Fergus Ewing

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra jobs will be (a) created and (b) sustained if areas of Inverness are excluded from the assisted area status map and what its estimate is of the impact on the economy if these areas are excluded from the map.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I will refer, in answering this question, to the fact that it has also been raised in relation to the areas of Nairn (S1W-6460), Moray (S1W-6461) and Badenoch and Strathspey (S1W-6462).<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Executive does not make economic or employ…

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what grounds Badenoch and Strathspey is being excluded from the assisted area status map and what specific representations it will be making to The Scotland Office on this matter.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer to the answer I gave in reply to question S1W-6455.

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what grounds Moray is being excluded from the assisted area status map and what specific representations it will be making to The Scotland Office on this matter.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer to the answer I gave in reply to question S1W-6455.

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what grounds Nairn is being excluded from the assisted area status map and what specific representations it will be making to The Scotland Office on this matter.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer to the answer I gave in reply to question S1W-6455.

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what grounds most of Inverness is being excluded from the assisted area status map and what specific representations it will be making to The Scotland Office on this matter.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I will refer, in answering this question, to the fact that it has also been raised in relation to the areas of Nairn (S1W-6456), Moray (S1W-6457) and Badenoch and Strathspey (S1W-6458) which, along with Inverness, are contained within the Inverness NUTS 3 are…

2 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will be making to The Scotland Office on the proposed assisted area status map and whether it will place a copy, and any response, in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive maintains regular contact with The Scotland Office on a range of matters affecting the development of the Scottish economy, including the proposals for a new Assisted Areas map. A number of representations were made to The Scotland Offi…

28 Apr 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what consideration has been given to the possibility that the construction of the new Scottish Parliament building may cause structural damage to surrounding buildings; whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is aware of any warnings about subsidence within a 300 yard radius of t…

Answer · David Steel: As stated in my answer to Mr Brian Monteith of 2 May (SIW-6146), it is standard practice for structural engineers involved in major construction projects to consider any effect on surrounding areas. The structural engineers for the Holyrood Project are monito…

28 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change its working title from "The Scottish Executive" to "The Scottish Government".

Answer · Donald Dewar: No.

28 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if it established a Highlands and Islands transport authority, it would be possible to enable it to purchase petrol and diesel for resale to motor vehicle users in the Highlands and Islands; if so, whether it would give the authority such a function and what budget it would make …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is jointly commissioning work to examine the issue of whether to establish a Highlands and Islands transport authority and, if so, the functions it should discharge.

28 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from the British Aggregates Association as to the impact of the proposed Aggregates Levy on their membership in Scotland; whether any such representations drew its attention to the Association's estimate that the cost per tonne of aggregates is …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The association has made written and oral representations to both the Executive and HM Government on this issue. The cost of aggregates has been raised. The Executive is in touch with HM Government on a wide range of issues, including the aggregates tax.

26 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5597 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 12 April 200, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were for the summary offence of unlawful eviction in each of the last ten years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The numbers of prosecutions and convictions which are identifiable under section 22 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 are given in the table below. This covers unlawful eviction and harassment of occupiers. From 1989-95 there may have been a small number of add…

26 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4370 by Mr Jack McConnell on 12 April 2000, whether it will list, in relation to the political activities of individuals appointed to public bodies between 1 April and 31 December 1999, the names of (a) the 18 individuals who fell within category A a…

Answer · Jack McConnell: The information requested is set out in the table below:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Name and<P>Position Held</TD><TD WIDTH="47%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Body</TD><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER…

25 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the number of persons whose employment may be jeopardised by the passage into law of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill and whether it will meet representatives of those persons whose livelihoods may be lost in this way.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has made no such estimate. The study currently being undertaken by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute will cover the potential effects of the Bill on the rural economy. Representatives of all opinion on the Bill may submit evidenc…

25 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specify all representations which it has made to Her Majesty's Government in relation to those parts of Scotland which should be included in the assisted area status map.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive maintains regular contact with The Scotland Office on a range of matters affecting the development of the Scottish economy, including the proposals for a new Assisted Areas map.

25 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the test of "substantial loss or disadvantage" in section 19(7) of the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill requires clarification and, in particular, whether it should be made clear that the Lands Tribunal for Scotland should not accept that "substantial loss or disadv…

Answer · Jim Wallace: In response to Mr Ewing's amendment on this point at Stage 3 of the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill, I explained that the Lands Tribunal does not award compensation for the loss of a right to claim a waiver.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The loss or disad…

25 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications under section 19 of the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill it estimates will be made to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland in each of the five years immediately following commencement of this provision.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the Financial Memorandum published with the Bill.

