Parliamentary questions

Fergus Ewing

2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

19 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made available to the Holyrood Inquiry documents comprising any memoranda, notes or reports from the current Chief Executive of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Head of Legal and Parliamentary Services and/or the Architectural Adviser to the Scottish Parli…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive continues to co-operate fully with the Fraser Inquiry, as it has fromthe outset. Oral evidence has been given to the Inquiry by the Chief Executiveof the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Head of Legal andParliamentary Serv…

17 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the report, The Case for Rail in the Highlands and Islands, published by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 16 March 2004 and, if so, how it will use the information in the report to increase investment in the rail infrastructure in the Highlands.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has received this report and Scottish Executive officials attended its publiclaunch in Inverness headquarters on 16 March 2004.The Executive welcomes the report, and will continue to be supportive of rail servicesin the Highlands.

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether those Territorial Army (TA) soldiers who reside in Scotland and (a) live alone or (b) live with a spouse or partner are entitled to remission of liability for council tax for the period of their absence from home on duty abroad and what its position is on the matter and, if there…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Service personnel, both fulltime and reservists, who live in Scotland, either alone or with a partner arenot entitled to remission of liability for council tax during their absenceabroad on duty.A Ministry of Defencefinancial package of assistance exis…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the announcement of funding for autism initiatives by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care on 3 March 2004, it will consider funding an initiative to carry out research into diet and autism by Autism Unravelled, Action Against Autism, Food and Behaviour R…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The announced fundingrelated to the implementation of the Public Health Institute of Scotland’sAutistic Spectrum Disorders Needs Assessment Report. The reference group hashad no approach from the group of organisations considering research into dietand autism…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the announcement of funding for autism initiatives by the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care on 3 March 2004, it will consider funding a one-stop shop for adults with autistic spectrum disorder and their family members in the Inverness area, given the inci…

Answer · Tom McCabe: There are no plans to fund aone-stop shop in the Inverness area. All of the innovative projects that are fundedhave been specifically targeted to improve services nationally, with some beingbased initially on local pilots. Officials are currently in discussio…

27 Feb 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether (a) it, (b) the office of the Presiding Officer, (c) the Chief Executive of the Parliament or (d) the Holyrood Project Group has been advised that the practical completion of the Holyrood project is not likely to be by the intended date of July 2004 and, if so, …

Answer · George Reid: The Scottish ParliamentaryCorporate Body , the Presiding Officer, the Chief Executive and the HolyroodProgress Group, rely on advice from the Construction Manager about the achievabilityof the programme for building completion. The convener of the HolyroodPr…

27 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the decision taken by it on the request of Scottish National Heritage (SNH) that the mobility clause within the contracts of some SNH staff will not be implemented, this decision will be replicated for any other relocations of public sector departments or functions wh…

Answer · Andy Kerr: As I explained in myresponse to question S2W-5568, the way in which relocations are handled willvary. Decisions that suit the circumstance of SNH may not be appropriate in thecase of other organisations included in Scottish Ministers’ relocation reviewprogram…

27 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will rule out any ban on the use of lead shot that applied to particular species, in particular those not currently protected by law.

Answer · Allan Wilson: As outlined in the Scottishconsultation paper, Restriction on Use of Lead Shot in Scotland of July2001 the Scottish Executive aims to ban the use of leadshot over wetland areasand intends to introduce legislation on this issue in 2004. It is not expect…

27 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to any legislative measure that would seek to ban the use of lead in shot, it will, together with appropriate representative bodies such as the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, undertake a scientific study into any effect of ingested lead by using ne…

Answer · Allan Wilson: No.Long-term research into thetoxic effects of lead has established that it is a poison that can affect thedevelopment, reproduction and survival of a wide range of species, includinghumans. I see no benefit from undertaking further research along the …

27 Feb 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the terms of clause 1.5.4 of the contract between it and EMBT/RMJM, that makes provision for the cost of travel to and from the United Kingdom and Barcelona, have been implemented and not departed from or breached.

Answer · George Reid: The convener of the HolyroodProgress Group has confirmed that at no time have we paid EMBT/RMJM for thecost of travel between offices, whether in the UK or Barcelona.

27 Feb 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether all payments made to the architects engaged on the Holyrood project have been properly paid and whether any sum has been paid in advance of legal entitlement to payment.

Answer · George Reid: The Convener of the HolyroodProgress Group is confident that all payments to the architects have beenproperly made and successive audits of the project would support this. Iunderstand that a part payment was made to the architects in November 1998 inadvance o…

26 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 30-day target for payment of invoices applies to (a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) agencies and (c) housing associations and whether the statistics published by the Executive in respect of the proportion of invoices paid within the 30-day period includes such bodies.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is committed to paying all valid invoices within 30 days of their dateof receipt. Non departmental public bodies, agencies and housing associationsdevelop and follow their own prompt payment policies.The payment performancestatis…

26 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in exercising its powers to shoot deer under the Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, it has acted at all times in accordance with health and safety requirements, with particular regard to the possible presence of walkers in the area of the cull.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I am satisfied that the DeerCommission for Scotland (DCS), in exercising its powers under the Deer(Scotland) Act 1996, has at all times acted in accordance with best practice andhealth and safety requirements, in particular with regard to the possiblepresence…

25 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to transfer authority and funds to the Scottish Football Partnership from the Football Trust; whether there have been any difficulties with regard to (a) transfer obligations, (b) indemnity insurance, (c) tax issues and (d) potential liability of individuals; if s…

Answer · Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6496 on 10 March 2004.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/weba…

25 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Football Partnership was formally incorporated and whether the partnership is yet able to consider applications for funding and, if not, what the reasons are for the position on the matter.

