Parliamentary questions
Fergus Ewing
2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2532 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 November 1999, whether the creation of ten new permanent Shrieval posts will be sufficient to secure the proper discharge of administration of justice; in which courts they will be deployed, and whether it believes any de…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The holders of the ten new permanent Shrieval posts have Commissions as floating Sheriffs which means that they can serve where required throughout Scotland. My Department are in consultation with the Sheriffs Principal about the means of deploying the floati…
14 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimates are as to how many jobs have (a) been lost and (b) not been created as a result of regulations, and what steps have been taken by it to assess any impact regulations have on the economy.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive has not made any estimates of the impact of regulatory factors on either job loss or job creation decisions but it recognises that regulations can have implications for the competitiveness of business and the economy and is committed to…
14 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1677 by Sarah Boyack on 29 November 1999, whether it will issue a consultation paper on any reform of the planning process and, if so, whether it will seek out the views of those (a) whose planning applications have been rejected by local authorities…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-2768
14 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1912 by Henry McLeish on 25 October 1999, why a copy of the Executive summary of the report by Deloitte & Touche on the Ossian project has still not been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and whether it will provide a full explanat…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The report has taken longer to complete than the Scottish Tourist Board expected. They now believe that it will be available during the week beginning 20 December. As it will not now contain commercially sensitive information, I have asked the Chairman of the…
10 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the accommodation booking module of the Ossian Project was originally planned to be introduced in February 1999; when it will be introduced; whether there will be a consequential delay in the implementation of the proposed Tourist Information Centres (TICs) accommodation booking s…
Answer · Henry McLeish: It has been possible to book accommodation using the Ossian database since August 1999. Pre-payment using e-commerce will be piloted during the first quarter of 2000. The full system will then be available to all ATB members who wish to use it. TICs will also…
8 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it will have into the meeting organised by the Department of Trade and Industry for 20 December 1999 to discuss the loss of jobs at the Barmac fabrication yards.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Oil and Gas Industry Task Force, of which I am vice-chair, has agreed to establish an Oil and Gas Fabrication Support Group to address the difficulties faced by <B>all </B>the fabrication yards in the UK. The Group had a preliminary meeting on 20 December…
8 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-779 by Henry McLeish on 13 August 1999, whether it has made specific representations to Her Majesty's Government opposing their plans to have benefit payments moved from rural post offices to automated credit transfer and what assessment has it made …
Answer · Henry McLeish: The UK Government has indicated its commitment to maintaining a network of post offices throughout the country. The UK Government has also given an assurance that those benefit recipients who wish to collect their benefits in cash at post offices will continu…
6 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state for the financial year 1997-98 the amount of money spent as a proportion of the total budget of the Scottish Arts Council on (a) opera, (b) traditional Scottish music, (c) ja'' and (d) ballet.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The grant in aid received by the Scottish Arts Council in 1997-98 amounted to £27,313,000. From this the allocations were:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="36%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="30%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="…
6 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the decision by Awards for All to refuse any grant to the people of Fort William, through Fort William Community Council, for their celebration of the Millennium.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Government are excluded from any part of decision-making on lottery awards. Such decisions are entirely a matter for the award-giving body. Applications to Awards for All can be submitted until April 2000 for future projects. Awards for All staff will be …
3 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the practice of declining medical treatment to a patient unless the patient discontinues legal action for the recovery of damages for personal injuries is an infringement of that patient's human rights and in particular of the right to a fair and public hearing under Article 6 of …
Answer · Susan Deacon: A patient's right to pursue an action for recovery of damages for personal injury is a separate matter from and should not be related to the provision of medical treatment to that patient if such treatment has been considered necessary and appropriate in a do…
3 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that doctors should be allowed to refuse necessary medical treatment to a patient solely for the reason that the patient is pursuing litigation for industrial injury, and whether doctors can as a precondition of carrying out such treatment insist that the patient disc…
Answer · Susan Deacon: Doctors owe a professional duty of care to their patients. They should do their best to establish and maintain a relationship with each patient and treatment should be based on the exercise of their clinical judgement, assessing the patient's needs and the li…
25 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out any consultation to determine the impact of an aggregates tax on jobs, roads and the environment in Scotland and, in particular, whether it will consult local authorities as to cost implications of any additional traffic and road maintenance costs arising from ru…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-2791.
25 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the conclusions of the Quarry Products Association commissioned report The Case for no Aggregates Tax in Scotland, in particular as regards the cost to quarries of administering the tax, the impact on the environment, recycling, potential job losses, and potentially inc…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-2791.
25 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment on the impact which closure of smaller quarries in rural Scotland would have in terms of the incidence of larger trucks travelling by road from central Scotland to remote locations.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-2791.
