Parliamentary questions

Jamie McGrigor

1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) why the areas covered by boxes closed under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 are the si'e they are; (b) how often tests are conducted in each box area; (c) how many scallops are sampled from each box area; (d) how often tests are conducted in box areas following closure; (…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The size of the boxes used to monitor offshore scallop grounds have to be large enough to ensure public safety and were set using hydrographic information. The boxes were accepted by the EU.<OL TYPE="a"><LI>The EC Directive (91/492/EEC) req…

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the early warning signs are of an outbreak of amnesic shellfish poisoning.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The early warning sign for an outbreak of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) is the presence of an algal phytoplankton organism called Pseudo-nitzschia. Scallops filter sea water and consume the planktonic organism which in turn causes a build-up of tox…

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the severity of winter conditions has any effect on the appearance of amnesic shellfish poisoning.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There is insufficient scientific data to specify whether the severity of winter conditions has any effect on the incidence of amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). The growth of the causative organisms is cyclic, reflecting the spring and autumn planktonic bloom…

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how important (i) water chemistry; (ii) nutrient balance; (iii) nitrogen (ammonia and urea); (iv) phosphate, and (v) water temperature are to the propagation of algal blooms.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-09757.

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the principal controls are on the growth of amnesic shellfish poisoning causing algal blooms; whether storms can dissipate the blooms, and whether there is any prospect of deterrent measures to eradicate the algal blooms.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-09757.

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what governs the severity and duration of outbreaks of amnesic shellfish poisoning.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-9757.

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what triggers the blooming of the algae which cause amnesic shellfish poisoning.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Food Standards Agency has advised me that algal blooms are natural, cyclic phenomena, and are believed to be influenced by a number of factors including environment, light, temperature, chemical nutrients and the abundance of herbivorous animals and fish …

6 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to help the scallop industry.

Answer · John Home Robertson: I have already made provision for a licence relaxation to allow a number of Category C licensed scallop vessels to fish for west coast nephrops.I have also given an undertaking that resources will be available from the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Gu…

21 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make provision for access for ambulances from Port Appin to the island of Lismore to assist with medical emergencies.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Ambulance Service, as part of its "Beyond 2000" initiative, is reviewing the deployment and operation of the Accident & Emergency service across Scotland. Many islands such as Lismore will be dependent upon the first response to medical emerg…

18 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it is making for a continued bus service between Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead and the surrounding areas in view of the loss of subsidised service contracts.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The provision of public transport between Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead is a matter for individual operators and Argyll and Bute Council as local transport authority.

4 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7729 by Sarah Boyack on 21 June 2000, why it considers that it would not be appropriate to provide the names and departments requested.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The decision not to provide the names and departments requested is based on the principle that Ministers are responsible and accountable for the decisions and actions of their departments.

16 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for medical cover for residents in the Dalmally area following the resignation of the doctor covering this area and whether it will give an assurance that such cover will not solely be given by locums.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The provision of general medical services in the Dalmally area is a matter for Lomond and Argyll Primary Care NHS Trust.

16 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance to Argyll and Bute Council and local community councils opposed to designation that the South-East Islay Skerries will not be designated as a Special Area of Conservation for common seals until the further scientific work identified in February 1999 by th…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The South East Islay Skerries will not be proposed as a candidate Special Area of Conservation unless there is a sound scientific case for doing so.

7 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the relevant departments and the name of each individual currently giving full and proper consideration to the report of the public local inquiry into the outstanding planning application for the Lingerbay Quarry, Harris, giving a breakdown of the annual costs involve…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: It would not be appropriate to provide the names, or departments, of individual members of the Scottish Executive currently involved in considering the report of the Lingerbay Quarry public local inquiry. None of the officials considering the report are, or h…

7 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the economic loss to the Isle of Harris, the Western Isles and to Scotland resulting from the delay in giving a decision over the outstanding Lingerbay Quarry application following the conclusion of the planning inquiry in 1995.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any evidence of economic loss which could be said to result from the fact that there is, as yet, no decision on this application.

10 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision concerning the outstanding planning application for the Lingerbay Quarry on the Isle of Harris.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This is a very technical and complex case and sufficient time will be required to give full and proper consideration to the report of the public local inquiry. The conclusions of the Scottish Executive will, however, be made known to parties as soon as is rea…

4 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an urgent decision on the planning application at Lingerbay Quarry in Harris, given the length of time that this issue has been under consideration.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-10890 on 3 November.

