Fergus Ewing

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the marketing of Badenoch and Strathspey as "Monarch Country" and whether it will urge visitscotland to investigate the feasibility of purchasing brief television advert slots at the end of episodes of "Monarch of the Glen" which are shown in other countries.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: This is an operational matter for visitscotland.

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what difficulties the 20-day standstill rule following the movement of cattle and sheep could cause farmers, especially those in peripheral areas, and whether it has any plans to modify the rule in the light of any difficulties experienced.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No decisions have yet been taken on the 20-day standstill rule. The consultation period on the proposal has just ended and the responses, along with comments from meetings with key industry sectors, are being carefully considered.<P>I am of course well aware …

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether teachers who work as education advisors will, under the McCrone agreement, receive salary increases at least equivalent to those already agreed for other local authority teachers and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Jack McConnell: A short-life working group has been set up under the auspices of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers to review the pay and conditions of service for educational advisers.

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether fluoridation of the water supply would have any implications for the future development of organic farming and horticulture.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Fluoride is a natural mineral present in many soils. It is also present in fresh water and sea water. It is not added to any Scottish drinking water at present but occurs naturally in some.<P>There is no evidence that the addition of fluoride at the optimum (…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to lodge a motion in the Parliament on the fluoridation of the public water supply.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I> promised a wide-ranging consultation on children's oral health, which would seek views on a range of measures, including fluoridation of public water supplies. Proposal…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to ScotRail that it should review the reduction in the number of carriages from four to two operating on the Glasgow to Mallaig rail route on the 12:42 train from Glasgow and the 16:08 train from Mallaig.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This is an operational matter for ScotRail. If you wish details of the changes you may wish to contact ScotRail.

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps sportscotland is planning to take to promote the Cairngorm National Park as a sport and recreation centre of international excellence.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 provides for the establishment of a National Park Authority and the promotion of the park will be a matter for the authority. However, <B>sport</B>scotland intends to work closely with the authority to develop a Park Pla…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that it should ensure that the leaflets produced by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions which set out basic rules about driving in the United Kingdom, including advice on driving on the left, turning…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in touch with Her Majesty's Government on a wide range of issues.<P>The leaflets produced by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, formerly the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which …

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will advise all health boards in possession of an unallocated development reserve to use some or all of that reserve to alleviate delays in the discharge of patients from hospitals into care homes and whether it will detail what scrutiny and accountability health boards are sub…

Answer · Susan Deacon: We have no plans to advise Health Boards how they should spend any reserves which they may temporarily hold. It is for Health Boards to determine how to allocate the resources available to them on the basis of their assessment of local needs and priorities.<P…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage the Scottish Tourist Board to conduct specific marketing of the West Highland Way in specialised publications and maga'ines in Germany, Holland and any other countries which constitute significant markets for the West Highland Way.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: I understand that visitscotland wrote to you recently, detailing their marketing activity promoting walking holidays in Scotland.

13 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives of BP to discuss ways in which the work connected with the development of the Clair field for which contracts will shortly be issued can contribute to the Scottish economy, in particular with regard to employment opportunities.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We are in regular contact with BP about a range of issues including those concerning the development of the Clair field and the role of Scottish industry in this work.

13 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice Scottish Natural Heritage has given on whether Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross should be chosen as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Natural Heritage has not been asked for advice on whether Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross should be chosen as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines. Mellon Charles lies within the We…

13 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what position it took on the choice of Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines in any consultation with the Ministry of Defence on the environmental and other implications of the proposed …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand that no sites have been selected.

13 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the Ministry of Defence on the environmental or other implications of the Interim Storage of Laid-up Submarines Project and whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any documents and communications in respect of such consultation.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on a wide range of issues including the Interim Storage of Laid-Up Submarines Study.<P>I understand that at this stage no sites have been selected as the MOD have not concluded ho…

6 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold an inquiry into the amount of public funding made available to the National Trust for Scotland in respect of its proposed visitors centre at Glencoe.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: No.

6 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to any grant which may be awarded by Scottish Natural Heritage to the National Trust for Scotland for the proposed visitors centre at Inverigan, taking into account the study received by the local enterprise company showing the centre's potentially adverse…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.

