Fergus Ewing

11 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to effect road safety improvements at Duror, in particular at Achindarroch Road end and Cuil Bay Road end, and whether any such work will be carried out by BEAR Scotland Ltd.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Work to improve road safety on this route was completed last year, as part of a Route Accident Reduction Plan on the A828 between Connel and Ballachulish. This included signing and lining measures at Duror and the Achindarroch and Cuil Bay junctions. Further …

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its reference to the Scottish Law Commission (SLC) requesting it to consider the provisions of the Damages (Scotland) Act 1976, which set out which relatives of a deceased person can claim non-patrimonial damages, and to make recommendations as to possible changes in the l…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The terms of the reference to the Scottish Law Commission were set out in my reply to question S1W-15191 on 23 April. We did not think it right to fetter the discretion of the Commission to report as it thinks fit. We will consider its recommendations careful…

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11008 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 30 November 2000, why it expects a net increase in employment to result from the Chancellor's intention to recycle the revenues from the aggregates tax into a reduction in employers' National Insurance contributions.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The aggregates tax is a reserved matter. Detailed questions on the economic impact of the aggregates tax should be directed to HM Treasury. Although no separate assessment of the impact of the tax has been undertaken in Scotland, it is reasonable to expect a …

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the introduction of the aggregates tax in April 2002, a greater proportion of pre-cast concrete requirements will be met by imports from the Irish Republic and, if so, what impact this will have on Scotland's roads and environment and whether it will take any action to …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The aggregates tax is a reserved matter. Assessment of the impacts of the tax throughout the UK is a matter for HM Treasury. No separate assessment has been undertaken in Scotland. There are no plans to provide support for pre-cast concrete production in Scot…

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold an inquiry into the impact of the proposed aggregates tax upon the Scottish economy.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The aggregates tax is a reserved matter. Assessment of the impact of the proposed tax throughout the UK is a matter for HM Treasury.

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the introduction of the aggregates tax in April 2002, whether the cost of any new computer software development to administer the tax correctly will be defrayed by the Executive or Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and what consultation it has undert…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The aggregates tax is a reserved matter. There are no plans to defray the cost of changes to computer software in Scotland. HM Treasury and Customs and Excise have included the quarrying industry in their consultations on the tax.

8 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact implementation of the climate change levy will have upon the rural economy and whether it has made an estimate of the increase in quarry operators' power costs in order to assess this impact.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The UK Government expects the effect of its climate change levy on business energy use to be broadly neutral across business as a whole. No separate assessments of the impact on rural areas have been made.

8 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed explanation of its decision not to convene an independent inquiry into salmon farming and outline any initiatives or measures which are in place to ensure good working practices in the industry.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: A full explanation of the Executive's position is provided in the letter from the Minister for Environment and Rural Development to the Rural Development and Transport and Environment Committees, which is now available on the Scottish Parliament website.

4 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that all reports which are referred to in Executive press releases are available to Members of the Scottish Parliament before any press statements are made to allow them sufficient opportunity to prepare comment on the contents of such reports.

Answer · Tom McCabe: All reports from the Scottish Executive are placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre on publication. It is for individual MSPs to decide for themselves how they prepare any comment but if Mr Ewing has a particular case in mind I would be happy to discuss i…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received or is aware of any veterinary advice that the human disease Ebola might reach the UK in consignments of smuggled meat.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Ebola virus has not been found in meat imported into the UK. In countries where Ebola occurs, it may affect non-human primates. It has not been found in any other type of animal. As such the virus could in theory be present in meat from primates in outbre…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate legal and procedural safeguards are in place to prevent any illegal importation of meat and, in particular, whether more strict checking procedures are required at ports and airports and whether it has any plans to conduct any review of such safeguards.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15399 on 10 May 2001.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will play in connection with its proposed consultation on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and its impact on the whisky industry.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We will seek the views of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on our proposals for the implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive as part of the consultation process.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what evidence it intends to base its policy on the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and its impact on the whisky industry.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We will base our policy for the implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive on, amongst other things, an assessment of the impacts of human activities on the water environment and of the economic and social impact of any controls.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what evidence the briefing by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to MSPs on 1 May 2001 that there is "anecdotal evidence" which suggests that 20% of whisky distilleries have a negative impact on the environment was based, who produced such evidence and which distilleries were i…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring there has been of water abstraction levels throughout Scotland since 1997.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is no comprehensive monitoring of water abstraction levels in Scotland at present. We will be required to introduce such a system in order to implement the EC Water Framework Directive. However, there is already some monitoring as follows:<UL><FONT FACE…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what evidence the statement by the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development during the Members' Business debate on Scottish Whisky (Water Framework Directive) on 2 May 2001 that "SEPA advises that over-abstraction by industry and agriculture causes environmental problems i…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The statement was based on advice from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. An assessment of the environmental effects of water abstractions by industry and agriculture is set out in the agency's State of the Environment report, <I>Improving Scotland's…