19 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to prevent any adverse effect on rural communities of the proposed closures by Argyll and Bute Council of Drumlemble Primary School in Campbeltown, Glassary Primary School in Kilmichael, Ulva Ferry Primary School on Mull, Newton Primary School on Islay, Toward…

Answer · Peter Peacock: When education authorities are proposing the closure of schools there is a statutory requirement for them to consult parents and school boards. They must take account of any representations received during the consultation period before reaching a decision on…

16 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which agency or public body is responsible for the protection of wild sea trout and salmon stocks and what action it and the relevant agency or body is taking to reverse the decline of wild sea trout and salmon stocks in Scotland.

Answer · John Home Robertson: Day-to-day management of salmonid stocks is the responsibility of District Salmon Fishery Boards under the Salmon Act 1986. The Scottish Executive has power to legislate and make regulations concerning fish and fisheries in Scotland.There i…

13 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the amendment by the European Union of EC Regulations 850/98 on the conservation of fishery resources, it will ban all net fishing other than that for salmon and eels in the Forth Estuary in order to protect spawning and nursery areas.

Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce such measures in the Forth Estuary.

13 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the prohibition of sandeel fishing off the North East of England and the East of Scotland, it will introduce measures to protect juveniles of marine organisms upstream of Hound Point in the Forth Estuary and controls on unregistered non-commercial fishing boats to prohi…

Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive has no plans to introduce such measures. Fishing on a non-commercial basis does not require a fishing licence and the Executive has no plans to prohibit non-commercial fishing activity in the Forth Estuary.

2 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether North British Hotels' offer of #310,000 to buy and install a C.T. Scanner for Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban will be accepted in the light of a new offer from a charity of a further #140,000 to cover the running costs for two years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Board of Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust met on 29 February to consider a revised business case for a CT scanner. The revised business case makes a substantial difference to the clinical and economic arguments for the scanner. I understand that…

2 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the current problems facing dentists in areas of North East Scotland and Highlands and Islands in order to enable them to reopen the waiting lists for routine referrals.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Waiting lists for maxillofacial surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary remain open. The Infirmary is continuing to receive routine referrals and I have been assured that patients who require urgent treatment are being seen and treated quickly.<FONT FACE="Arial, …

19 Jan 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to access available EU "agrimoney" funds for Scottish farmers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish farmers will receive £15 million in agrimonetary compensation later this year. I am giving careful consideration to the claims for further agrimonetary compensation in close consultation with the other UK Agriculture Ministers. Scotland could not go …

13 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to ask for funds to finance the shortfall in the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have on-going discussions with the UK Government on the difficulties facing Scottish farmers, as a result of which a number of substantial aid packages have been made available in recent months. I announced on 16 November that a further £1 million would be …

10 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow scallop fishermen and scallop farmers to sell scallop without roe (i.e white meat only) to approved processors.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The sale of the white meat of scallops is not generally prohibited unless it is from an area which has been closed to scallop fishing by a Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA) Order due to the detection of algal toxin levels above the statutory lim…

8 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the labelling of meat products.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Meat products are defined in EC law and the labelling requirements are largely harmonised at EC level. These requirements are implemented in Scotland by the Food Labelling Regulations 1996.The Scottish Executive issued a consultat…

22 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive given the rise in the protected Greenland goose population on Islay from 36,800 birds in 1993 to 49,300 in 1999, what plans it has for their future management.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The principal objective of the National Goose Forum is to propose a new national policy framework to manage the interaction between Scotland's goose populations and agricultural interests. It is our intention that this new policy framework will provide the ba…

22 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of Scottish National Heritage's calculation in 1996 that the cost to farmers on Islay from damage done by protected Greenland geese was at least #14 per bird, what is the justification for the payment of #10.70 in 1999.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: These payments are made under the Islay Voluntary Goose Management Scheme (IVGMS), which is entirely the responsibility of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).Under the IVGMS, SNH aims to compensate for additional impacts resulting fr…

22 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1898 by Sarah Boyack on 25 October 1999, when the report by the National Goose Forum will be published and what the consultation period will be.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I envisage that the report will be published early in the New Year, with a two-month consultation period, during which time we will also arrange for the report to be considered by the Parliament's relevant committees.