25 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted the Lands Tribunal for Scotland in relation to the potential impact upon its workload of the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill and what measures it will consider to address any expected increase in the Tribunal's workload.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive consulted the President of the Lands Tribunal for Scotland at an early stage of its proposals for abolition of feudal tenure in relation to the potential impact upon the workload of the Tribunal. Although there are unlikely to be significant dem…

20 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5627 by Susan Deacon on 11 April 2000, when the fact finding exercise into specific aspects of the issue of hepatitis C and other infections contracted from contaminated blood products in Scotland commenced; when it is expected to be concluded; wheth…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The report <I>Hepatitis C and the Heat Treatment of Blood Products for</I> <I>Haemophiliacs in the mid-1980s</I> was published today. A copy has been placed in SPICe.

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in relation to the proposed Climate Change Levy to (a) provide adequate financial support to small and medium si'ed Scottish enterprises to allow them to adapt to the requirements of the Levy and (b) add pipe insulati…

Answer · Henry McLeish: As a tax measure, the Climate Change Levy is a matter reserved to the UK Government. We understand that the Government plans to extend the list of eligible technologies to include those listed in (b) and the list of technologies will be subject to further rev…

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the report commissioned from Eglinton Management Consultants in relation to its review of Councils of Voluntary Service cost; whether Eglinton Management Consultants sought any information from Councils of Voluntary Service whilst compiling this report and whether the report by E…

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The cost of the report on the review of Councils of Voluntary Service produced by Eglinton Management Consultants is unable to be disclosed for reasons of commercial confidentiality.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Eglinton sought information for its report from a variety …

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the value of services presently provided by Councils of Voluntary Service throughout Scotland and how much funding it provides to Councils of Voluntary Service.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Local Councils of Voluntary Service (CVS) provide a range of services, including advice and support, to voluntary organisations in their area and play a key role in the development of the voluntary sector. The Executive does not hold any information on the mo…

13 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4773 by Mr Jack McConnell on 6 April 2000, what the five task forces are which have been established since July 1999, and what is the membership or composition of each.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The information requested is set out in the table below:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="23%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Task Force</TD><TD WIDTH="77%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Membership</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="23…

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will devise a national strategy on osteoporosis aimed in particular at preventing and improving detection of osteoporosis.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no current plans to develop a national strategy for osteoporosis. It is for local health boards to determine the services which are required to meet the needs of their local population within available resources. Guidance to help health boards devis…

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government opposing the proposals in the Utilities Bill that the existing area electricity consumer committees be abolished and replaced with a single Gas and Electricity Consumer Council for the whole of the UK.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Executive does not propose to make such representations. Under the provisions of the Utilities Bill, the new council must establish one or more committees of the council for areas in Scotland and must also maintain at least one office in Scotland at which…

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5188 by Mr Jim Wallace on 23 March 2000, whether the decrease in the number of prosecutions for littering offences between 1990 and 1998 has been accompanied by an actual decrease in littering and whether it will introduce a policy of 'ero tolerance …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Information on the incidence of littering is not held centrally. Responsibility for enforcing litter law in public places generally lies with local authorities and it is for them to decide what priority to accord to keeping their areas free of litter. We expe…

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its statement at the Highlands and Islands Convention represents a change in its policy on the dispersal of civil service jobs; if not, whether it will make announcements about the dispersal of civil service jobs within a specified time period, and whether it will set a target for…

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive's policy on the location and the relocation of civil service jobs remains as set out by the First Minister in the answer given to Mr Duncan McNeil MSP, for question S1W-1558, on 15 September 1999.

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-governmental organisations it has (a) created, (b) announced or (c) proposed since May 1999 and which of these bodies will be located outwith the central belt of Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: None - by their very nature. By definition, non-governmental organisations are not created by the Scottish Executive.

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5181 by Ross Finnie on 22 March 2000, why it has not published the report prepared by a panel of industry representatives on the red tape involved in paying EU subsidies to farmers and whether it will now place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Infor…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The report to which you refer was published in January of this year. Copies of this are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5066 by Susan Deacon on 21 March 2000, why it considers it unnecessary to hold information on measures to detect osteoporosis centrally and whether it will arrange for details of any measures taken to detect osteoporosis at a local level to be held c…

Answer · Susan Deacon: Strategies for the care of patients with a wide variety of conditions, including osteoporosis, are the responsibility of health boards and their associated NHS Trusts, who are best suited to assess local needs. If the Scottish Executive required detailed repo…

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will obtain copies of all the title deeds of the Black Cuillins on Skye recorded in the Register of Sasines, including evidence of the title of the current owner, a full prescriptive progress, all burden writs, and any undischarged security writs.

Answer · Jim Wallace: All title deeds in the Register of Sasines are publicly available.