminal Record Office executive committee and, in particular, tha…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: John Rowell attendedmeetings of the Scottish Criminal Record Office Executive Committee during 2000as part of his role as head of Police Division 2. Advice to Ministers fromcivil servants is not normally published because this could have an adverseeffect on t…
20 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the terms of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 will be brought into force; why it has not yet been brought into force; whether it is intended to bring it into force on 28 April 2006 and, if so, what the reasons are for the decision in respect of which date it comes into force.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Family Law (Scotland) Act2006 will come into effect in the late spring or early summer of 2006 once therequisite arrangements have been made in relation to rules of court andsecondary legislation.</p>
15 Feb 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist Scottish skiing centres and whether it supports the measures which have been taken in the centres to diversify and provide other attractions and experiences for visitors throughout the year.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I certainly welcome positive approaches to diversification at ski centres. Our Enterprise Networks, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, provide business development support relating to such diversification when there is a good business c…
13 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21547 by Mr Tom McCabe on 19 December 2005, whether applicants for the vacancies were required to have any specific professional qualifications and/or experience and, if so, what professional qualifications and/or experience were required in respect …
Answer · Tom McCabe: As noted in my answer to questionS2W-21547, there were 15 vacancies in the Scottish Executive, excluding the CroftersCommission, in Inverness in 2003-04 and 2004-05. Of those, nine vacancies werefor posts in Band A and, therefore, no professional qualificatio…
13 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21547 by Mr Tom McCabe on 19 December 2005, whether the information provided applied to the periods from (a) 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 and (b) 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 and, if not, to what dates the information applied.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Yes.</p>
13 Feb 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21547 by Mr Tom McCabe on 19 December 2005, in which of its departments the vacancies in Inverness arose in (a) 2003-04 and (b) 2004-05.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The information is as follows:</p><p>in 2003-04, five of the vacancieswere in the Deer Commission for Scotland and the remaining four vacancies were in the Animal HealthOffice in Inverness,</p><p>in 2004-05, three of the vacancieswere in the Agricultural area…