Parliamentary questions
Fergus Ewing
2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3713 by Henry McLeish on 27 January 2000, whether it (a) will publish details of the precise way in which it calculates the number of new businesses created, (b) will explain this process to the Parliament, (c) agrees that the methodology for the cal…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The recently published <I>Scottish Economic Report</I>, which was laid before the Scottish Parliament in January, provides details of the methods used to calculate new business starts and the business stock. I would be happy to discuss these data with busines…
28 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-3702 and S1W-3706 by Henry McLeish on 27 January 2000, how the #12 million Business Growth Fund will be administered, whether copies of the application forms will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, whether Local Enterprise Com…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Business Growth Fund is administered by Scottish Enterprise (SEn) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Copies of the application forms for the fund have been placed with SPICe although any applicant should be encouraged to discuss the fund with the…
28 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit will conduct an audit of each sector of industry as to existing regulations and issue proposals for simplifying, reducing or removing such regulations and, if not, why not.
Answer · Henry McLeish: A series of seminars is being arranged to enable businesses to present their concerns about the burden of regulation. In the light of feedback from these seminars and issues raised directly with the IRIS unit, the Scottish Executive will consider what further…
28 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3702 by Henry McLeish on 27 January 2000, whether the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit will consider any concerns of businesses regarding the burden of regulation in all sectors including farming, crofting, fishing, quarrying, tourism and whisky…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The IRIS unit will follow up representations from businesses in any sector on any regulatory concern.
28 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4008 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 January 2000, whether it will widen the remit of the Scottish Law Commission's (SLC) review of the law of the foreshore and seabed and, in particular, whether it will instruct the SLC to consider the interests of (a) loca…
Answer · Jim Wallace: No change in the remit is necessary. Under the existing remit, the commission will take account of such issues in its review of what the existing law actually is, and in its recommendations for improving its clarity and consistency.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><…
28 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list further education (FE) colleges which are close to insolvency and detail any written recovery plans agreed, or awaiting agreement, between FE colleges and the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and outline any other measures planned to address the problems whi…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The report of the Audit Committee of the Scottish Parliament, <I>Scottish Further Education Colleges: Managing Costs</I>, which was published on 9 February, identified 13 colleges with particular financial health problems.<P>The report also summarises the sta…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why members of the National Parks Authority will be appointed by it rather than elected by local residents.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Members of National Park Authorities will need to reflect a wide range of interests. The draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill provides for an important role for local authorities in determining the membership of National Park authorities. All members will be …
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed National Parks will require to rely on loans, in whole or in part, for their finance and, if so, by what means the National Parks will raise revenue.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: National Park authorities will receive their core funding from central Government. The draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill provides for the possibility of National Park authorities seeking loans, if necessary. National Park authorities will be able to raise …
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed National Parks will be funded by grants and, if so, what its estimate is of the annual grant (in current cash terms) for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms in the first five years of operation.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: National Parks will be funded by grants from central Government.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Scottish Natural Heritage's advice to government on National Parks, published in 1999, contained estimates of costs (in current terms) of national parks in Loch Lomon…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed "management agreements" described in section 13 of the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill will include payments additional to those already being paid and, if so, by how much per annum in (a) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and (b) the Cairngorms and whether such paym…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: It will be for National Park authorities to decide with whom they wish to enter into management agreements, and what financial arrangements these will include.
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has explained to the residents of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and the Cairngorms the "Sandford Principle", as referred to in section 8 of the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill; whether conservation will take precedence over the social and economic needs of those residents whe…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Sandford Principle is explained in the explanatory notes printed opposite the draft bill. Section 8(5) of the draft bill provides that where a National Park Authority considers there is a conflict between the first aim and the others, the first aim (conse…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will insert a provision in the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill to the effect that the members of the proposed National Parks Authority shall be elected locally and directly by the residents rather than being appointed or nominated.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: We are reviewing all points raised in respect of the consultation exercise recently carried out on the draft National Parks Bill. The consultation period ended on 3 March 2000 and all points will be considered prior to the Bill being introduced to Parliament.…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the cost of (a) holding a local referendum and (b) holding a local inquiry in (i) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and (ii) the Cairngorms and whether a local inquiry is more or less democratic than a referendum.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The cost of (a) and (b) would depend on the nature and extent of the referendum or inquiry. The purposes of each would be different: the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill does not provide for the holding of a referendum.
