Mr Jim Wallace

24 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many sales notes in respect of direct sale fish have been submitted under the the Registration of Fish Sellers and Buyers and Designation of Auction Sites (Scotland) Regulations 2005 since the regulations came into force and, of these, what percentage related to landings from under-10…

Answer · Ross Finnie: As at 2 June 2006 there were29,011 Buyers Sales Notes entered onto the fisheries data base, 32 per cent of whichrelate to landings from under-10-metre vessels.</p>

24 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost to business of supplying sales notes under the Registration of Fish Sellers and Buyers and Designation of Auction Sites (Scotland) Regulations 2005 in respect of fish landings from under-10-metre vessels.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In the Regulatory Impact Assessmentwhich accompanied the Registration of Fish Sellers and Buyers and Designationof Auction Sites (Scotland) Regulations 2005 the Scottish Executive estimatedthat during 2004 there were in excess of 70,000 landings in Scotland a…

24 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any charge is made for the registration of buyers of first sale fish under the Registration of Fish Sellers and Buyers and Designation of Auction Sites (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive doesnot make any charge for the registration of buyers of first sale fish under theRegistration of Fish Sellers and Buyers and Designation of Auction Sites (Scotland)Regulations 2005.</p>

24 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hoteliers and restaurateurs were sent the consultation on the regulatory impact assessment in respect of the Registration of Fish Sellers and Buyers and Designation of Auction Sites (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Regulatory ImpactAssessment to accompany the Registration of Fish Sellers and Buyers andDesignation of Auction Sites (Scotland) Regulations 2005 was sent to fishing industryrepresentatives for comment during the consultation process rather thanindividual …

11 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the new funding arrangements for Scottish Enterprise will have on the current and future budgets of intermediate technology institutes.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: In making additional resourcesavailable to Scottish Enterprise, I have stressed that the revised budget shouldhave regard to ministerial priorities and the continuing delivery of PartnershipAgreement commitments. I have also made it clear that ministers stron…

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm its policy in relation to the burning of tallow by renderers in their plants, in light of the recent announcement by the UK Government.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The regulation of the burningof tallow in rendering plants in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency(SEPA). The Executive has asked SEPA to discuss with the rendering industry thetechnical options available to operators to comply …

18 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who Scotland’s full and alternate members of the Regional Chamber of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe will be for the two-year mandate which begins in May 2006.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The names of George Lyon MSP,as the full member and Phil Gallie MSP, as the alternate member, have been forwardedto the Council of Europe, under the procedure agreed by the government of the United Kingdomfor appointing the UK delegation to the Congress of Lo…

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected percentage increase is for the population aged 65 and over in (a) Scotland and (b) each local authority area between (i) 2004 and 2010 and (ii) 2004 and 2014.

Answer · George Lyon: The projected percentage changesin the population aged 65 and over for Scotland and for each local authority area for 2004-10 and2004-14 are shown in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p><b…

29 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the Transposition guide: how to implement European directives effectively, issued by the UK Government Cabinet Office.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive isaware of the guidance and has developed its own internal guidance on the transpositionand implementation of European Directives from this Cabinet Office guide.</p>

29 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many regulations were brought forward by each of its departments for the purpose of transposition of EU directives in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Answer · Tom McCabe: In 2004, the Food StandardsAgency (FSA) brought forward 20 regulations and the Environment and Rural AffairsDepartment (ERAD) 10 regulations for the purpose of transposing EU Directives.</p><p>In 2005, the FSA broughtforward 11 regulations, ERAD 14 regulation…

29 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions each department issued guidance in respect of regulations laid for the purpose of transposition of EU directives to those affected 12 weeks or more before the regulation came into force in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Responding to this questioninvolves considerable background investigation. This information is currentlybeing gathered and I will write to you when it is available. A copy of theinformation will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.num…

29 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005 each of its departments failed to meet timetables in respect of transposition of EU directives.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Responding to this question involvesconsiderable background investigation due to changes in reporting since 2004. Thisinformation is currently being gathered and I will write to you as soon as our answeris complete. A copy of the information will be placed in…

15 Mar 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was to the Scottish Ambulance Service in 2005 of hiring of Ministry of Defence or Coastguard Service helicopters to undertake air ambulance missions (a) in the whole of Scotland and (b) originating from Orkney.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The ScottishAmbulance Service spent just under £497,000 hiring MoD or Coastguard Service aircraftin 2005, with just over £12,000 being spent on missions originating in Orkney.</p>

14 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what cost was incurred by the Scottish Ambulance Service to call out a Ministry of Defence helicopter to airlift a patient from Kirkwall to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 12 March 2006.

