Fergus Ewing

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the state of monkfish stocks and whether monkfish quotas can be further increased.

Answer · Ross Finnie: With the agreement of the EUFisheries Council, monkfish quotas can be further increased on the basis of a proposalfrom the European Commission to do so.</p><p>The most recent scientific assessmentof monkfish stocks is presented in section 4.5.6 of the autumn …

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scottish Natural Heritage is an appropriate body to conduct any assessment of the impact of a marine national park on the fishing industry.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I am satisfied that SNH is the appropriate body to undertake an assessment of the issues relevant to establishment of a coastal and marine national park. I have therefore asked SNH to make recommendations on candidate areas and on the aims, powers and governa…

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional protection is needed in respect of the marine environment; what impact such protection would have on the fishing industry, and who would be asked to assess that impact.

Answer · Ross Finnie: On 12 September 2005 the Scottish Executive published <i>Seas the </i><i>Opportunity</i><i> – A Strategy for the Long Term Sustainability of </i><i>Scotland</i><i>’s Coasts and Seas.</i> Copies of the strategy document have been placed in the Parliament’s Ref…

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage will seek the views of representatives of fishermen's organisations during its scoping study into possible locations for a marine national park.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked SNH to work closely with relevant stakeholders in developing its advice to me on coastal and marine national parks. SNH has already written to a very wide range of organisations inviting input in writing or via a website message board. In additio…

22 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received in respect of the condition of nephrops stocks in the west coast of Scotland; whether Fisheries Research Services has made any recommendation to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas or the European Union that nephrops quotas should be …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The most recent assessment ofNephrops stocks to the West of Scotland is presented in the October 2003 AdvisoryCommittee on Fishery Management (ACFM) report from the International Councilfor the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which is publicly available at <ah…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or the successful tenderers are responsible for the costs of security for the M74 project in providing security cover to cater for the risk of disruption and violence which may be caused by demonstrators against the project.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-10252 on 22 September 2004 and question S2W-13781 on 8 February 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns that the behaviour of demonstrators on the M74 project, such as by direct disruption or attempted disruption of construction work commencing, may cause delays and extra costs to the project and, if so, whether it will detail what concerns it has.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answers to question S2W-10252 on 22 September 2004 and question S2W-13781 answered on 8 February 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be fou…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out the programme for the commencement and completion of the M74, providing the estimated start and finish dates in respect of each part of the project put out to tender in three packages, and whether it has any concerns regarding any further delay to the commencement …

Answer · Tavish Scott: The programme will be set out once the outcome of the appeal against the Road Order is known. The appeal hearing in the Court of Session has been arranged for 27 to 30 June and 4 and 5 July 2006.</p>

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether potential volunteers are being deterred from coming forward to work with children due to bureaucracy involved in the security checks which have to be carried out and which, in some cases, are carried out more than once.

Answer · Robert Brown: Research carried out by TNS System Three last year on behalf of Volunteer Development Scotland indicated that for 83% of people, the requirement to undergo a disclosure check did not affect their willingness to volunteer. It is important, however, that we kee…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a central register of individuals who work with children in order to avoid any repeat security checks which some individuals are currently required to undertake.

Answer · Robert Brown: We are working towards the implementation of a new vetting and barring scheme for those who work with children and vulnerable adults in response to the recommendations in the Bichard Report. The proposed scheme will include continuous updating of an individua…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which individuals and organisations it consulted on its review of NHS 24 and, of these, which have responded.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The review of NHS 24 is an independent review and any consultation is a matter for Owen Clarke and his team. However, I understand that the review team has consulted with a number of individuals and representative bodies including patients, staff, voluntary o…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the removal of deer fencing and the lack of deer fencing for new forest development encourages the infection of animals from ticks; if so, what effect this may have on increasing the risk of humans catching diseases, such as Lymes Disease, from ticks, and whether…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no evidence to suggest that removal or the lack of deer fencing encourages the infection of animals from ticks or increases the risk of humans catching diseases.</p> <p>The Executive has no plans to ask the Forestry Commission to review the …

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state in any guidelines, guidance or other form of advice or direction to be issued to Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) that the RTPs should provide, in order of priority, a list of the transport projects to be taken forward in their area.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Yes. This is a requirement of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and will be reinforced by the Executives forthcoming guidance on regional transport strategies.</p>

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the establishment of a long-term transport plan, including proposed major improvements to road, rail, air and sea transport, over the period of 20 to 25 years.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Work is already under way on the development of a National Transport Strategy (NTS) for Scotland which will give a long-term strategic framework for developments in all modes of transport. The NTS will be based on widespread consultation throughout the remain…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the proposed increase in population and development between Inverness and Nairn envisaged by the Highland Council, it will now now agree to (a) upgrade the A96 to dual carriageway and (b) create a Nairn bypass.

