Parliamentary questions

Jim Mather

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

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the United Kingdom has become a net importer of salmon.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: In 2005, the UK exported£160,429,000 worth of salmon and salmon products and imported £150,730,000 worth.This means that the UK was a net exporter by approximately £10 million.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the level of Norwegian ownership of the farmed salmon industry in Scotland is having on Scottish exports, aquaculture operations and services overseas.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Norwegian owned companiescontrol over 80% of Scottish salmon production and therefore make a majorcontribution to Scottish exports and aquaculture operations.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland’s leading position in aquacultural intellectual property, science and technology can be maintained in the absence of a strong indigenous production industry.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executivesupports both indigenous and multi-national businesses which operate in Scotland and has developed a Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture to deliver a sustainable, diverse andinternational competitive industry.In addition whenthe E…

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Norwegian takeovers of the Scottish farmed salmon industry have had on career opportunities and whether it considers these to have impacted on the “brain drain” from Scotland, in particular from the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not heldcentrally, however, the Scottish academic system and theindustry continue to turn out highly skilled personnel who are well resourcedto be competitive in the Scottish, UK, European and international job markets.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many experienced and qualified people have left the Scottish farmed salmon industry in the last five years and how many have sought employment abroad.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not heldcentrally.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of senior positions in the Scottish farmed salmon industry have been transferred to Norway in the last five years.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not heldcentrally.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has noted the Pan Fish announcement regarding site enlargements and closures in Scotland and what its views are on these matters.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive is aware that PanFish has plans to rationalise operations in Scotland.Ministers have invited the companyto meet and discuss their future plans for Scottish operations and how the publicsector (including Highlands and Islands Enterprise) m…

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has noted the announcements relating to progress in the grouping of Marine Harvest and Fjord with Pan Fish and whether it considers that such an amalgamation is in the public interest.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive is aware of theproposed grouping of Marine Harvest and Fjord with Pan Fish, which is a matter forthe relevant competition authorities with whom we are in touch.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of farmed salmon in Scotland is produced by Pan Fish, Marine Harvest and Fjord.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Estimates based on data publishedin the Executive’s Scottish Fish Farms Annual Production Survey 2004 suggest thatPan Fish, Marine Harvest and Fjord will control somewhere in the range of 40 to50% of salmon production in Scotland.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of salmon production was deemed by the European Commission in its investigation into illegal dumping to be outwith the European Community Industry as defined in the basic Regulation.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The European Commission anti-dumpinginvestigation estimated that production by the communityindustry, as defined in the basic Regulation, totalled 22,000 tonnes during theinvestigation period. This means that, in 2004, about 87% of salmon production inthe EU …

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the percentage of Norwegian-owned fish farms in Scotland which were originally set up by Scottish or UK companies.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not heldcentrally.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of salmon production in Scotland is controlled by businesses or individuals based in Norway.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not held centrally but the EU Salmon Producers Group (EUSPG) estimate that over 80% of salmonproduction in Scotland is controlled by businesses or individuals based in Norway.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the percentage of salmon production in Norway that can be controlled by one group and how this figure compares with that in Scotland.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not heldcentrally. However, all businesses operating in the UK are subjectto competition rules and may be considered by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) orthe European Commission (EC) competition authorities. Even if consideration of propo…

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what percentage Scottish farmed salmon output has been reduced as a result of the increase in Norwegian produce on the EU market.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is not possibleto make a definitive estimate because output and market share can change for a varietyof reasons that may be unrelated to the trade dispute. However, the European Commission(CION) investigation concluded that although the Community industry …

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the findings of the EC Safeguarding Committee’s investigation that the Scottish aquaculture industry is more cost effective than that of Norway, despite higher environmental and health standards in Scotland.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive accept the findingsof the European Commission (CION) investigation but this simply looked at cost ofproduction and supply to the EU market. The investigation did not compare environmentalor health standards.

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether banks and investors support Scottish-owned salmon farming and, if not, what action it will take to ensure such support, in light of the sector's ability to achieve economic prices underpinned by the EU minimum import price.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Ministers meet regularly withbanks to discuss the performance of rural industries, including aquaculture. Thelast such meeting was on 27 March 2006.I also refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25099 on 9 May 2006. All answers to writtenparliam…

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that banks and investors have confidence that the UK Government and European Commission are able to prevent illegal trading in farmed salmon and on what basis it has reached that conclusion.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive, like a majorityof EU member states, are signed up to a process to ensure that trade defence measuresare fair and proportionate, and within these measures review processes are required.Commercial investment decisions are for the banks with whom …

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it estimates that illegally dumped Norwegian farmed salmon has had on the economy and community of the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The European Commission (CION)anti-dumping investigation used a range of economic andfinancial indicators to investigate the impact of the actions by salmon growers,based in Norway, on the community industry.The investigationfound that between 2001 and…

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the impact on the Scottish aquaculture industry of Norwegian farmed salmon dumped illegally on the European market.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25098 on 8 May 2006. 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.se…

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to investigate and address the impact of Norwegian market dominance and trading practices on the independent sector of the Scottish aquaculture industry.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive, inpartnership with the UK Government, and the European Commission (CION) pursuedtrade defence measures to support the Scottish owned industry and will continueto support efforts to ensure fair trade.The CION investigationproved that Norw…

7 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the salmon farming industry will be able to utilise its physical and human resources, in light of the anti-dumping measures introduced by the European Commission in January 2006 and the announcements of the closure of 24 of Marine Harvest’s seawater …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive isimplementing the Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquacultureand through that is seeking to deliver a sustainable, diverse and competitiveindustry. However, individual companies will take actions to rationalise andensure they remain competitiv…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what methods it applies, and will apply in future, to measure the progress of the acquaculture industry.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive monitors the developmentof the aquaculture industry through the Ministerial Working Group for Aquaculture(MWGA) which is responsible for the implementation of the Strategic Framework forScottish Aquaculture.In order to assist the process,…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what practical steps it will take to maximise the opportunities for employees in the acquaculture industry to have rewarding careers.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive identifies specific“Priorities for Action” through the Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquacultureto help maximise opportunities for employees in the aquaculture industry.These include support for ScottishVocational Qualification levels …

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what practical steps it will take to promote investment in, and the creation of, high value and highly skilled jobs in aquaculture.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive providessupport in a number of ways to create high value and highly skilled jobs withinthe aquaculture industry. This is augmented through Executive support forscientific research.Measures through which assistanceis given include the Fina…

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid to KPMG by Scottish Enterprise in 2005-06.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information on consultancy expendituremade by Scottish Enterprise is an operational matter for that body.

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of outstanding loans made by Scottish Enterprise was at end of 2005-06, both gross and net of write-offs.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information on loans made byScottish Enterprise is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will be added to the sum of outstanding loans made by Scottish Enterprise in 2005-06.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information on loans made byScottish Enterprise is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what objectives were set for Sir John Ward in his role as Chairman of Scottish Enterprise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The requirements of the Chairof Scottish Enterprise were set out when the post was advertised and the key objectivesare to:Ensure that Scottish Enterpriseoperates within the strategic framework set by Scottish ministers.Ensure that the Scottish …

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to convey its concern about the overspend at Scottish Enterprise to avoid the situation recurring.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I have expressed my concern directlyto the Chair and Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise and have now written tothe chair, formally requesting the implementation of the recommendations of theKPMG report

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to avoid a repetition of the recent overspend at Scottish Enterprise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I expect Scottish Enterpriseto implement both the recommendations of its internal audit team and of KPMG. Mydepartment will seek evidence to demonstrate that these recommendations have beenimplemented and will also commission a report from independent externa…