Parliamentary questions
Fergus Ewing
2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from the Federation of Small Business (FSB) in response to the consultation paper Tackling Congestion and, if so, what response the FSB has made in respect of "road tolling" and "the workplace parking levy".
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive has received a response from the Federation of Small Businesses to its consultation paper, <I>Tackling Congestion</I>. A copy of this response has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
28 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the recommendation of Highlands and Islands Enterprise that a strategic transport authority for the Highlands and Islands, with a wide range of powers to plan, franchise and regulate transport in the area, be created.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Office consultation on Regional Transport Partnerships elicited a variety of views on the need for a strategic transport authority for the Highlands and Islands. I am currently considering the responses on this and related issues and will make a …
28 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the suggestion made by Highlands and Islands Enterprise that the value of the element of Air Passenger Duty collected from internal Scottish island air services be returned to the Scottish islands who received those services to be spent on support of those air services.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Passengers on internal Scottish island air services are not subject to air passenger duty.
28 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the consultation paper Tackling Congestion; whether it supports Highlands and Islands Enterprise's suggestion that the value of the element of the fuel duty escalator collected in designated "extreme rural ar…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive has received a response from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to its consultation paper <I>Tackling Congestion</I>. A copy of this response has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). The Executive is considering tha…
21 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish Tourist Board and what matters were discussed.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Henry McLeish met with Lord Gordon and his board on 15 October. They discussed the findings of the recent consultation exercise and the development of the new strategy for the Scottish tourism industry.
20 Oct 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish Tourist Board and what matters were discussed.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Henry McLeish met with Lord Gordon and his board on 15<SUP>th</SUP> October. They discussed the findings of the recent consultation exercise and the development of the new strategy for the Scottish tourism industry.
8 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether they consider the current measures taken by Scottish Natural Heritage to control the wild mink population in the Western Isles are adequate, in particular to prevent depredation of crofters' livestock and, if not, what steps it will take in this matter.
Answer · Ross Finnie: In general, the responsibility for pest control rests with the owner or occupier of a property.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Scottish Natural Heritage is involved in mink control because of the threat the animals pose to natural heritage interests, particularly to groun…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many announcements it intends to make over the October recess, why in each case the announcements have not been made when the Parliament is in session, and whether, when Parliament resumes, there will be special provision made to allow Ministers to be questioned on those announcements.
Answer · Donald Dewar: The Scottish Executive continues to work and make announcements about its work throughout the year including during recess. Some announcements are timed to take advantage of topical and high profile events such as Scotland Week in Brussels. Members have the o…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of the report or review by Deloitte & Touche on the Ossian project commissioned by the Scottish Tourist Board.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The report by Deloitte & Touche contains information that is commercially sensitive. I will however arrange for a copy of the Executive summary to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Highland Council regarding the decision to allow it to erect road signs in Gaelic and English.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I met representatives of Highland Council on 4 October 1999 when the issue of bilingual road signs was discussed.
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions or guidance was given to officials by any current or former Minister regarding the implementation of the decision to allow Highland Council to erect road signs in Gaelic and English.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Highland Council wrote in December 1998 to the Scottish Office Minister for Housing, Transport and European Affairs requesting permission to erect road signs in Gaelic and English throughout its area.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">No decision had been reached on the requ…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release all documentation and correspondence relating to the consideration of whether to allow Highland Council to erect road signs in Gaelic and English.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) Highland Council's letter to the Scottish Office Minister for Housing, Transport and European Affairs, received in December 1998, my Private Secretary's letter of 20 August 1999 to Highland Co…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it is seeking to introduce the Draft Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations (1999).