Answer · Frank McAveety: I am concerned that therehas not been a resolution of the various difficulties over the transfer offunds from the former Football Trust to the Scottish Football Partnership. the Executive has no direct locus but has been encouraging the parties to resolvethe …

25 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to introduce a scheme for the collection and disposal of fallen stock without the approval of Her Majesty's Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Agriculture is devolved thereforethe Executive is solely responsible for such issues in Scotland,including the requirement to observe EU State Aid rules over funding.

25 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in the announcement of the fallen stock scheme; why it will not introduce such a scheme in Scotland ahead of any scheme in England and Wales, and what the reasons are for not introducing a scheme for the collection and disposal of fallen stock before aut…

Answer · Allan Wilson: Further time is needed tofinalise arrangements for members’ subscriptions, obtain state aids clearanceand to put in place the practical arrangements with the collection and disposalindustry.The difficulties of settingup a Scottish Scheme are the same a…

18 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the Highlands and Islands to be eligible for the proposed Objective 1b European regional development fund or whether they will be only eligible for Objective 2 and 3 funding.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The European Commission’sThird Report on Economic and Social Cohesion, published on 18 February,outlines their proposals for the Structural and Cohesion Funds in the nextprogramming period from 2007-13.The Commission proposes thatregions which would ha…

13 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will intervene to ensure that the Highland Football Academy receives the funding committed by sportscotland.

Answer · Frank McAveety: No intervention is required.Funding awarded by sportscotland is being paid out under the terms andconditions of the award.

13 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether sportscotland has advanced funding to the Highland Football Academy; what the reasons are for sportscotland's position on this matter, and what steps it will now take to ensure that the Highland Football Academy can continue.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Sportscotland has made payments to the Highland FootballAcademy Trust in line with the terms and conditions of the Lottery award andaward of Reduction in Pool Betting Duty monies. Sportscotland is not ina position to advance payments on behalf o…

2 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the significance is of the figure of 2950 for the design and construction of dual carriageway roads in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and whether that figure is a maximum number of vehicles which a dual carriageway is expected to bear or a minimum level of traffic flow whic…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The figure of 2,950 vehiclesper hour in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges is the maximum one-wayhourly flow capacity of a 6.75 metre wide urban dual carriageway road.

2 Feb 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer which west of Scotland companies the Presiding Officer was referring to in his speech to the Parliament on 5 April 2000 when he assured the Parliament that such companies were to manufacture off site everything from the concrete MSP office modules to the specialist windows; why…

Answer · George Reid: In his evidence to theHolyrood Inquiry on 4 February, Sir David Steel gave a full explanation about thecomments he made on 5 April 2000 concerning “firms in the west of Scotland”. Atranscript of Sir David’s statement is available on the Holyrood Inquirywebsit…

2 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in respect of the regulations relating to the construction of roads and bridges and the upgrading of roads to dual carriageway status; what the criteria are which govern the decision as to whether an existing trunk road, comprising two carriageways, one carrying traffi…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has full powers under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 in relation to the construction of trunkroads and bridges, including the upgrading of single carriageway trunk roads todual carriageway.Any proposal to upgrade aroad has to be a…

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Fire Service has purchased private cars from public funds for the use of senior management and, if so, (a) how many it has purchased, broken down by brigade area and (b) whether this expenditure is justified and what action it will take in respect of the matter.

Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not heldcentrally. Detailed budgeting issues including vehicle and equipmentrequirements are matters for individual fire authorities to determine.

28 Jan 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) can provide an unqualified assurance in writing to members of the Scottish Parliament that, if the SPCB does not take up the offer of the parent company guarantee, free of charge, from the construction managers of the Holyrood Proje…

Answer · George Reid: The convener of the HolyroodProgress Group has informed me that a parent company guarantee is being soughtand will be provided by Bovis Lend Lease without charge.

28 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, whether all outstanding claims from farms and/or businesses have been settled and, if not, whether it will provide a breakdown of payments due by (a) it, (b) local authorities, (c) enterprise companies and (d) other public bodies.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has processedall claims in respect of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Four claims are still outstanding pending the claimants’ responsesto offers made to them. Information on outstanding claims with localauthorities, enterprise companies an…

28 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute hospitals with consultant-led services it estimates there will be in (a) 5, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years' time.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: More hospital care will beconsultant delivered in the future and more care will be provided in localcommunities. However, it is not possible to predict the precise configurationof acute hospital services.

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the entitlement to the west of Scotland nephrops quota is held by non-active interests.

Answer · Allan Wilson: On 1 January 2004, five percentof the West of Scotland Nephrops quota was held on inactive vessel licences.

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive at what point in the negotiations at the December EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council the UK delegation ceased to make the requirement that the 10% reduction in the west of Scotland nephrops quota, introduced at the December 2000 Council, be reinstated and why this was not pursued as a …

Answer · Allan Wilson: We believe that there is a crediblescientific argument for restoring the 10% cut in the West of Scotland nephrops totalallowable catch (TAC). However, our arguments were hampered because thescientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration …

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport has any plans to visit the west Highlands in response to any concerns expressed by motorists in relation to the A82, with particular reference to the upgrade of the road between Tarbert and Inverarnan, and whether the upgrade will be included in the next…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I have no current plans tovisit the west Highlands in relation to driving conditions on the A82. A routeaction plan has been commissioned which will identify measures to improve roadsafety and reduce journey times between Tarbet and Fort William. Anyproposals…