Parliamentary questions

Jamie Stone

587 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

10 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what, if any, powers it has to take steps to underpin the future viability of Scotland's network of locally run community radio stations and what action it plans to take in this respect.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has powers to fund Gaelic broadcasting, but there is no statutory provision for Government to provide financial support to independent radio stations. Organisations running radio stations may in certain circumstances be eligible for sup…

10 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail what action is being taken to tackle any welfare problems of caste ewes and whether it is considering (a) issuing legally binding notices to vets to give them powers to address any welfare problems and (b) enhancing existing animal welfare legislation to make neglec…

Answer · Ross Finnie: All welfare problems which come to light are dealt with as a matter of urgency. Advice is given to the responsible person on appropriate measures to alleviate suffering, and where such advice is not acted upon, the case can be referred to the Procurator Fisca…

10 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate the possibility of introducing an early retirement scheme for farmers and crofters.

Answer · Ross Finnie: An early retirement scheme for farmers and crofters was one of a number of options included in a wide-ranging consultation exercise early in 1999. The response to that exercise demonstrated mixed views on an early retirement scheme.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><…

10 Jan 2000 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how much extra funding Scottish police authorities used in policing the millennium compared with the amount forecast.

Answer · Donald Dewar: That information is not yet available, but the Scottish Executive provided an additional £4.7 million grant to police forces, announced by the Deputy First Minister on 8 October.

9 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1298 by Mr Frank McAveety on 13 September 1999, whether it is yet in a position to consider changes to the working practices and decision-making process of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland.

Answer · Frank McAveety: No. The Renewing Local Democracy Working Group is not due to report until spring 2000.

9 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish joint working arrangements with the other parliaments and assemblies within the British Isles.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The British-Irish Council (BIC) met formally for the first time on 17 December. It was established under Strand 3 of the Belfast Agreement. Membership of the Council comprises representatives of the British and Irish Governments and the devolved administratio…

8 Dec 1999 · General Question

Answer · Frank McAveety: No. The Renewing Local Democracy Working Group is not due to report until spring 2000.

16 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail (a) the ownership of the buildings of the new school to be built in Dalkeith by Midlothian Council using a Public Private Partnership when the Partnership is ended; (b) whether any long term council debt will be incurred and, if so, whether it will estimate how much…

Answer · Peter Peacock: Midlothian Council are at a very early stage of the development of the Public private partnership arrangements. In general, these issues will require to be addressed by them in developing the proposals further. However, as regards ownership, we announced, in …

27 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether resources at the laboratory testing shellfish samples for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning are adequate to ensure that restrictions or delays on the testing of samples do not unnecessarily prolong the closure of shellfish fisheries.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The monitoring programme for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning is undertaken by the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen. The Scottish Executive provides the necessary resources to undertake this work. The closure orders on scallop fishing will be lifted when toxin levels a…

27 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether arrangements for the collection of shellfish samples for testing for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning are adequately resourced so that there are no restrictions or delays in the collection of samples which could unnecessarily prolong the closure of shellfish fisheries.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The monitoring programme which tests for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning is undertaken by the Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen. This programme includes the collection of shellfish samples. The Scottish Executive provides the necessary resources to undertake this work.…

28 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is an opportunity to re-evaluate the timetabling of the Rural Challenge Fund within each financial year, to allow a longer lead-in time for community groups than has previously been the case.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The guidance and timetable for the Rural Challenge Fund are re-evaluated before every annual round. The guidance for the financial year 2000-01 was distributed on 23 September 1999, and set a closing date for applications of 30 November 1999. This g…

17 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-623 by Ross Finnie on 2 August 1999, whether it will provide further details of its examination of the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF) and whether it intends to publish any report on completion of this examination and, in particular, whether i…

Answer · Ross Finnie: I undertook the examination in order to assess whether the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund's objectives were in keeping with the Partnership Agreement. There was no report of that assessment. The Fund comprises three parts, one of which includes grant su…

9 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to examine the marketing strategy of the Scottish Tourist Board and local tourist boards to promote tourism in the north of the Highlands area.

Answer · Henry McLeish: An important objective of the new strategy will be to boost tourism in the remoter areas. The Scottish Tourist Board, which is preparing the new strategy, together with its partners who include the Area Tourist Boards, is considering what needs to be done. Ma…

1 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to review the current methodology of the Boundaries Commission, given the local concern in part of the Highland Council's area arising from the Commission's most recent review of electoral boundaries.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Having recently received the report of the Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament, we have announced the establishment of a Renewing Local Democracy Working Party. This will consider, amongst other things, what form of electoral system wou…

1 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the scheme of financial support to tourist boards in the Highlands and Islands given their current financial situation.

Answer · Henry McLeish: As part of our consultations on the future direction of the tourist industry, we are seeking views on the way in which Area Tourist Boards should be funded in future. I will look at the position in the light of the comments received.

25 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans they have to (a) assist the local economies of the Highlands and other rural areas of Scotland following recent fuel increases, and (b) make representations to Her Majesty's Government to look again into the effect of the present UK fuel tax in the Highlands and other rural are…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A range of Scottish Executive schemes are in place to help rural businesses and address the transport and other needs of rural communities, including<FONT SIZE=2> Rural Public Passenger Transport Grant, Rural Community Transport Grant Scheme, Rural Petrol Sta…

20 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the 1999 Arable Area Payments will be made in October, as they were last year, and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that it will fill the funding gap which will occur when arable currency compensation becomes optional i…

Answer · Ross Finnie: We plan to make the vast majority of payments to Scottish farmers under the 1999 Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) by 31 December 1999. We are aiming to issue the first tranche of payments for cereals, linseed, protein crops and set-aside on 18 October which…