Jamie McGrigor

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10318 by Keith Brown on 31 October 2012, whether it will provide a breakdown of the amounts payable for the (a) operating grant, (b) fuel grant, (c) start-up costs and (d) redundancy payments.

Answer · Keith Brown: Within the Argyll Ferries Ltd accounts for 30 June 2011 to 31 March 2012 the grant subsidy provided by the Scottish Government was £2,709,629 which included redundancy payments of £1,400,182. The balance covers the operating subsidy including fuel grant and s…

1 Nov 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) scheduled sailings, (b) actual sailings and (c) sailings cancelled due to adverse weather conditions there were on each route operated by CalMac Ferries in each month between July 2011 and September 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: The information requested has been lodged with SPICE under Bib. number 54483.

22 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it plans to invest in the A83 to prevent or minimise the risk of landslides at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Answer · Keith Brown: We cannot stop landslides occurring, but we can manage the consequences more effectively. Following previous landslides at the Rest and Be Thankful, the Scottish Government invested £700,000 on mitigation measures, including protective netting, a new culvert …

22 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to provide a diversionary route to be used in the event of the closure of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a safe diversion route at the Rest and Be Thankful, along the Old Military Road, in as short a timescale as possible. Works are continuing on the upgrading of this road within the Forestry Commission land. Go…

17 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-04044 by Keith Brown on 28 November 2011, what the reason is for the difference between the figures in the answer and those in David MacBrayne Limited’s financial statements to March 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: The total capital cost to David MacBrayne Ltd, as set out in their financial statements to March 2012, included the cost of works on the two vessels as well as their purchase price.

17 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08559 by Keith Brown on 19 July 2012, what the reason is for the difference between the figures provided in the answer and those in David MacBrayne Limited’s financial statements to March 2012 for subsidy payments between July 2011 and March 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: The answer to question S4W-08559 provided, by contract year, the provisional outturn for contract year 1 (for the 12 month period July 2011 to June 2012) and contracted levels of grant subsidy payable for the remaining contract years. Fuel costs and the start…

17 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) scheduled sailings, (b) actual sailings and (c) sailings cancelled due to adverse weather conditions there were on the (i) Gourock to Dunoon and (ii) Wemyss Bay to Rothesay route in each month between July 2011 and September 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: The information requested is set out in the following tables. Route Month Total Scheduled Sailings Operated Sailings Cancelled sailings weather Gourock to Dunoon July 2011 1,750 1,698 0 August 2011 1,793 1,753 0 September 2011 1,711 1,655 …

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Natural Heritage has requested funding assistance from the (a) UK Government and (b) EU to meet its international obligations to protect geese.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: SNH has not requested funding assistance from the UK Government or the EU in order to assist Scottish ministers in meeting their international obligations to protect geese. As biodiversity is a devolved responsibility it is for the Scottish government and no…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what applications have been made by Scottish Natural Heritage to the EU’s LIFE+ programme in order to control the goose numbers on Islay.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: SNH has not made any applications to the EU's LIFE+ programme in order to control the goose numbers on Islay. The purpose of the EU LIFE+ programme is to protect and enhance the features recognised as important under the Birds and Habitats Directives. The Ma…

2 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the National Goose Management Review Group has considered reducing goose numbers on Islay and finding additional funding streams to assist farmers and crofters on the island deal with the birds' impact.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The National Goose Management Review Group (NGMRG) has approved in principle an adaptive management trial designed to maintain or reduce populations of resident greylag geese on Islay. This trial work is the subject of ongoing discussion to agree target popul…

1 Oct 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses whether the provision of ferry services is adequate for the residents of Islay.

28 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09425 by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012, how it monitors whether the character of wild land areas is being properly protected in development plans.

Answer · Derek Mackay: It is for planning authorities to consider the need to monitor the effectiveness of their development plans in safeguarding the character of wild land areas.

28 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09425 by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012, how much land it considers currently to be sensitive landscape that has little or no capacity to accept new development.

Answer · Derek Mackay: It is for planning authorities to consider which, if any, are the sensitive landscapes in their area which have little or no capacity to accept new development.

