Fergus Ewing

19 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposals for development of the Fort William waterfront.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive believe the proposals have the potential to benefit not only Fort William but also communities throughout Lochaber, both in terms of job creation and the local economy.

14 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek a meeting with officials of the European Commission (EC) to discuss the future of the Scottish aquaculture industry and any measures which it wishes the EC to take in order to promote the sustainable development of the industry.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive is in regular discussion with European Commission officials about measures designed to ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture such as the review of the fish and shellfish health directives and the emerging fish welfare proposals, the …

13 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sent to the European Commission for their attention and comment a copy of the European Committee's 7th Report 2000, Report on a review of the impact of European list 1 designated disease Infectious Salmon Anaemia and list 2 disease Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia on the Sco…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is the responsibility of Parliament to communicate to the European Commission recommendations of parliamentary committees which are directed towards the European Commission. I understand that this has been done. It will be for Parliament to decide how to d…

12 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what new steps it has taken or intends to take in response to the findings of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee's Report on the Inquiry into Fuel Prices in Remote Rural Areas.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive's response to the committee's report was sent to its Convener on 27 August, after lengthy consideration. <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The report recognised that the tax-varying proposals being put forward to address the higher cost of fuel in rur…

12 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that infectious salmon anaemia and viral haemorhagic septicaemia should be added to the list of diseases contained in Article 3 of EC Decisions 90/424/EEC.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) was added to the list of diseases in the Annex to Council Decision 90/424, by means of amending Decision 2001/572 dated 23 July 2001. The effect of this addition is that, in the event of further outbreaks of ISA, affected membe…

12 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or the enterprise network support the proposals for the Fort William waterfront development, what financial assistance the enterprise network will provide to this scheme and whether the network will support and match fund any application for EU funding.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Lochaber Enterprise has previously supported, and is willing to consider further, any request for financial assistance towards proposals for the development of Fort William Waterfront. The nature of financial commitments by any of the partners has yet to be a…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions or meetings it has had with other EU member states or European countries which operate national compensation schemes for losses incurred by fish farmers as a result of the compulsory slaughter of farmed fish and what information it has about any such schemes.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: No such discussions or meetings have taken place. There has been no detailed research into national compensation schemes, but we understand that there is no common approach.

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not met its target for the commencement of its central heating installation programme of 1 April 2001.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The programme did begin as planned and we are paying grant for all heating systems installed in local authority dwellings since 1 April 2001. We will ensure that our commitment to provide every council and housing association tenant and everyone aged 60 or ov…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what types of central heating systems will require to be upgraded or replaced under its central heating installation programme and what funding will be made available to allow the work to be carried out, all broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The information requested cannot be broken down by local authority area. Local authorities advise that there are about 23,000 council houses in Scotland with no form of central heating. Scottish Homes figures show that there are about 6,000 housing associatio…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S1W-16226 by Jackie Baillie on 2 July 2001, when it will announce who will be the managing agents of its central heating installation programme and why the announcement has been delayed.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Eaga Partnership Ltd were appointed to administer the Central Heating Programme on 29 August 2001. The appointment was made as soon as possible following a careful and thorough evaluation of the tenders received.

3 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relocate any executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies either in whole or in part to Inverness.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Following consideration of the appropriate operational locations for the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, and in the context of the Executive's relocation policy, it is planned to locate a regional office of the new body in the Inverness area.

3 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relocate civil servants to Inverness.

Answer · Angus MacKay: In line with the relocation policy, ministers consider a range of suitable locations when relocation opportunities arise. No particular areas of the country are targeted, nor are any ruled out. Inverness will be considered along with other locations.

3 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service or non-departmental public body jobs have been relocated to Inverness since May 1999.

Answer · Angus MacKay: There has been no transfer of Scottish Executive posts to Inverness since May 1999.<P>Information on the number of staff employed in non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally.

3 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the campaign to relocate the Scottish Arts Council to Inverness.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive's forthcoming quinquennial review of the Scottish Arts Council will consider and make recommendations to ministers on the most appropriate geographic location for that body.

3 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will provide for the disposal of venison carcasses and whether it will provide additional support for the marketing of Scottish wild venison throughout the UK.

Answer · Ross Finnie: My officials have met with industry representatives and the department is looking at detailed options along with the Deer Commission for Scotland to support carcass disposal should that prove necessary. The Executive has already approved funding for a wild ve…

3 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken or plans to take to address any animal welfare issues this autumn resulting from the animal movement restrictions and lack of auction sales and whether it will provide any assistance for the purchase of additional fodder or other purposes.