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Draft Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 are being introduced to consolidate, amend and update the Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. Amendment and updating is necessary in order to implement community decisions and to…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations there will be in relation to the Draft Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations (1999); what consideration it has given to the impact which these regulations will have on the Scottish farmhouse cheese makers industry; how many jobs in Scotland will be affected by…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Draft Dairy Products (Hygiene) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 were sent out for public consultation on 23 August 1999. Replies to the consultation were requested by 11 October 1999.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">It is not envisaged that these draft Regulations…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the submission by the Federation for Small Businesses made in September 1999 to the low pay commission on the effect of the national minimum wage on the small business sector in Scotland, it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that the level of t…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government over the range of reserved matters, including those relating to the National Minimum Wage.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>The independent Low Pay Commission has statutory responsibility for…
6 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will describe in detail the ways in which (a) Scottish Enterprise (b) the Glasgow Development Agency (c) the British Waterways Board and (d) Historic Scotland are accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the decisions which they make and the way in which they spend public mon…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The bodies concerned are already accountable to Parliament, as described below.<P>Scottish Enterprise<P>Scottish Enterprise is a Non-Departmental Public Body established by the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990. It reports to the Scottish Parliamen…
6 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from Highlands & Islands Enterprise relating to improvements in the mechanisms for community ownership described in Land Reform: Proposals for Legislation and, if so, whether it will adjust its policy to incorporate the suggestions made in parti…
Answer · Jim Wallace: We have so far received 530 responses to the Land Reform White Paper, including one from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. There have been good ideas from all sides on how to make the proposals better, and we shall be making as much use as possible of all of …
4 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the health implications of the study Mortality and Morbidity of members of the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association and their families by Sue Rabbitt Roff of the University of Dundee, and whether it will contact each of the survivors resident in Scotland to es…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The possible consequences of nuclear weapons tests are reserved matters. All UK citizens are, of course, entitled to receive NHS treatment for whatever ailments they have.
4 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the plight of the survivors of the UK nuclear weapons test carried out in Australia and at Kiribati between 1952 and 1963 who are resident in Scotland and, in particular, urge it to reassess previous decisions to r…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The possible consequences of nuclear weapons tests are reserved matters.
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that self-regulation by lobbyist organisations is adequate and if so, whether it will make a statement justifying its position.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-1727.
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that public funds should be used by public bodies for which it is responsible in the engagement of the services of lobbyist organisations or companies and, if so, for what purpose or purposes and why such services cannot be carried out by others already in the employ …
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-1727.
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct or request that all public bodies for which it is responsible, including Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies, make available to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre details of any monies which have been paid, are due, or may become due to a…
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-1727.
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that any investigation by the Standards Committee into Beattie Media will have full access to all information which they consider relevant to their inquiries, including Ministers' diaries.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-1727.
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specify the criteria which are used to determine in what circumstances Ministers will agree to a meeting with (a) MSPs of the Labour Party (b) MSPs of the Liberal Democrat Party (c) MSPs of other parties (d) special interest groups and (e) lobbyists of clients, and state …
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-1727.
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence will be made available to the Standards Committee in relation to the Observer reports of 26 September 1999 and whether it will seek to exclude, restrict or otherwise limit the production of such evidence by virtue of reliance on the Code of Freedom of Information and, if so,…
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer to S1W-1727.
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contact members and staff of the Executive have had with the Observer newspaper regarding the reports of 26 September 1999 and in particular whether there was any such contact with the newspaper before 26 September and, if so, whether it will specify the dates such contact took place.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to my statement to Parliament today concerning Beattie Media and professional lobbying firms.
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contact there has been between members of the Executive and Beattie Media, including its employees, in relation to (i) freight shipment rights at Prestwick Airport, (ii) development on the Lomond Shores Centre at Loch Lomond, (iii) any development within the constituency of Brian Wil…
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to Dennis Canavan (S1W-1708).
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will name those public sector bodies for which it is responsible which have engaged the services of Beattie Media and what payments for what services have been made or are due to be paid to Beattie Media by those bodies.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to Dennis Canavan (S1W-1708).
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether since 6 May 1999 any meetings with Ministers have taken place which were arranged with, sought by or otherwise followed requests from Beattie Media or any of the staff of that company and, if so, to specify them in a list detailing (a) the Minister (b) the date of the meeting and …
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to Dennis Canavan (S1W-1708).
28 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will, pending the outcome of any investigation by the Standards Committee into the reports by the Observer newspaper of 26 September 1999 regarding Beattie Media, (a) instruct the company that they may not enter any Scottish Executive office, (b) give an undertaking that it wil…
Answer · Donald Dewar: In their statement of Sunday 26 September Beattie Media indicated that they had no, and would wish no, influence over ministers. I would expect the company to maintain that stance.