Fergus Ewing

10 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the working title of the First Minister to "Prime Minister".

Answer · Henry McLeish: There are no plans to change the title of the First Minister.

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-6883 and S1W-6884 by Angus MacKay on 1 December 2000, whether it can obtain the information regarding the number of contracts it or the Scottish Office had with external consultants from 1995 to 1999 and, if so, whether it will place in the Scottis…

Answer · Angus MacKay: The information requested could only be collated at disproportionate cost.

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a co-ordinator should be appointed to ensure effective co-ordination of local and national salmon monitoring and research programmes and, if so, when such a co-ordinator will be appointed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no plans to make such an appointment. The Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory and Scottish Fisheries Co-ordination Centre already fulfil this role through their work with district salmon fishery boards and fishery trusts.

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take in order to ensure the continued use of Balnain House, Inverness as a centre for traditional arts and culture; whether it has allocated any funding for this purpose and, if not, whether it will urge the Scottish Arts Council, the Highlands and Islands Enterpris…

Answer · Allan Wilson: None. The closure of Balnain House was a decision for the company. The Scottish Arts Council continues to support traditional arts in the area and is working with others in the Highland Arts Partnership to develop long-term plans to ensure their sustainable f…

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a decommissioning scheme for Scottish registered fishing boats and, if so, when and with what budget.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have agreed to have discussions soon with industry representatives on a range of topical issues, which will include decommissioning.

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated the level of by-catch in the industrial and pelagic fisheries and, if so, what conclusions have been reached.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Industrial fisheries are conducted predominantly by Denmark and Norway and are not routinely monitored by scientists from the Scottish Executive. Both Denmark and Norway provide the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) with estimates of…

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the banning of drift netting off the North East coast of England, as opposed to reducing it by the means of the issue of fewer licences.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has long recognised the impact of the North East Drift Net Fishery on salmon returning to Scottish rivers. We have in the past expressed concerns to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food about this fishery and, therefore, welcome their…

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning or considering any legislation designed to promote salmon, other than the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive has no such plans at present.

5 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any further measures, other than those contained in the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill, in relation to the conservation of salmon; if so, what measures are being considered; what stage such consideration has reached and what measures will be introduced.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The terms of the Salmon Conservation (Scotland) Bill are deliberately non-prescriptive to allow district salmon fishery boards to apply for a range of conservation measures. The Executive expects individual boards to put together a package of conservation mea…

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Rural Development on 23 November 2000 regarding the latest scientific advice from the special committee on seal population si'es (Official Report, col. 335), whether this information has been received; if so, when and whether it will pl…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I understand that a copy of the latest advice from the Special Committee on Seals has now been received and I will be considering its contents very carefully. I will ensure that a copy of this advice is placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional measures are required in order to eradicate the feral mink population; if so, in which parts of Scotland and when such steps will be taken.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Feral mink are widely distributed over most of mainland Scotland and many offshore islands. Their impact on ground-nesting birds is well documented and it is widely believed that mink are also associated with the decline of the water vole.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">T…

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the use of non-lethal methods of control of seal populations; if so, what conclusions have been reached and, if not, whether it will now consider the issue.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has considered the use of non-lethal methods of seal population control. In 1998 the Executive asked the Special Committee on Seals (SCOS) of the Natural Environment Research Council to assess whether a recently developed Canadian metho…

4 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the methods of controlling the seal population provided for by the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 are sufficient.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Conservation of Seals Act 1970 provides a flexible framework for control of the seal population.

22 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make any announcements during the parliamentary recess; if so, when any such announcements will be made and why they will be made during recess.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Yes. Government continues even when Parliament is in recess. Members continue to ask questions at these times. As Mr Ewing will know he has asked around 150 questions during recesses.

18 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the major review of cities announced by the First Minister on 18 December 2000 will include the city of Inverness.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Yes. Further details of how the review will be conducted will be announced shortly.

12 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (Variation) Order 1999, in particular as regards the classification of vehicles based on vehicle length.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. Details of the classification of vehicles for tolling purposes at the Skye Bridge are set out in my letter of 27 November to the member.

7 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) poindings and (b) warrant sales it estimates will be carried out between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2002.

