Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19783 by Michael Russell on 28 January 2008, whether the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture provides information on the length of time that fin fish cages can be used on a single site without being moved in fresh water.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture recommends that all pen sites should have a written fallowing plan and that site facilities, pens etc should be cleaned before restocking.</p>
29 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which body is responsible for regulating the siting and operation of fin fish cages in fresh water.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Planning authorities are responsible for determining applications for planning permission for siting of fish farms in fresh water.</p> <p >The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for regulating discharges from fresh water fish farm sites.…
20 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has to suggest that a ban on the sale of packets of 10 cigarettes will reduce smoking levels.
Answer · Shona Robison: A full and rigorous regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is being conducted to assess the economic impact and the health benefits of legislative proposals set out in <i >Scotland</i><i >''s Future is Smoke-free</i>, including the commitment to consider issues a…
20 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide information regarding its collaboration with HM Revenue and Customs to reduce the impact of illicit sales of tobacco products.
Answer · Shona Robison: The proposed collaboration with HMRC/the UK Border Agency to tackle illicit sales of tobacco forms part of the comprehensive programme of measures contained in the Smoking Prevention Action Plan <i>Scotland''s Future is Smoke-free </i>which was launched in Ma…
20 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered evidence from Canada and Iceland showing that tobacco display bans do not reduce the consumption of tobacco products.
Answer · Shona Robison: A full and rigorous regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is being conducted to assess the economic impact and health benefits of legislative proposals set out in <i >Scotland</i><i >''s Future is Smoke-free</i>. This will be published alongside the forthcoming …
20 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed tobacco display ban and any implications that it has for small retailers fits with the Scottish Government’s intention to support businesses and high streets and the statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in a press release on 19 November 20…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to a vibrant small business sector and is doing a great deal to support the small business sector in Scotland through, for example, reduced business rates under the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which will save millions for…
20 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the economic impact on small retailers of the proposed tobacco display ban and when the regulatory impact assessment will be published.
Answer · Shona Robison: A full and rigorous regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is being undertaken to assess the economic impact of legislative proposals set out in <i >Scotland</i><i >''s Future is Smoke-free</i>, including proposals to further restrict the display of tobacco produ…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will to take to assist the farming industry in sourcing alternative pesticides if the new pesticides legislation agreed by the European Parliament on 13 January 2009 is agreed by the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Development of new pesticides is primarily a matter for the companies concerned. It is not yet known whether currently-available pesticides will become unavailable in future.</p> afte
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make representations to the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council regarding the proposed new EU legislation on pesticides.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Council of Ministers has finalised its position on the proposals, after a prolonged period of negotiation during which the Scottish Government made active representations, including in collaboration with the UK authorities. However, the impact of the new …
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether there is scientific evidence to support the introduction of the proposed new EU legislation on pesticides.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scientific work by the Pesticides Safety Directorate on behalf of the Scottish Government and other UK authorities suggested that a number of pesticide active ingredients, for which there is no conclusive evidence of a risk to human or animal health or to the…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16417 by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2008 and in light of the European Parliament’s vote in support of new pesticides legislation, how this new legislation, if implemented, will affect the Scottish farming industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The new legislation could adversely affect Scottish crop yields if certain pesticides were no longer available. However, it is not possible at this stage to determine whether the potential impact will actually be felt. This is because decisions will only be t…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of sea lice data in Norway on the Lusedata website, when it will publish similar data.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act came into force in August 2007. The act allows inspection of fin fish farms to assess whether satisfactory measures are in place to control parasites (sea lice) and to contain farmed fish and prevent escapes. Neces…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to reinstate wild sea trout populations in areas where they have declined.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Responsibility for the management of wild sea trout populations lies with District Salmon Fishery Boards and we in government are working with these boards, and local fishery trusts to protect and promote these populations. We are also funding research into t…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the decline in sea trout populations in certain areas, for what reasons sea trout populations are not considered a qualifying feature for special areas of conservation.