Answer · Andy Kerr: As a rule it takes the Ministryof Defence up to six months to submit invoices for such missions. I have asked the Scottish Ambulance Service to write to you and let you know the cost as soon asthe invoice has been received.</p>

14 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the implications for the public sector in Scotland of the decision by the House of Lords in the case of Matthews and others v Medway Towns and Fire Authority and others.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The implications for theFirefighters’ Pension Scheme will be considered once the Employment Tribunalhas fully considered the House of Lords ruling.</p>

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many petitions it has received from Orkney opposing the proposed withdrawal of the Kirkwall-based BN Islander air ambulance; which particular areas of Orkney the petitions have come from, and how many signatures in total are on the petitions.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has receivedtwo petitions about this issue – one from North Ronaldsay which has 59 signatures, and onefrom Westray which has 287 signatures.</p>

2 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the animal welfare implications of the decision by the Rural Payments Agency not to provide or support on-island facilities on Orkney for the processing of cattle under the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Rural Payments Agencytook account of the relevant legislation governing the welfare of animals inreaching its decision. The transportation of farm animals must meet therequirements of the Welfare of Animals (Transportation) Order 1997. Similarlythe slaugh…

2 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the available capacity for shipping livestock from Orkney, in light of the decision by the Rural Payments Agency not to provide or support on-island facilities on Orkney for the procesing of cattle under the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We have been in discussions with Northlink about the impact of the Rural Payments Agency decision not to award a contract to Orkney Islands Council for the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme. We have been advised by the company, following liaison by them with the i…

2 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the terms of any agreement or protocol between the Scottish Ambulance Service and the (a) Ministry of Defence or (b) Maritime and Coastguard Agency in respect of the use of helicopters to supplement the aircraft and helicopter resources of the Scottish Ambulance Se…

Answer · Andy Kerr: There is a protocol between the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for tasking MoD to carry out air ambulance missions. The MoD decides on the most appropriate response, one of which may be the deployment of the Coastguard. This is a…

2 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many air ambulance flights originating in Orkney have been classified as “emergency” in each year since 1998.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Between 1998 and 2003, the Scottish Ambulance Service categorised its air ambulance flights into four sections – emergency, very urgent, urgent and planned. The criteria for these four categories were:</p> <p>Emergency – 999 calls or doctors’ emergencies whic…

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21090 by Tavish Scott on 20 December 2005, whether Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd has any record of planes with aircraft registration numbers N187D, N168BF, N1HC, N8183J, N2189M, N221SG, N33NJ, N315CR, N470JF, N212AZ, N1016M, N581GA, N822US, N379…

Answer · Tavish Scott: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd has no record of these aircraft having used its airports since 2000.</p>

26 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21090 by Tavish Scott on 20 December 2005, whether Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd records the passenger/crew details of chartered or private flights arriving from outwith EC countries, notwithstanding the absence of any requirement to do so.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd may in certain circumstances, for example in the event of a health and safety incident or disorderly behaviour on the part of a disembarking or embarking passenger, record information on passengers/crew of chartered or priva…

16 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the potential cost of extending the young person’s national concessionary travel scheme to (a) full-time mature students and (b) all mature students.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive is currently focusingon planning and implementing the Partnership Agreement commitment to progressivelyintroduce a scheme of national bus, rail and ferry concessionary travel for youngpeople. No estimates have been made of the cost of extending …

22 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in pursuance of the resolution of the Parliament on 22 December 2005 on motion S2M-3766, as amended, on “Torture Flights” on Scottish Soil, when it will detail the communications it has had with the Foreign Office over this matter.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues. Whilecommunications with the UK Government are subject to an established undertakingof mutual confidentiality, I am able to confirm, in accordance with motionS2M-376…

15 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20766 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 November 2005, what the actual level was of funding for General Medical Services in Orkney in 2003-04.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The actual level of funding for General Medical Services (GMS) in Orkney in 2003-04 was £3.9 million<b> </b>which exceeds the indicative figure of £2.7 million as quoted in the answer to question S2W-20766 on 29 November 2005. All answers to written parliamen…

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19139 by Rhona Brankin on 20 September 2004, whether it will provide details of local authorities’ responsibilities under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 for which £8.1 million has been allocated.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive in February 2005 issued Guidance for Local Authorities and National Park Authorities in relation to Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. This document contains a summary of all the duties which are the responsibility of these …

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19139 by Rhona Brankin on 20 September 2004, what proportion of the £8.1 million funding provided to local authorities in undertaking their duties under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 is expected to be spent on the development and maintenance of…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Further to the answer to question S2W-19139 on 20 September 2005, Grant Aided Expenditure provisions are not budgets or spending targets, and each local authority is responsible for deciding how best to allocate resources based on local needs and priorities. …

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the progress to date by each local authority towards the provision of core path networks in their area and whether it will provide details of the outcome of any such assessment in respect of the lengths of (a) existing paths and (b) new paths developed as co…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Information provided by access authorities on these matters has been published on the Executive website at:</p> <p><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Countryside/16328/AccessAuthorities">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Countr…

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19139 by Rhona Brankin on 20 September 2004, whether it has sought, or will seek, from local authorities details of their spending in undertaking their duties under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 in each financial year and whether it will publis…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has established a monitoring scheme to collect information from all access authorities on their progress under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, and an outline of the annual expenditure arising. The returns for the first half-year pe…

25 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the successful outcome of the appeal by my constituent, Richard Jenkins of Savisgarth in Evie, Orkney, against the calculation of his single farm payment, what steps are being taken to ensure that all sheep producers in similar circumstances are made aware of the implications…

Answer · Ross Finnie: My officials have reviewed the cases of sheep producers, in similar circumstances to Mr Jenkins. This covers producers who were in the Organic Aid Scheme who asked us to review their Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS) entitlement estimate because of de-stockin…