Answer · Tavish Scott: In considering the need for improvements on this route and in addition to  a multi-modal study of the A96 between Inverness and the airport, we are discussing the possibility of undertaking a multi-modal corridor study of the A96 with HITRANS and NESTRANS to …

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it updates its trunk road programme on a (a) regular and (b) monthly basis and whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre details of each of the programmes it has prepared since inception.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18471<b> </b>on 13 September 2005. 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…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its programme of proposed trunk road improvement works so far as has been determined, showing details of each project and the band into which the estimated cost of each project will fall

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive updates its trunk road preparation programme on a regular quarterly basis and it is our intention to develop and place a summary of progress on the Scottish Executive website (under the section for Transport/Roads and Motorways/Trunk Ro…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether companies within the fish farming sector have asked Highlands and Islands Enterprise for loan assistance; if so, what its response has been; whether the Executive is satisfied with any such response, and, if not, what action it will take.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive was approached by a number of fish farming companies asking for financial assistance. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), at the request of ministers, has responded quickly to this situation. We understand that HIE will make an announcement …

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist the fishing industry to cope with increasing fuel costs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive continues to be in close dialogue with the industry, the UK government and the EU Commission regarding the effects of high fuel costs and continues to explore what options might be available.</p> <p>I refer the member to the answer to q…

16 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect of all proposed wind farms will be on the eagle population; whether it will publish (a) the best available estimates of the eagle population in each of the last six years and (b) its estimate of the future population of eagles, and whether it has had communications with Sc…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is not possible to forecast accurately what the effect, if any, of all proposed wind farms will be on the eagle population as many projects are still in the process of environmental survey and evaluation.</p> <p>Golden eagle populations are not estimated a…

6 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the position in respect of employees of Caledonian MacBrayne regarding their security of employment if the company registers offshore for tax purposes and, in particular, whether their (a) security of employment and (b) rights and conditions of employment would be …

Answer · Tavish Scott: Caledonian MacBrayne has advisedits employees that should offshore crewing proceed, the company would ensure thatthere was no financial detriment to any employee as a result of any changes andthat this guarantee would be written into employees’ terms and cond…

6 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft invitation to tender for Clyde and Hebridean ferry services makes any provision in respect of the successful tenderer being liable to pay UK taxes and national insurance and, if not, whether it will consider bids from companies which are registered offshore for tax purpo…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The draft service specification,published for consultation in December 2004, does not make any specific referenceto the liability of the operator of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services in relationto UK taxes and national insurance. If tendering is required,…

30 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recent appointments to the board of the Water Industry Commission, including the post of Chief Executive, were subject to an open and competitive selection process and if so, how many applicants were interviewed for the posts.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The chair and other ordinarymembersof the Water Industry Commission were appointed after an open competition conductedunder guidelines issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland(OCPAS) and in accordance with Schedule A1,parag…

20 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether private sector providers of outdoor education consider the level of business rates to be a significant factor in the operation of their business.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17467 on 18 July 2005. All answers 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/wa…

20 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a survey of private sector providers of outdoor education to ascertain whether the availability of labour is a barrier to providing outdoor education.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17467 on 18 July 2005. All answers 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/wa…

20 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a survey to ascertain whether the cost to outdoor education providers of obtaining insurance cover against third party public liability risk of accidents has increased in recent years; whether information will be sought from, or a survey will be carried out of, p…

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17467 on 8 July 2005. 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/webapp/wa…

20 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the development officer appointed to take forward the development of outdoor education will seek to identify barriers to the provision of outdoor education; whether a survey will be carried out of those who provide outdoor education in the private sector in respect of what any suc…

Answer · Peter Peacock: A priority for the national development officer will be to map out current provision and identify barriers to participation in outdoor education. This will be a matter for the development officer to take forward with the support of the outdoor connections ste…

3 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it, or its consultants, have had with Loganair on the review of the HITRANS proposals for enhanced air services in the Highlands and Islands and whether any other regional airlines were contacted as part of this review.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive and its consultant have discussed the technical and operational feasibilityof the HITRANS’ proposals with Loganair and other airlines serving the Highlands andIslands.</p>

3 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in implementing the HITRANS proposals for enhanced air services in the Highlands and Islands, given its support for these proposals in the partnership agreement.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Partnership Agreement committedthe Scottish Executive to fully evaluate the HITRANS’ proposals for a Highlands andIslands air network. Further work, commissioned by HITRANS, developed its proposalsand this has been similarly evaluated. With this evaluatio…

3 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on which EU countries use public service obligations (PSOs) to support air service networks in remote communities, how many services PSOs cover and how this position compares with the situation in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The EU countries which use PublicService Obligations (PSOs) under EC Regulation 2408/92 to support air service networks,including routes in and to peripheral communities, are:</p><p>France</p><p>Germany</p><p>Greece</p><p>Ireland</p><p>Italy</p><p>Portugal</p…