Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to alleviate the damage caused and financial burden placed on farmers and crofters by increasing numbers of wild geese on the Isle of Tiree.
Answer · Michael Russell: Support is availableto farmers and crofters from the Tiree and Coll local goose management scheme. Expenditureunder the scheme in financialyear 2006-07 amounted to £28,605.</p><p>Farmers and crofterson Tiree are able to apply for licenses from their local Rur…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government and the European Union about making it easier for UK businesses to understand more easily the qualifications gained by migrant workers in their own countries and whether the Executive supports any move to standardise educational qualifica…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Executiveis actively working with the European Commission in the development of the EuropeanQualifications Framework (EQF) which aims to be implemented across Europe by 2009. The EQF aims to improve the mobility of individualsand their qualificat…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with members of the business community, including small businesses, in respect of difficulties that they experience in assessing the qualifications held by migrant workers who do not have UK qualifications or whose home country qualifications are not easily und…
Answer · Jim Mather: As part of the Scottish Government’s Fresh Talent initiative the Relocation Advisory Service’s(RAS) business team is in regular contact with Scottish employers and theirrepresentatives, providing advice on employing migrant workers through itswebsite, present…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to members of the business community, including small businesses, who find it difficult to assess the qualifications held by migrant workers who do not have UK qualifications or whose home country qualifications are not easily understood or recognised in the United Ki…
Answer · Jim Mather: Careers Scotland in the Highlands and Islands area are workingwith the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) to develop aservice which will provide guidance to individuals and employers on matchingqualifications. They intend to publicise th…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect human health, in light of the increasing number of cases of Lyme disease caused by ticks in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are aware thatthe incidence of Lyme disease appears to be increasing and I have already discussedthis with the Minister for Environment. Health Protection Scotland (HPS) currentlypublishes guidance on Lyme disease on its website and distributes guidance to…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to combat the increasing number of ticks.
Answer · Michael Russell: I invited a rangeof organisations with an interest in ticks and tick-borne disease to a meeting on20 September. At that meeting the group assessed the scale of the problem and potentialimpact on human health, the rural economy and on biodiversity. The group a…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the tourism and shooting industries about the increasing number of ticks.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3549 on 27 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/…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the increasing number of ticks is having on the (a) tourism and (b) shooting industry.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3549 on 27 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/…
21 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is conducting into the increasing number of ticks.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3549 on 27 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/…
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend Single Farm Payment support beyond 2013.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Decisions on extendingSingle Farm Payment support beyond 2013 will be taken in the context of the EuropeanUnion’s Common Agricultural Policy for 2013 onwards.</p>
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns of new entrants to the farming and crofting sectors who cannot access Single Farm Payment support because they have no historical entitlement to such support.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: At present, new entrantsto farming and crofting who wish to access Single Farm Payment support may onlydo so, in accordance with EC Regulation 1782/2003, by purchasing entitlements onthe open market or through inheritance of entitlements. Recognising the diff…
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how new entrants to the farming and crofting sectors can access Single Farm Payment support.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: At present, new entrantsto farming and crofting who wish to access Single Farm Payment support may onlydo so, in accordance with EC Regulation 1782/2003, by purchasing entitlements onthe open market or through inheritance of entitlements. Recognising the diff…
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that any extra money it receives as a result of the UK Government’s recent announcement of additional funding for services for children with disabilities is distributed fairly and in a way that recognises the additional costs of providing viable and appropriate support …
Answer · Adam Ingram: Allfunding eligible for allocation to Scottish budgets by way of budgetconsequentials is held centrally. It is then allocated by the ScottishGovernment in light of all competing pressures and the government’s priorities.</p><p>Atthe present time there has bee…
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scotland will gain under the Barnett formula as a result of the UK Government’s recent announcement of additional funding for services for children with disabilities and how the Executive will allocate this money.