25 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it estimates an aggregates tax of #2 per tonne will have in Scotland on (a) the economic viability of small and medium si'ed quarries (b) the number of people in Scotland employed directly in quarrying and quarry production and (c) on number of transport and other jobs indirec…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No decision has been taken on whether to proceed with a tax on aggregates. The effect on the competitive position of small and medium sized quarries from such a tax is likely to be limited. Although the regulatory burden on smaller and medium sized quarries c…
25 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made or will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the impact in Scotland of the proposed Aggregates Tax.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with H.M. Government on a wide range of issues including the Aggregates Tax.
25 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are directly employed in quarrying and quarry production in each of the former Regional Council unit areas in Scotland.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: At September 1998, a total of 2,672 people were employed in quarrying in Scotland. The table indicates how this figure is broken down in respect of the Regions.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUST…
23 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why Historic Scotland's application to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for consent to discharge sewage into Loch Ness was not made prior to its application for planning permission for the proposed visitor centre at Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Historic Scotland submitted a Notification of Proposed Development (NOPD) for the proposed visitor centre to Highland Council in May 1997. The NOPD contained details of the proposed method of disposal of treated waste water including the location of the propo…
23 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the concerns expressed by the Ness District Fishing Board in their submissions to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency dated 29 October 1999 have been investigated prior to the commencement of any development work at Urquhart Castle.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Historic Scotland has investigated the concerns raised by the Ness District Fishing Board in their submission to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. A written response was submitted to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency which was taken into ac…
11 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet with representatives of the North of Scotland Water Authority.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: There are regular contacts, in person or by telephone, at both official and Ministerial levels.
11 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs incurred by the pig industry of compliance with regulations to eradicate BSE amount to approximately one tenth of revenue, and whether it considers that BSE cannot be transmitted through pigs.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is unable to confirm the estimate of the cost to the pig industry of compliance with the regulations to eradicate BSE. Any such estimates depend on a range of assumptions relating to costs and market returns.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A number …
10 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing for those debtors whose total unsecured debts do not exceed a specified and relatively small limit, an alternative to sequestration such as the administration order which is available in England, or a procedure which provides a respite within which to …
Answer · Jim Wallace: he Scottish Executive has no immediate plans to introduce such changes to the law, but will keep the matter under consideration.
10 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many protected trust deeds were registered in the financial years 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The number of Protected Trust Deeds registered in each of the years is:<P ALIGN="CENTER"><CENTER><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=493><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">1995-96</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER…
10 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the annual report of the Accountant of Bankruptcy for 1998-99 and whether it is considering reform of the law of sequestration in relation to protected trust deeds.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive has received the annual report of the Accountant in Bankruptcy for 1998-99 and is considering reform of the law of sequestration in relation to protected trust deeds.
10 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the water supply at Bracara does not pose any health risk to consumers.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I am satisfied that the water supply at Bracara does not pose any health risk to consumers. The treatment necessary to protect public health has however resulted in some taste problems. The long-term solution to this is investment to improve the treatment wor…
10 Nov 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet with representatives of the North of Scotland Water Authority.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: There are regular contacts, in person or by telephone, at both official and Ministerial levels.
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-1382 and S1W-1383 by Mr Jack McConnell on 17 September 1999, whether it will publish the detailed computation referred to in those answers showing how the conclusion that the average cost of answering written Scottish Parliamentary Questions is #10…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The estimated average cost of answering Scottish Parliamentary Questions which was provided in previous answers was calculated by asking Departments of the Scottish Executive to take a sample of such questions and to make an assessment of the time spent at ea…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there has been any maladministration in relation to the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme and, if so, what steps it will take to ensure that applicants to the scheme do not suffer financially as a result.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I am not aware of maladministration having taken place in the handling of the scheme. The financial allocation for the scheme has been fully committed. In addition, on 16 November, I announced that an extra £1 million is being made available. This followed co…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for funding under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme are currently pending, what the total amount of funding sought by these applications is and what action it is taking to determine the outcome of these applications.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There have been 3,955 grant applications made under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) since 1 August and up to the statutory closing date of 31 October 1999. All are currently being processed. The total grant value of these applications is e…
9 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up a public inquiry, convened in Inverness, to inquire into the North of Scotland Water Authority's financial planning, in particular relating to projected revenue and expenditure, and whether it will guarantee that all information relevant to any such inquiry will be …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: These matters have already been reviewed. At my request, NoSWA commissioned a review of its corporate planning process. The Authority published the report of the review in January 2000 and is implementing its recommendations. In addition, the Water Industry C…