6 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct Scottish Natural Heritage to (a) allow sufficient time for the application by the National Trust for Scotland for #200,000 assistance with the costs of providing interpretation facilities in the visitors centre at Glencoe to be considered by the Parliament if the Pa…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: No.

6 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding will be made available for the proposed Cairngorms National Park and whether any such funding will be utilised in a way that encourages the pursuit of sport and recreation.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The statutory consultation being conducted by Scottish Natural Heritage on the proposal for a Cairngorms National Park is required to address the matter of funding. That report is due on 13 July. Scottish Ministers will wish to take note of these findings in …

31 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether those who complete the Open University Postgraduate Certificate in Education, which is recognised in England, are qualified to teach in Scotland and, if not, whether it will specify which elements of the qualification it does not recognise.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Scotland does not currently participate in the Open University (OU) Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programme. Institutions are able, however, to offer any course on a part-time basis provided it meets the requirements set out in the Guidelines f…

30 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote use of the West Highland railway line and address any decline in the amount of freight being carried on the line.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: To encourage the movement of freight by rail, the Scottish Executive has committed £39 million over the next three years (2001-04) towards the Freight Facilities Grant and Track Access Grant schemes. The Executive will consider applications for grants under t…

30 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortage of primary teachers and, if so, what measures it is taking to address this.

Answer · Jack McConnell: <I><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>The Supply of Teachers</I> report, 1st Edition - January 2001, details the background to the current position on the collection of information relevant to teacher supply and outlines planned improvements to current methods. Copies…

30 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether planning law will be reviewed to ensure that before making a formal objection to an application which would result in the application being called in and a public local inquiry being held, it should be compulsory for the trunk roads authority to visit the premises concerned and co…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No, the Scottish Executive has no plans to review planning legislation in this regard.<P>The current contractual arrangements between the Road Network Management and Maintenance Division (RNMMD) and the Operating Companies managing the trunk road network on t…

30 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend that the trunk roads authority not submit objections to planning applications without having inspected the premises which are the subject of the application.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The sites of all planning applications are visited to assist in determining whether the development would be likely to have a detrimental effect on trunk road traffic. It is not normal practice to inspect individual premises as sufficient information indicati…

30 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, prior to submitting an objection to the planning application submitted on behalf of the United Reform Church, Crescent Road, Nairn, the trunk roads authority visited the premises.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In common with all planning applications affecting a trunk road, the Scottish Executive is consulted and offers advice to the Planning Authority. In this case, the site was visited by the previous Management Agent, Mouchel Scotland Ltd and a report submitted …

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has received on whether the lack of a scheme to compensate fish farmers for the compulsory slaughter of fish breaches the provisions of Article 1 of the First Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights and article 14 of the Convention itself; what considerati…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Our legal advice is that policy on compensation for fish farmers in these circumstances is not in breach of these provisions. Consideration has been given to a range of case law, including <I>Handyside</I> v <I>UK</I>. The matter is currently being examined b…

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce proposals to provide backing for an insurance scheme in respect of the compulsory slaughter of farmed fish.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Such plans have been proposed and rejected as any Government contribution would be tantamount to compensation. We have, however, secured and implemented an amendment to EC fish health legislation to allow fish to be withdrawn from infected farms at a rate det…

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what EC compensation schemes for losses incurred by fish farmers as a result of the compulsory slaughter of farmed fish it is aware of and whether it will provide details of any such schemes.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We are aware of no such schemes.

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of any additional costs incurred by fish farmers in each year since Her Majesty's Government's decision not to adopt EU Council Decision 90/424, which provides compensation for the compulsory slaughter of farmed fish.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: No such estimate has been made. The provisions of Decision 90/424 apply to neither of the fish diseases for which compulsory slaughter has been required.

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the policy that fish farmers whose fish farmed livestock are compulsorily slaughtered are not entitled to compensation was first established.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The first claim for compensation in these circumstances was turned down in 1996.

11 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will convene a working group, including representatives of the sectors of industry most likely to be affected, a Scottish Environment Protection Agency representative and a water authority representative, to consider proposals for the implementation of the Water Framework Direc…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We intend to take an open approach to implementing the EC Water Framework Directive consulting extensively with stakeholders. For example, we plan to hold a conference on the Directive in the autumn. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the water autho…