Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much is in the Scottish common agricultural policy national reserve for 2007-08 and future years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We will not know howmuch is in the Scottish component of the National Reserve until after the clawbackof unused entitlements has been completed; there will be a further clawback exercisein January 2008.</p>
12 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support is available to tackle possible landslides that would cause road closures and where such money has been spent since 2003.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland manages landslip risks on the trunk road network withinits existing roads maintenance budgets and without any external financial support. As landslips are unpredictable modifications are madewithin existing budgets and programmes to accommo…
12 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to implement the recommendations of the Scottish Road Network Landslides Study, published in 2005.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The main recommendationof the 2005 report was that more extensive research should be undertaken to developand implement a methodology for the assessment of landslide hazards, the exposureto road users and the resulting hazard rankings. This work is detailed, …
5 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing a new NHS dental practice in the Oban area following the closure of the Argyll Square dental practice in 2007.
Answer · Shona Robison: The responsibilityfor the overall provision of NHS dental services rests with the NHS board.</p><p>NHS Highland is currently,with vigour, exploring all optionsto establish a new NHS dental practice in Oban. It is appreciated by the CommunityHealth Partnership…
5 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to any local concerns in the Campbeltown area about apparent lack of progress in the re-establishment of the Ballycastle to Campbeltown ferry.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5296 on 5 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
5 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Northern Ireland Assembly to discuss the possible reinstatement of the Ballycastle to Campbeltown ferry and what progress is being made with regard to its reinstatement.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Governmentofficials have discussed the project with Northern Ireland officials on a number of occasions and they continueto liaise closely to discuss joint working arrangements for taking the project forward.Respective ministers in Scotland and North…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans VisitScotland has to engage local producers, such as local book printers and sellers, to ensure that they benefit from its tourist information centre marketplace.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotlandalready sources locally books of particular interest, and will continue to doso. While procurement requirements contain no obligation for VisitScotland tocater specifically for local publishers, it nevertheless took great care in thepreparation o…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that local book and map sellers in small communities face competition for retail book sales from tourist information centres in such communities.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotlandalready sources locally books of particular interest, and will continue to doso. While procurement requirements contain no obligation for VisitScotland tocater specifically for local publishers, it nevertheless took great care in thepreparation o…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action VisitScotland is taking to increase the range of books and maps available at larger tourist information centres.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotlandalready sources locally books of particular interest, and will continue to doso. While procurement requirements contain no obligation for VisitScotland tocater specifically for local publishers, it nevertheless took great care in thepreparation o…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet representatives of local book and map sellers and whether it will discuss with them how VisitScotland can support them more effectively through the purchase of local books for sale in tourist information centres.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotland metwith Publishing Scotland recently on the matter of its tender process for booksand maps. The meeting sought to address issues raised by Publishing Scotland’smembers and led to a discussion on opportunities for better working andcommunication.…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns of local book and map sellers that their support from tourist information centres could be more effective if stock control and competing demands on staff time in the centres were improved.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is anoperational matter for VisitScotland.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support and training VisitScotland offers tourist information centre staff to enable them to buy the most appropriate books and maps to sell in their centres.