2 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance has been received by the National Trust for Scotland in respect of the proposed Glencoe visitor centre from (a) the European Rural Development Fund, (b) the Enterprise Network, (c) Scottish Natural Heritage and (d) any other public funding source and whether any…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The National Trust for Scotland has received no financial assistance from the Enterprise Network in respect of the proposed Glencoe visitor centre. The Trust received £178,750 from Scottish Natural Heritage in 1995 toward the purchase of the land for the deve…

2 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive with regard to the announcement on 1 May 2001 by Susan Deacon in respect of an NHSiS investment programme, whether this will include an upgrade of the accident and emergency unit at Raigmore hospital and, if so, what the estimated cost of this will be, when it is scheduled to take place, …

Answer · Susan Deacon: As announced on 1 May 2001, £2.4 million has been included in the NHSScotland capital investment plan for an upgrade of the Accident &amp; Emergency facilities at Raigmore Hospital.<P>The Scottish Executive recently received the final proposal from Highlands …

2 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why a fee of #50 is imposed on farmers and crofters by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department in respect of applications for a license to move stock.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No fee is imposed on farmers and crofters by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department in respect of applications for a license to move stock. If a proposed livestock movement is not covered by the General Movement licence (possible only in the Provisio…

27 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15096 by Ross Finnie on 26 April 2001, whether any of the vehicles which are believed to have acted as transmitters of the foot-and-mouth virus were lorries hired on the instruction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through the Freig…

Answer · Ross Finnie: There is no evidence to suggest that lorries hired on the instruction of MAFF through the Freight Transport Association have acted as transmitters of the foot-and-mouth virus. The vehicle movements mentioned in the answer to question S1W-15096 refer to <U>far…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7769 by Mr Jack McConnell on 3 October 2000, whether the amount of revenue support grant needed to make up the total aggregate external finance required by local authorities for 2000-01 rose from the amount forecast at that time due to the impact of …

Answer · Angus MacKay: The amounts of revenue support grant and Non-Domestic Rates Income (NDRI) distributed to councils in 2000-01 were determined in the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2000 and did not change as a result of movements in non-domestic rates yield. Any adj…

26 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7769 by Mr Jack McConnell on 3 October 2000, how the expected #190 million saving in the amount of revenue support grant needed to make up the total aggregate external finance required by local authorities for 2000-01 due to the amount of non-domesti…

Answer · Angus MacKay: The £190 million saving remains unspent. As the then Minister for Finance said, the created provision will be used to cover requirements for additional RSG arising from the impact of the NDR appeals, and for other adjustments.

25 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the report by George Street Research, Development Department Research Programme Research Findings No.111: Sharing Road Space; Drivers and Cyclists as Equal Road Users, and what policy measures it plans to take in the light of the report, in particular, w…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive is currently considering the recommendations of the report and what policy measures may be appropriate.<P>As regards cycle training, the provision of cycle training for children is a matter for schools, police and local authority Road Safety Uni…

24 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease reported in the Sunday Post on 22 April 2001 as having been caused by migrating geese and whether it will place the findings of any such investigation in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Geese are not considered to be the source of foot-and-mouth disease spread. This is due to the birds natural behaviour. Geese have to keep themselves clean in order to migrate successfully and there is a high probability that most of the geese will not come i…

19 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14258 by Angus MacKay on 17 April 2001, which persons or bodies were consulted in the formulation of the guidance to be issued to local authorities on hardship relief, on what date the guidance will be issued and whether it will place a copy of the g…

Answer · Angus MacKay: CoSLA and the Scottish Assessors' Association were consulted in the preparation of the guidance to local authorities on hardship relief, which was issued on 10 April. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 12527).

18 Apr 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take following the publication of the 4th Report, 2001 of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee Report on the Inquiry into Fuel Prices in Remoter Rural Areas and in particular whether it has arranged to meet the Petrol Retailers Association and the Scottish Mot…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive welcomes the committee's constructive and balanced contribution to what is a very important issue for rural Scotland.<FONT SIZE=2><P>As the report notes, the Executive already offers rates and capital support for eligible rural petrol s…

17 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will convene an independent inquiry into the future of fish farming in Scotland and what the reason is for its position on this matter.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We are not persuaded that an independent inquiry into the environmental impact of sea cage fish farming would be the best way to proceed at this time. We have already identified the issues and are committed to driving forward the initiatives we have taken to …

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations have been made into the means by which the foot-and-mouth disease virus has been transmitted during the current outbreak and whether geese have acted as vectors of transmission or whether this possibility can be ruled out.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Based on initial analysis and epidemiological information, it is estimated that around 90% of the cases of infection are attributable to local spread between premises caused by animal and people movements. Half the remainder are thought to have arisen because…

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated cost of the artificial fluoridation of water throughout Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Initial estimates by the Scottish water authorities suggest that fluoridating the water supplies where it is possible to do so, serving the majority of the population, would imply capital expenditure in the order of £29 million and annual running costs of £4 …

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the cost of the artifical fluoridation of water compares with fluoridated drinks or tablets.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to S1W-14947, which gives initial estimates of the cost of fluoridating public water supplies. Directly comparable costs for fluoridated milk or tablets are not available, since such schemes would normally focus only on …