24 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) BT and (b) Connected Communities regarding the costs charged by BT for the broadband link to the Western Isles and what the outcome was.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with either party on this issue. This reflects the fact that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has full responsibility for all operational matters relating to the Connected Communities network. HIE i…

24 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will bring forward its plans to improve broadband services in the Western Isles.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As set out in Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan, the Scottish Government is committed to investing in infrastructure that will have the capacity to deliver next generation broadband to 85-90% of premises by 2015. In the Western Isles, thi…

24 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported concerns of residents in the Western Isles regarding the cost of broadband there compared with other parts of the country.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The majority of Western Isles premises (around 77%) are served by broadband-enabled exchanges and enjoy the same choice of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and broadband packages as other rural areas. Broadband services to non-commercial areas are provided b…

19 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason seabirds are not part of the selection criteria for marine protected areas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine Protected Area (MPA) network will include designations under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, EU Habitats Directive, EU Wild Birds Directive, and marine components of Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI). There are currently 47 Special Prot…

19 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09445 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 September 2012, what the anticipated costings are for each project listed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The estimated costs for each of the projects listed in the answer to S4W-09445 are included in the following table. Project Name Estimated Cost (£ Million) Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements1 250-500 Highland Main Line Improvements1 250-600 Duall…

19 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09444 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 September 2012, what the costings are for each project listed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The estimated costs for each of the projects listed in the answer to S4W-09444 are included in the following table. Project Name Estimated Cost (£ Million) Inverness College 51 Western Isles Schools Project1 40.6 Orkney Islands Schools Investment Pro…

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what capital investment projects it is considering for the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Infrastructure Investment Plan published in December 2011 outlines the following major infrastructure investment projects in the pipeline for the Highlands and Islands: Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements; Highland Main Line Improvements; Duallin…

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what government-funded capital investment projects are underway in the Highlands and Islands and what the completion date is of each project.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: An outline of capital investment projects currently underway in the Highlands and Islands region which are funded or part funded by the Scottish Government are included in the following table. In addition there are a range of housing projects currently on sit…

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that as much wild land as possible is preserved.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Planning Policy states that the most sensitive landscapes may have little or no capacity to accept new development and that planning authorities should safeguard the character of wild land areas in development plans.

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will promote Scotland’s reputation as a country with large, wild landscapes with rich and valuable flora and fauna.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scotland’s landscape, flora and fauna are valuable niche markets within the tourism industry in Scotland. The industry-led tourism strategy “Tourism Scotland 2020” identifies “nature, heritage and activities” as one of four groups of key assets that the indus…

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into whether techniques such as shelter wood or selection systems can help prevent the spread of diseases in forests.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Research is being carried out by the Forestry Commission’s research agency (Forest Research) into alternative management approaches, including the use of shelter wood or selection systems (otherwise known as continuous cover forestry, or CCF). This research i…

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to focus agri-environment schemes to reward land managers who preserve and maintain the health of their peat bogs.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Work to develop the next Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is ongoing. However, proposals for agri-environment options will be consulted on next year, once the European Regulations have been finalised. Although proposals for agri-environment option…

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sought to quantify how much peat bog is in Scottish Natural Heritage’s search areas for wild land.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: It is estimated that peat bog as identified by the James Hutton Institute covers around 60% of Scottish Natural Heritage’s search areas for wild land.

3 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the level of (a) car, (b) passenger and (c) freight use has been on CalMac services to Islay in each quarter of each of the last five years.

Answer · Keith Brown: The following table provides the level of (a) car, (b) passenger and (c) freight on CalMac services to Islay in each quarter of the last five years. Calendar Year Period Passengers Cars Coaches Coaches Metres Commercial Vehicles Commercial Vehicle…

3 Sep 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how businesses can benefit from being part of business improvement districts.

23 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) grants and (b) other financial support have been given each year by Creative Scotland, broken down by art form.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I have asked Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, the public body for Culture and Creative Industries, to write to the member. Further information about Creative Scotland’s activities is available at http://www.creativescotland.com/.

21 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08882 by Keith Brown on 15 August 2012, whether it will provide the information that was requested.

Answer · Keith Brown: Argyll Ferries Ltd is delivering the services specified in the Public Service Contract and are continuing to take steps to improve their operation.