Answer · Jim Mather: Within publicsector procurement guidelines, the procurement process followed byVisitScotland allows it to stock local products in tourism information centreswhich reflect the distinctiveness of each part of Scotland. The sale of books and maps in tourism info…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans VisitScotland has to change its retail book and map-buying policy from one of local supply to central purchase; what benefits such a policy would achieve, and how it will ensure that local suppliers do not lose out as a result.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotlandalready sources locally books of particular interest, and will continue to doso. While procurement requirements contain no obligation for VisitScotland tocater specifically for local publishers, it nevertheless took great care in thepreparation o…
26 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with representatives of the deer farming sector and what was discussed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There have been no meetingswith representatives of the deer farming sector since January 2007, butofficials have maintained informal dialogue.</p>
26 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1902 by Richard Lochhead on 16 July 2007, whether it has held further discussions with the European Commission about including deer farmers in Common Agriculture Policy support schemes and, if so, what the results were of those discussions.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Although nofurther discussions have been held specifically about deer farmers, we did makesuccessful representations at the time of the June Agriculture Council thatwill allow us flexibility to operate the National Reserve within Scotland. This flexibility is…
26 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1899 by Richard Lochhead on 16 July 2007, what further consideration it has given to supporting deer farming through Common Agriculture Policy support schemes and when it will make an announcement on any decisions on this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The issue ofsupporting deer farming through Common Agricultural Policy support schemes wasincluded in the recent consultation: Reform of the EU Fruit and VegetableRegime and Deer Farming: Proposed Changes to the Single Farm Payment Scheme. Followingclosure of…
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to existing and new teachers to allow them to teach children with autism more effectively.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3118 on 27 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the quality of education received by children with autism.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Education(Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004(the act) came into force in November 2005 with the aim of creating a stronger,better system for supporting children’s learning. The act aims to ensure thatall children and young people, includ…
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the lives of children with autism.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Governmentworks collaboratively with voluntary sector organisations, service users and carersto develop and inform appropriate and responsive services for children and youngpeople with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This includes working with t…
19 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4002 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 September 2007, what representations it has made to British Airways and Loganair Ltd and what the response was from the airlines.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: My officials havebeen in close touch with Loganair and I shall raise the issue with the airline whenI meet them in October. We will follow up with British Airways in light of thatmeeting.</p>
14 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who pays for autopsies carried out in cases where wildlife crime is suspected.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Governmentpays for the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme, which is operated by the ScottishAgricultural Science Agency with autopsy assistance from the Veterinary Servicesof the Scottish Agricultural College.</p>
4 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that air services to Orkney remain a key priority for airlines and are connected with the global airline networks.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The ScottishExecutive’s Air Discount Scheme acknowledges that air service provision inOrkney is a key priority and one of the by-products of the Scheme has been anincreasing frequency in air services serving Orkney. Through the servicesprovided by Loganair Lt…
4 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with British Airways and Loganair about their Orkney services and, in particular, about the impact of ground handling arrangements at Heathrow Airport.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The ScottishExecutive has had no recent meetings with either British Airways or LoganairLtd. We acknowledge that the delivery of ground handling arrangements has beenless than satisfactory and we will raise the issue with both airlines.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to designate Campbeltown Loch as recreational water.
Answer · Michael Russell: We have no suchplans. The Scottish Government does not designate sites as recreational waters.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to any concerns of local residents in the Campbeltown Loch area who are opposed to the granting of Scottish Water’s applications (CAR/L/1000560 and CAR/L/1015528) for discharge into Campbeltown Loch.
Answer · Michael Russell: The determinationof applications for licences under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2005 is a statutory duty of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).</p><p>As this processis now underway it would not be appropr…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made on Scottish Water’s applications (CAR/L/1000560 and CAR/L/1015528) for discharge into Campbeltown Loch.
Answer · Michael Russell: The determinationof applications for licences under the Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2005 is a statutory duty of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). SEPA served notice on 31 August 2007 of SEPA’s proposed dete…
28 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1484 by Michael Russell on 24 July 2007, when it will make an announcement about future arrangements for the Bull Hire Scheme and whether this announcement will address concerns of crofters about the cost of the scheme to them.
Answer · Michael Russell: In a speech to the Scottish Crofting Foundation Annual Conference on 7 September 2007, I was able to confirm that bull hire arrangements willcontinue into 2008. The hire charges are unchanged from 2007.</p><p>If the current managementarrangements are to conti…
28 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a bracken clearance scheme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are no plansto introduce a bracken clearance scheme. I refer the member to the answer to questionS3W-3683 on 13 September 2007 which sets out the support available fromthe Government for bracken clearance.</p><p>All answers to writtenparliamentary quest…
28 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to farmers, crofters and landowners who wish to remove bracken coverage on land.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Support has been availablethrough agri-environment schemes such as the Rural Stewardship Scheme, the EnvironmentallySensitive Areas Scheme and the Countryside Premium Scheme to assist farmers andcrofters to control bracken. Subject to the terms of agreements …
28 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle the increasing coverage of bracken in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3683 on 13 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…