John Farquhar Munro

6 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit recommended that the Crown Estate Commission approves the application for the Annat Bay fish farm contrary to the decision taken by Highland Council and, if so, what the reasons were for this recommendation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I can confirm that on 11 August 2005 an Inquiry Reporter undertook a site inspection into proposals to establish a finfish farm at Annat Bay, near Ullapool and subsequently provided a report to the Crown Estate Commissioners. This was carried out under the In…

6 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the Crofting (Scotland) Act 1993, a landowner of a crofting estate has to seek consent from the Crofters Commission on any deal with private developers, whether the deal be made directly or through an interposed lease.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We are not aware of any provision of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 which could be interpreted as requiring a landowner to obtain Crofters Commission consent to a deal with private developers.</p>

6 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will challenge interposed leases already agreed between landlords and private developers for wind farms on crofting land or estates which have not been sanctioned by the Crofters Commission.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have not yet decided whether the Scottish Executive will challenge interposed leases already agreed between landlords and private developers for wind farms on crofting land or estates which have not been sanctioned by the Crofters Commission. I am currently…

6 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crofters Commission would have to sanction interposed leases between private developers and landowners on crofting land or estates in order for the leases to be legal under the Crofting (Scotland) Act 1993.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The question posed relates to interpretation of the law and is one which cannot be satisfactorily resolved except through a judgement by a relevant court.</p>

5 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address any technical problems preventing consumers from obtaining a broadband connection as a result of being located too far from their telecom exchange.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We have been working with BT to identify any residual areas with broadband access problems. In most cases the problem is distance from exchange. We are now analysing the data with BT, with a view to implementing solutions appropriate to demand, and subject to…

5 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the issue of users in communities with broadband-enabled telecom exchanges being unable to receive broadband due to the existence of old copper wiring which is unable to deliver broadband to those far from the exchange.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-19677 on 3 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.u…

4 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to bring into force the section in the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 that transfers planning authority for marine fish farms from the Crown Estate Commission to local authorities.

Answer · Johann Lamont: We intend to bring forward the necessary legislation to allow implementation of section 24 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 by summer 2006.</p>

20 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to rectify any deficiencies in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 in relation to interposed leases.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We are currently considering the options for dealing with the issues arising from interposed leases in relation to crofting land that crofting communities wish to purchase under part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. We will make clear how it is propo…

8 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the First Minister's statements to the Parliament on 6 September 2005 in respect of crafting (Official Report c. 1878), when it intends to consult crofters and crofting communities about the draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Crofters and crofting communities were consulted on the draft bill in a full consultation which ended on 13 June 2005. There were 11 public meetings attended by crofters and crofting interests during that period. The 155 responses to that consultation are now…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a conflict of interest for the Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission to be employed by the Executive as head of the division responsible for crofting.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The risk of a perceived or real conflict of interest was recognised at an early stage and a clear demarcation of responsibilities put in place. The Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission only undertakes some of the duties, at Head of Division level, with …

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a croft owner-occupier can occupy more than one croft.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Yes and there are some who do.</p>

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether croft owner-occupiers are subject to crofting statutory conditions and, if so, whether they would be obliged to take a tenant if they fail to meet these conditions.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: No.</p>

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether absentee croft owners are subject to absentee procedure and, if so, whether a tenant can be imposed where a croft owner is absent.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Croft owners are not subject to the provisions of Section 22 of the Crofting (Scotland) Act 1993 which empowers the Crofters Commission to take action against absentee croft tenants. However, any croft owner (whether or not absent from the croft) could be req…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a croft which has been purchased is still croft land and subject to crofting legislation.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Yes. Crofting legislation applies to all croft owners on the same basis.</p>

2 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is a statutory duty of the Crofters Commission to impose a tenant on an absentee croft owner or croft owner-occupier who does not keep a croft in good order.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Crofters Commission does not have a duty to impose a tenant on any croft owner. The commission may require any croft owner (whether or not the owner is an absentee) to submit proposals for re-letting a vacant croft. If the owner fails to do so or the comm…

26 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will deliver on the Partnership Agreement commitment to legislate to permit enforcement of regulating orders within the range of activities of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and when the legislation will come into force.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We shall be consulting shortly on our intention to make provision during Stage 2 consideration of the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill to permit the enforcement of Regulating Orders by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.</p> <p>…