Answer · Michael Russell: Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are designated under the provisions of the EC Habitats Directive. Salmo trutta (whether in its migratory or non-migratory forms) is not included in the list of species for which member states are required to designate SACs…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what body is responsible for monitoring the welfare of wild salmonids in special areas of conservation (SACs) for specific types of salmon and in SACs where Atlantic salmon are a qualifying feature.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is the only salmonid species listed on Annex II of the EC Habitats Directive (species for which SACs are required to be designated) which is native to Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) undertakes a rolling programme o…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation covers the importation of live salmon and rainbow trout smolts from Scandinavia.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Trade in live fish in the European Union is regulated by Council Directive 2006/88/EC on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals. Trade is permitted only …
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal provisions are for safeguarding biosecurity when farmed salmon are moved from one management area to another and what body is responsible for monitoring compliance with these provisions.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19804 on 28 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent outbreak of infectious salmon anaemia in Shetland, whether farmed salmon can legally be moved from one management area to another and, if so, what safeguards are in place regarding biosecurity.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Movement of farmed salmon between management areas is currently not regulated unless movement controls have been applied because of the presence of notifiable disease such as infectious salmon anaemia. Biosecurity safeguards for consented movements will be ap…
15 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support retail businesses in rural town centres in light of the current economic slowdown.
Answer · Jim Mather: The over-riding purpose of the Scottish Government is to increase sustainable economic growth. This is growth in all parts of Scotland including our rural communities.</p> <p >This purpose remains unchanged. In the current economic climate we will redouble o…
14 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its review of aquaculture will consider the appropriateness of existing fin fish farm sites in relation to the impact that they may have had on wild fish populations in (a) salt and (b) fresh water.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: <i >Scottish Aquaculture: A Fresh Start, </i>the consultation on the renewed strategic framework for Scottish aquaculture, sought views on the Scottish Government''s approach to planning, consents and sites for aquaculture. It pointed out that new or modified…
14 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a code of good practice or regulation exists on how long fin fish cages can be used on a single site without being moved in (a) salt and (b) fresh water.
Answer · Michael Russell: No such provision or regulation exists. The industry''s own Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture contains recommendations on site fallowing across given areas which are designed to manage sea lice numbers and disease.</p>
14 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a code of good practice on the siting of fin fish farm cages in (a) salt and (b) fresh water.
Answer · Michael Russell: The industry''s own Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture contains recommendations on the siting of fish farms. In addition, the Environmental Impact Assessment Practical Guidelines Toolkit for Marine Fish Farming contains at Annex G guidance…
14 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in re-establishing a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers in Scotland and Northern Ireland met in November 2008 to discuss the way forward and agreed that further consideration should be given to proceeding with a joint Campbeltown to Ballycastle service tender.</p> <p >Scottish Government officials, in c…
12 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been (a) made and (b) granted under the Scotland Rural Development Plan invasive non-native species option in (i) Argyll and Bute and (ii) the rest of Scotland in each year since this option has existed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Control of Non-Native Species Option appears under Rural Priorities, one of the eight delivery mechanisms of the Scotland Rural Development Programme. In the first nine months of applications, four applications have been received that include the Control …
12 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the £9.2 million capital spend under the vessels and piers heading in Scotland’s Budget Documents 2009-10: Budget (Scotland) Bill Supporting Document for the year ending 31 March 2010.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not publish figures below those detailed in the budget documents you refer to. However, the increase in budget provision between 2008-09 and 2009-10 is necessary to maintain the level of service on lifeline ferry services in Scotl…
12 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the £6.8 million increase under the support for ferry services heading in Scotland’s Budget Documents 2009-10: Budget (Scotland) Bill Supporting Document for the year ending 31 March 2010.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19617 on 26 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
18 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates that businesses have lost in revenue as a result of road works in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: While the Scottish Government is aware that road works can have a financial impact on businesses, no estimate of the possible loss of revenue to businesses throughout Scotland has been made. This is because such an estimate could not be afforded any degree of…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the Inverness trunk link route will commence and how much it will cost, broken down by source of funding.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review has recommended 29 transport interventions over the next 20 years that will let us plan for the delivery of an efficient, integrated transport network fit for the 21st century.</p> <p >Included in the scheme to upgrade…
9 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what savings it will make as a result of its reforms to Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Jim Mather: The purpose of the reforms was not to make savings but rather to enable HIE to focus on activities that would have the greatest impact on sustainable economic growth.</p> <p >With the abolition of the local enterprise companies and the transfer of particular…
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-17875 and S3W-17871 by Michael Russell on 27 November 2008, whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre information supplied by the Crofters Commission on how much it has spent on the Bull Hire Scheme for crofters in each of…
Answer · Michael Russell: Information on the expenditure on the Bull Hire Scheme is supplied by the Crofters Commission in the Annual Reports for that public body. These are laid in the Parliament in compliance with section 2(4) of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993, as amended. Copies …