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, before declaring any area a National Park, it will consult the people resident within that area by holding a local referendum to ascertain whether they agree to their area being so designated and whether it will hold such a referendum once passage of the draft National Parks (Sco…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill does not provide for the holding of a referendum. It provides for the involvement of local communities in considering the detailed arrangements for a National Park. The consultation on the Bill ended on 3 March, and co…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the cost of implementing the procedure set out in section 2 of the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill in relation to (a) the proposed Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and (b) the proposed Cairngorms National Park.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The procedure set out in section 2 will include many variables. These include the Reporter's time, local authority input, costs of a PLI, if necessary and publication of the report by Scottish Ministers amongst others. Our best estimates are that this type of…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the its approval of the increase in salary for the Chief Executive of North of Scotland Water Authority to circa #120,000 and 10% bonus and, if not, why not.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The exact remuneration packages for the Chief Executives will be a matter for negotiation between the Board of each authority and the successful candidates. The final packages agreed will be subject to Ministerial approval; I have indicated to the authorities…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what was the cost of preparing, printing and publishing National Parks for Scotland; how many copies were published and whether using less expensive paper would have enabled more copies to be provided to the public.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The cost of printing the consultation document on the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill was £22,000. There were also unquantified Scottish Executive staff costs included in the preparation and distribution of the document. Over 2,500 copies of the document…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has logged requests from members of the public for their consultation document National Parks for Scotland; whether there has been an unmet demand, especially in the Badenoch and Strathspey area, for copies of the document; what consideration it gave to the limited Internet acc…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Copies of the consultation document have been distributed in response to all requests received from members of the public and interest groups who contacted the Scottish Executive. All requests have been logged. Over 2,500 copies have now been distributed. All…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a map of Scotland showing the areas which are subject to some form of nature conservation designation and whether it will state for each local authority area the percentage of the land which is subject to such designation.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The information you request can be found in <I>Facts and Figures</I>, the companion publication to Scottish Natural Heritage's Annual Report. A copy of the latest version, <I>Facts and Figures 1998/99</I>, is available in the Scottish Parliament Information C…
25 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take immediate action to ensure the Scottish National Championship in ice-skating, due to take place on 11 and 12 march in Irvine, goes ahead and that participation in this competition by Scottish skaters will not affect their eligibility for the UK team, in light of the a…
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I understand that the Scottish National Ice-Skating Championships will go ahead as planned. The National Ice Skating Association (NISA) has now retracted its eligibility statement and Scottish skaters will be able to participate without any threat of action f…
24 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in considering its future policy directions to the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) on the distribution of Lottery funding, it will investigate the level of financial assistance received from the Fund by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB); whether it will …
Answer · Rhona Brankin: It would not be appropriate to make provision in policy directions in relation to particular organisations.
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the activities of Scottish National Heritage (SNH) regarding the proposed designation of Sites of Special Scientific Interest on Berneray, with particular regard to the duties of SNH to take into account under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991 the inter…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. The designation of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) is the responsibility of SNH, which has a statutory duty under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to notify land which, in its opinion, is of special scientific interest.<P>U…
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will add to the list of supplementary industry indicators relating to new research required, an item regarding the Irish tourist industry in order to promote best practice in our own industry, to learn from Bord Failte, and to ascertain any joint tourism initiatives between Sco…
Answer · Henry McLeish: There is no need. The tourism strategy commits the Scottish Tourist Board to benchmarking Scotland against countries overseas that offer comparable products and to then disseminate the results to businesses and to public sector partners. These countries will …
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has a conflict of interest in its advisory role in the designation of Special Protected Area status, given the statutory duty of SNH to take account of the interests of communities and social and economic development.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has a general duty to take such account as may be appropriate in the circumstances of the interests of local communities and the need for social and economic development. In the case of Special Protection Areas, selection m…
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include traditional Scottish music in the niche marketing of Scottish tourism and, if so, whether it will consult with Celtic Connections and other relevant bodies
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Tourist Board and relevant Area Tourist Boards promote traditional music both in print and on their websites.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>The STB, the Scottish Arts Council and the traditional music sector are working in partnership to raise the …
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a detailed analysis of any responses to its New Strategy for Scottish Tourism and, if not, why not.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The main views of those who contributed to our consultation exercise are summarised in the strategy. I am arranging for a more detailed breakdown of the points raised to be placed in the SPICe.
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider amalgamating the office premises of Locate in Scotland and Scottish Trade International.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Locate in Scotland (LiS) and Scottish Trade International (STI) both operate within the Scottish Enterprise organisation at its headquarters at Bothwell Street, Glasgow, and share the same joint-venture structure with The Scottish Executive. Both LiS and STI,…
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend its target for the annual growth rate for the value of tourism expenditure from 3.3% per annum to 4%, in line with the estimated growth rate in tourism in the global marketplace and, if so, whether it will amend its other targets in the New Strategy for Scottish Tour…
Answer · Henry McLeish: Growth in tourism over the next five years is expected to be greatest in emerging markets, for example, in Asia. Tourism in Europe is forecast to grow by around 3.1% annually. Our target of 3.3% for Scotland is therefore not only tough but realistic.
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what was the cost of preparing, publishing and printing the document A New Strategy for Scottish Tourism.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The cost of graphic design, printing and distribution was £32,320.
18 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the announcement of an #11 million boost for the tourist industry, as referred to in its press release dated 16 February 2000, constitutes an additional resource for the Scottish Tourist Board, and to provide details of the budget line from which these funds are drawn.
Answer · Henry McLeish: £5.25 million is going to the Scottish Tourist Board of which £2 million is for the Area Tourist Boards. These are unexpended funds carried forward from this financial year into the next financial year under the end year flexibility arrangements.