Answer · Adam Ingram: As indicatedin my answer to question S3W-1486 on 19 July 2007, consequential funding is agreedbiannually and is dependent on confirmation from HM Treasury that any additionalfunding announced by departments is new money and has not been reallocated fromexisti…
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage farmers and crofters, including new entrants, to apply for support under the Rural Stewardship Scheme and other agri-environmental schemes, in light of difficulties in accessing such support in previous years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Rural StewardshipScheme closed to applications in 2006. Future support for agri-environment willbe available through Rural Development Contracts under the new Scotland Rural DevelopmentProgramme 2007-13. We are putting in place arrangements for the new pr…
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1357 by Richard Lochhead on 23 July 2007 and in light of Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department’s £54 million underspend in 2006-07, what its response is to the concerns of farmers and crofters who have been unable to access supp…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The funding whichwas available to support agri-environment measures under the 2000-06 Scotland RuralDevelopment Programme was fully allocated. Budget resources totalling £404 millionhave been allocated to fund agri-environment options in the 2007-13 Scotland …
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the amount of time each household spends in temporary accommodation in each local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The informationrequested is not held centrally.</p>
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many households on local authority waiting lists have been waiting for (a) six, (b) 12, (c) 18, (d) 24, (e) 30 and (f) 36 months and how many have been waiting for more than 36 months, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The requestedinformation is not held centrally. The information on housing lists collectedby the Scottish Government is published on an annual basis in the ScottishExecutive Statistical Bulletin (Housing Series)<i> Housing trends in </i><i>Scotland</i><i>: qu…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into future housing need, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: A major piece ofresearch on housing need was conducted for the Scottish Government by ProfessorGlen Bramley and published in November 2006. This contains analysis of housingneed by local authority area. Further information can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http:…
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission about including deer farmers in Common Agricultural Policy support schemes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Executiveofficials met Commission officials last year to clarify the use of Article 42(5)of EC Regulation 1782/2003 for potentially giving deer farmers access to entitlementsfrom the National Reserve.</p>
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are legal obstacles to deer farmers receiving support through Common Agriculture Policy schemes in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under the historic-basedsystem for Single Farm Payments adopted in Scotland, no payments have been made in respect of deer farming because it was anunsupported sector during the 2000-02 reference period. While it is possible tofund entitlements to Single Farm…
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to the concerns of Scottish deer farmers who consider that they are disadvantaged by receiving no Common Agricultural Policy support, in comparison with English deer farmers who do receive such support.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1899 on 16 July 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
3 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support deer farming through Common Agriculture Policy support schemes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following agreementreached at the June Agriculture Council, we expect to have the flexibility to operatethe National Reserve separately in Scotland, and so will be giving further considerationto this matter in that context.</p>
25 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to concerns that the Bull Hire Scheme is too expensive.
Answer · Michael Russell: The present charge leviedfor high quality bulls typically works out (after deduction of the grant) atless than £40 per cow with the actual cost depending on the number of cows aparticular bull has to cover. This charge is substantially below full economiccost…
25 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic benefits to Luing of the proposed fixed link crossing.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The economic benefitsto Luing of a proposed high level bridge crossing over the Cuan Sound, as set outin the Cuan Sound Transport Links STAG 2 report by Atkins, are currently being assessedby my officials as part of a funding request from Argyll and Bute Coun…
25 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on whether to provide Luing with a fixed link crossing.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: My officials are currentlyconsidering the Cuan Sound Transport Links STAG 2 report by Atkins, which formsthe basis of a funding request from Argyll and Bute Council for a high level bridgecrossing over the Cuan Sound. We will respond to the council in due cou…
25 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with relevant organisations about the development of a tidal power generation scheme across the Cuan Sound.
25 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to businesses, local authorities and other organisations and individuals on islands such as Luing that wish to develop tidal power generation schemes.
8 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to re-establish piers in the highlands and islands.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executiveoperates two grant schemes that support harbours work, namely for the developmentof harbour facilities supporting lifeline ferry services in the Highlands and Islands and for emergency repairs to fisheries harbours.Support may also be av…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Assembly about re-establishing a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-424 on 13 June 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…