Answer · Ross Finnie: With the lifting of the small remaining infected area around Annan, the whole of Scotland now qualifies to be treated as foot-and-mouth disease free. This means that the movement and other controls which apply to our livestock sector are much less prohibitive…

23 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the justification is for the proposed distribution of the surplus of #250 million from the Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes and whether part of the distributed surplus is to be used for a contingency fund in respect of indemnities against the risk of legal action based on th…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Upon wind-up the two Scottish Transport Group pension fund schemes are liable to taxation which is payable to the Inland Revenue. As I announced in Parliament on 29 November agreement has been reached between the Scottish Executive and UK Government that up t…

23 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward detailed proposals to the Parliament in relation to the winding up of the Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes and whether it anticipates that payments to beneficiaries or pensioners will be made (a) this year, (b) next year or (c) later.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive will bring forward detailed proposals of the categories of beneficiaries and distribution arrangements when the Scottish Transport Group Dissolution Order is brought forward for the approval of the Scottish Parliament in the autumn. Sub…

23 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has yet completed compiling a full list of eligible beneficiaries under the Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes; if so on what date this list was completed and, if not, what action is being taken in order to complete it.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. Following approval by the Finance Committee of the Scottish Parliament, Scottish ministers have issued indemnities to the trustees which enable them to proceed to wind up the pension schemes. Until the schemes are wound up, the trustees have a responsibil…

23 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in terms of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information, public interest in the issues relating to the Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes and the winding up thereof outweighs any harm involved in disclosure of information and, if so, whether it will ma…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. It would not be appropriate for the Executive to disclose information which would harm the frankness and candour of discussion and advice, including between the Scottish Executive and UK Government and between the Executive and the Scottish Transport Grou…

23 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it first became aware of the level of Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes' surplus.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The estimated sum receivable in respect of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes surplus is noted in the group's Report and Accounts which are presented annually, formerly to the UK Parliament and now to the Scottish Parliament.

22 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists practising in Scotland are not entitled to any payment under the commitment payments scheme because of (a) not achieving the #25,000 earnings threshold or (b) not having completed 10 years of service and what the estimated cost would be of extending the commitment paymen…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In the year 2000-01, a total of 1,902 general dental practitioners in Scotland were eligible for consideration for commitment payments, subject to meeting the relevant commitment payments criteria. <P>In 2000-01, an average of 139 dentists failed to meet the …

22 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members are of the review group that has been set up to consider the operation and possible reform of the commitment payments scheme instituted by the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body.

Answer · Susan Deacon: No review group has been set up to look specifically at this area. The review of the commitment payment scheme in Scotland is being taken forward as part of the UK negotiations on the consultants' contract currently underway between the UK Health Departments …

22 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the predators of red squirrels are; what action it plans to take in order to control such predators; whether there is any justification for issuing licenses to kill red squirrels and, if so, how many such licenses have been issued in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Predators of red squirrels include domestic dogs and cats, some members of the weasel and stoat family and some birds of prey. The main threats to red squirrels come from competition from grey squirrels and from habitat loss and fragmentation. Predation is no…

22 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will promote the publication of information regarding control of pests including birds and whether such information will be placed in the public domain to enable those involved in land management to assess in what circumstances applications are likely to be granted in respect o…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Control of pests under the Pests Act 1954 does not require a licence. Under The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which provides for the protection of all wild birds, four general licences are in force in Scotland which permit authorised persons to kill a ra…

22 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the provisions of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 to allow for the disclosure of names and addresses of applicants for licences to kill (a) red squirrels, (b) ravens, (c) pigeons and (d) sparrows.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has no such plans.

22 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the identities of all applicants for licences for the taking or destruction of ravens under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Publication of the identities of applicants for licences to kill or take ravens under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is exempt from the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations 1992 and there are no plans to change this.

22 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16509 by Rhona Brankin on 30 July 2001, how many licences applied for under section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 were refused in each year since 1990.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Statistics of this kind covering enquiries, requests for advice and unsuccessful applications are not collated. Whilst some information may be retrievable from the relevant files, this would provide only an incomplete picture and would be likely to incur disp…

3 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when local authorities will receive details of the initiative to support adult literacy projects which was announced on 2 July 2001.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Circular ELLD 1/01, containing the details, was issued to local authorities on 17 July 2001.

2 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how voluntary bodies will benefit in the current financial year from its adult literacy initiative announced on 2 July 2001.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I announced that £18.5 million is being allocated through local authorities to Community Learning Strategy Partnerships over the next three years, including £2.7 million in the current financial year, to raise levels of adult literacy and numeracy in Scotland…