22 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the decrofting of land at Taynuilt in Argyll for the construction of 10 luxury houses was in the interests of promoting affordable housing.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Whether or not the land at Taynuilt was decrofted is irrelevant so far as the promotion of affordable housing is concerned.</p> <p>The provision of housing is identified in crofting legislation as a reasonable purpose for which land may be decrofted. In the T…

22 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the decrofting of land at Taynuilt in Argyll for the construction of 10 luxury houses was in the interests of crofting.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is good for crofting for the Crofters Commission to regulate effectively and within the limits of its powers.</p> <p>The provision of housing is identified in crofting legislation as a reasonable purpose for which land may be decrofted. In the Taynuilt cas…

31 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether visitscotland.com has experienced any recent online booking problems and, if so, what they were, when they will be rectified and what the estimated cost of such problems has been to the tourist industry.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Visitors to the visitscotland.com website were given incorrect information when trying to book accommodation in the holiday home and caravan site sector between 27 and 30 May. Due to a technical error, a number of the establishments in this part of the websit…

18 May 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that people in the Highlands have access to the full range of training and retraining opportunities needed in a modern economy.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Ministers recognise the importance of providing an effective infrastructure to give everyone access to the full range of training and retraining opportunities. The Executive’s strategy for the Enterprise Networks, <i>Smart Successful Scotland,</i> sets the co…

24 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce legislation to give local authorities the power to cut high hedges.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Owing to competing legislativepriorities, we have no plans to introduce legislation on high hedges during thecurrent Parliament.</p>

21 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to announce its replacement of the Livestock Improvement Scheme.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A consultation paper on our proposals for the crofters cattle improvement scheme will issue after the end of March 2005. We are on schedule to open the scheme in the autumn to enable crofters to plan for the year ahead.</p>

2 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will help Highland Council to complete the Inverness Southern Distributor Road by providing a canal and river crossing.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Inverness Southern Distributor Road is a local road project and therefore the responsibility of the Highland Council. Decisions on any new crossing of the Caledonian Canal and river by the route are a matter for the council in the first instance.</p>

2 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will end Skye Bridge tolls.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I am pleased to announce that, following the successful conclusion of negotiations with Skye Bridge Ltd, tolls will be removed from the Skye Bridge as of today.</p>

24 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the shortage of organs for donation.

Answer · Andy Kerr: As part of our organ donation strategy, we have been running an award&#8209;winning campaign to encourage people to register, and to tell their families what their wishes are. We have set up a Single Organ Retrieval Team, the first of its kind in the UK. We a…

23 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill, for example by publishing an English to Gaelic dictionary, initiating a Gaelic translation course or offering “golden hellos” to Gaelic teachers.<p>The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:<p>A’ dh’ fh…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Executive is committed tosupporting key areas of development as implementation of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Billis taken forward. Bòrd na Gàidhlig now has responsibility for the distribution andprioritisation of Gaelic language development funding. T…

19 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to publish a second edition of Faclair na Pàrlamaid, the Gaelic Parliamentary Dictionary.<p>*The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:<p>A’ dh’ fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba, dè tha e a’ dèanamh gus darna clò-bhualadh de dh’Fhaclair na Pàrl…

Answer · Peter Peacock: Faclair na Pàrlamaid has provento be a popular and useful publication and copies of the first edition continueto be issued on demand. Faclair na Pàrlamaid is supplemented by an interactive onlineservice which enables users to submit new words or terms for tra…

19 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill, for example by publishing an English to Gaelic dictionary, initiating a Gaelic translation course or offering golden handshakes to Gaelic teachers.* The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:A dh fhaigh…

10 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed NHS Miscellaneous Provisions Bill will include measures to increase the supply of organs for donation.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In response to the Parliament and the Health and Community Care Committee, we have decided that the provisions on retention of organs and transplantation merit a separate Bill. That will allow the Parliament to give full and focused consideration to these imp…

3 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle problems faced by elderly people in their homes during periods of cold weather.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: TheExecutive encourages older people to access the variety of services availableto them such as flu vaccinations, the warm deal insulation programme and the centralheating programme. We have challenged fuel companies to offer a tariff topeople on pension cred…