Jamie McGrigor

19 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of further outbreaks of infectious salmon anaemia and identification of the virus in wild fish, it will look at the implications of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation Treaty (Oslo resolution 1994) and set up an independent regulatory body for the ind…

Answer · John Home Robertson: We have no plans to set up such a body. A number of bodies have statutory responsibility for various aspects relating to fish farming. These arrangements are kept under review in the light of the obligations under the Treaty referred to and other obligations.

19 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of evidence suggesting the presence of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) in wild fish stocks, ISA will continue to be classed as an exotic rather than an endemic disease.

Answer · John Home Robertson: The European Commission has been notified of our findings. The evidence alluded to is small scale. More would be required before the Community embarked on the route suggested.

19 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of a gonad only test result compared to a whole animal test result for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning in king scallops and why the testing regime in Scotland is different to that in Northern Ireland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There is no difference in the cost of testing the gonad compared to the whole animal for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning in king scallops.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The testing regime in Scotland is directed to the gonad since research has shown that, of the most commonl…

19 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following recent outbreaks of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) and the continuing uncertainty over the origin of the original outbreak, whether it will confirm that it will not seek to change the classification of ISA as a List 1 disease under European Union fish health regulation…

Answer · John Home Robertson: The matter is essentially one for the European Commission but we have no plans to initiate such a change at this time.

19 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow scallop fishermen and scallop farmers to sell scallop roe to approved processors.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The sale of scallop roe 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 limit as no part o…

23 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it did not make an earlier statement on issues relating to the lifting of the beef on the bone ban given that the Chief Medical Officer for England issued his latest advice on this matter seven weeks ago, and whether it will take steps to expedite the completion of the Wellcome Trust …

Answer · Susan Deacon: All four CMOs have been in discussion on this matter since July. The CMOs met as recently as 8&nbsp;September to review the current position in an effort to reach common medical advice. This did not prove possible so each CMO then issued individual advice to …

10 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the future for sheep farming in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive fully appreciates the importance of sheep farming to the economy and, particularly, to local communities throughout the Highlands and Islands.<P>We are working hard with the industry to overcome the present difficulties with the aim of …

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that adequate scientific resources are being applied to the outbreak of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Yes - the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen are carrying out a comprehensive surveillance programme on these toxins and also detailed research studies.

1 Sep 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that adequate scientific resources are being applied to the outbreak of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Yes - the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen are carrying out a comprehensive surveillance programme on these toxins and also detailed research studies.

25 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to find the source of or reason for the toxic algic bloom on the West of Scotland which is causing amnesic shellfish poisoning.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Marine biotoxins occur worldwide and the international scientific community are researching the causes of these blooms and toxins. The Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen is at the leading edge of this research.<P>Research is currently being funded by the Scottish Ex…

25 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the need for a new coast fisheries boundary line between Scotland and England and on why it should differ significantly from any line describing the limits of other offshore activities.

Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 was necessary to define for the first time the Scottish Zone of British Fisheries Limits, within which Scottish Ministers would have competence to regulate and legislate on sea fisheries matters. The line fo…

25 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the Infectious Salmon Anaemia crisis, when it intends to implement the commitments made by HM Government on 8 February 1999 to the many Highlands and Islands communities reliant on salmon farming to restore job security and investor confidence in the industry.

Answer · John Home Robertson: The Minister for Rural Affairs and I met the industry on 11 June. The commitment given by HM Government on 8 February envisaged support totalling £3 million per annum for 3 years subject to matching funding from the industry. A subsequent report by Pricewate…