Answer · Iain Gray: It is not possible to make an accurate estimate of the numbers of poindings and warrant sales which might be carried out for the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002. This will depend on the practices of individual creditors and the circumstances of indi…

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from the National Farmers Union regarding the extension of the less favoured areas scheme to dairy farming and, if so, what response it will make and whether it will advocate such an extension to the European Commission.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The NFUS raised the principle of compensating dairy farming in the Less-Favoured Areas under the LFA legislation some time ago. A detailed paper on the subject was given to me by the Union at DairyScot on 30 November 2000. Whilst we are studying the paper in …

30 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what methods of pest control are employed on land under its ownership or control, and whether dogs are used underground in such pest control.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Ministers own or control a large area of land in Scotland. A range of pest control measures are used on that land depending on the specific circumstances of each case. These vary from the use of chemicals and poisons for insect and rodent infestation…

23 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide to visually impaired persons, whether the impairment is total or partial, the maximum rate of concession under the proposed travel concession scheme set out in section 68 of the Transport (Scotland) Bill; whether it will provide details of what concessionary fares …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Section 68 of the Transport (Scotland) Bill will enable Scottish Ministers to set common to all Scottish local authorities a basic level of concession for pensioners and disabled people travelling within Scotland. No maximum level of concession is specified i…

23 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed ex gratia payments to members of the Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes will be equal to their pension entitlement under the schemes.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Details of the settlement are under consideration and proposals will be brought before the Scottish Parliament for approval in due course.

23 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the use of Reporters employed by it to decide planning inquiries contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights in terms of whether an applicant has a fair hearing.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-6779 on 30 May 2000.

22 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers and crofters have become bankrupt over the last 12 months and whether it will provide an estimate of the numbers who will become bankrupt over each of the next two 12 month periods.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-11027 on 22 November 2000. Each year the number of sequestrations among Scottish farmers is very small. Most farmers leaving the industry, as a result of financial pressure, do so in an orderly way by selling up an…

17 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it decided, under Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information, that information regarding internal discussions and advice in relation to the problems with this year's exams would not be made publicly available.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information which exempts from disclosure information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion, including internal opinion, advice, recommendation, consultation and delib…

16 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it arrived at the figure of #24 million to be made available over the next three years for funding of a relief scheme for water and sewerage charges for those on low incomes.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The proposed scheme will cap water and sewerage charges for those on Council Tax benefit. The cap for each year will be set once water and sewerage charges for the year have been announced. The estimated cost of £24 million over three years reflects assumptio…

16 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost is of the proposed national telephone debt line referred to in paragraph 4.11 of Affordability of Water and Sewerage Charges.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The national telephone debtline is being developed by a partnership that includes the money advice sector, the Scottish Executive, Departments of the UK Government and the private sector. Plans for three pilots are being drawn up; one will be in Scotland, wit…

16 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated (a) initial costs and (b) annual costs will be to local authorities of administering any relief scheme for water and sewerage charges to those on low incomes and from what source local authorities will meet such costs.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The initial and subsequent costs to the local authorities of administering the scheme to cap water and sewerage charges for those on Council Tax Benefit will be established in discussions between the Executive and the local authorities. The Executive has unde…

16 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commissioner recommended to it that there should be a relief scheme for water and sewerage charges for those on low incomes.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Prior to the current public consultation on the affordability of water and sewerage charges, the Executive invited views on the subject from various experts, including the Water Industry Commissioner. Ministers drew on these views in framing their proposals f…

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Henry McLeish on 1 November 2000 that it intends to go further than the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information position that "information should be released except where disclosure would not be in the public interest" (Official Report, co…

Answer · Jim Wallace: In the Executive's consultation document <I>An Open Scotland </I>it was stated (paragraph 1.4) that &quot;The statutory FOI regime will build upon, and extend, the principles of openness contained in the Code of Practice.&quot; A draft Freedom of Information …

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its proposed Freedom of Information Bill will allow public access to internal documents and discussions, including advice to Ministers; if so, whether any such papers in relation to the problems with this year's exam results will become publicly available if the Bill is passed, a…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive's draft Freedom of Information Bill will in due course be published for consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny. In paragraph 4.17 of the Executive's consultation document, <I>An Open Scotland,</I> it was stated that &quot;We consider…