Parliamentary questions
Michael Russell
1,207 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions for (a) illegal trawling, (b) illegal dredging and (c) damage to static fishing gear there have been relating to alleged activities in the Argyll and Bute parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years and how many resulted in convictions.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland Compliance has powers to enforce fishery offences. This includes being able to refer cases regarding such offences directly to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) for consideration for prosecution. Marine Scotland Complianc…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the quality of data that it receives regarding fishing activity in the sea lochs of the west of Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In terms of data available, Marine Scotland has logbook and landings data for all vessels in excess of 10 metres. Furthermore, we also have this data for under 10 metre vessels in membership of a producer organisation. This data is supplemented by vessel moni…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is planning to collect data regarding fishing activity in the proposed Marine Protected Areas.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland currently collects data on fishing activity including information on landings and vessel monitoring system data and this is supplemented with aerial and vessel based surveillance as determined by risk assessment. This data will be used for man…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider designating the Firth of Lorne as a Special Area of Conservation for porpoises given the reported favourable conditions as a result of the absence of scallop dredging and the removal of nets.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The UK, with support from the Scottish Government and other devolved administrations, commissioned the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to undertake data collection and analysis in order to put together the most comprehensive set of data for harbour…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the establishment of Special Areas of Conservation for porpoises.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has had discussions on a regular basis about the EU Habitats Directive to support the identification and designation of Special Areas of Conservation including discussions on whether it is possible to further protect harbour porpoise i…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish a special area of conservation for porpoises.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has been working closely with other UK administrations and statutory nature conservation bodies to consider whether it is possible to identify further Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for harbour porpoise. The Scottish Government …
16 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on banning (a) trawling and (b) dredging across all of the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area in order to protect levels of common skate stock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23708 on 9 January 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…
16 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of common skate being considered critically endangered, whether it will set objectives for the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area to ensure that stocks are not only conserved and maintained but are actively restored.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is recognised that common skate are critically endangered at a global scale. There is a relative abundance of common skate in the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area (MPA). The conservation objectives for common skate in Loch Sunart to Sound…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any genealogical records exist in Scotland pertaining to Catholic ancestry dating further back than the 18th century; what its response is to the claim that such documents exist in the Vatican Archives in Rome, and whether it has made, or intends to make, any representations to br…
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr George MacKenzie, Keeper of the Records of Scotland, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The National Archives of Scotland (NAS) holds copies of Roman Catholic baptismal and marriage records from 1703 to 1970 but the original regist…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to assist overseas people interested in conducting genealogical and historical research of their ancestors in Scotland.
Answer · Mike Watson: Guidance for people interested in conducting genealogical and historical research about their ancestors in Scotland is provided on the website ancestralscotland.com, which has a link from the main visitscotland.com website. The websites of the General Registe…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a strategy for attracting overseas visitors to come to Scotland to carry out genealogical and historical research of clan ancestry; whether clan ancestral research has a role to play in the tourism industry, and whether there is a need for more centres for genealogical and …
Answer · Mike Watson: Stimulating an interest in genealogy on the part of potential overseas visitors with ancestors among the Scottish clans is part of VisitScotland's marketing strategy, using the internet. Information on genealogical research can be found on the tourism website…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether post-1700 archive records pertaining to Jacobite trials, executions and imprisonment are held in any genealogical and historical archive centres and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr George MacKenzie, Keeper of the Records of Scotland, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Following the '15 and '45 risings, a deliberate decision was taken to try Jacobite prisoners outwith Scotland. Consequently, the bulk of trial docum…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether overseas people seeking to conduct genealogical and historical research in historical archive centres are informed in advance of travelling to Scotland of any archive material that will be unavailable due to repair work being carried out on damaged documents.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr George MacKenzie, Keeper of the Records of Scotland, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>In its publicity material, the National Archives of Scotland (NAS) advises readers travelling from a distance to enquire in advance of their arrival…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the time period required to photocopy certain archive material in genealogical and historical archive centres acts as a barrier to people from overseas researching their genealogical history.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Mr George MacKenzie, Keeper of the Records of Scotland, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The National Archives of Scotland provides over 40,000 photocopy pages per year for genealogical and historical researchers from unique and oft…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed local authority one-stop shops for ancestral research will provide the detailed local information needed for researchers to visit the actual historical sites of their ancestors.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The nature of the information resources and services to be offered by the local authority one-stop shops proposed as part of the Scottish Family History Service project will be a matter for individual local authorities to determine. Consultation is on-going w…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a strategy for attracting people from overseas to come to Scotland and carry out ancestral research; whether such people played any role in the formulation of this strategy, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Mike Watson: Ease of access to information to allow people from overseas to research their Scottish ancestry is part of VisitScotland's marketing strategy. This information is available through the website ancestralscotland.com, which also has a link from the main visitsc…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31829 by Mr Jim Wallace on 3 December 2002, whether the fingerprint experts who gave evidence in the case of Shirley McKie have now given any evidence in court under oath since returning to work from suspension and whether it expects them to give any…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The officers concerned have not yet given evidence under oath as Crown experts. They are being assessed over the next month or so by the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) as part of the return to work strategy. If, thereafter, SCRO is satisfied that they…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on local authority housing, including repairs and new building, in the North Ayrshire local authority area in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I regret that it is not possible to provide a reply prior to dissolution but I will write to the member as soon as possible.<I><P>The following is a further answer (published on 7 May 2003); see below.</I><P><B>Ms Margaret Curran: </B>The table below shows ho…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on road building in the North Ayrshire local authority area in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Records of trunk road expenditure are not broken down by local authority area.<P>For local roads, the information requested is given in tables number 11.1 and 11.5 of <I>Scottish Transport Statistics No. 21</I>, a copy of which is available in the Parliament'…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers were employed in the North Ayrshire local authority area in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information on full-time equivalent (FTE) primary and secondary teachers employed in the North Ayrshire local authority area in 1998-99 to 2001-02 is available from the Summary of Results of the September 1998 to 2001 School Censuses and can be accessed using…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many doctors were employed in the North Ayrshire local authority area in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The information requested is not held centrally.
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses were employed in the North Ayrshire local authority area in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The information requested is not held centrally.
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were employed in the North Ayrshire local authority area in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally and is a matter for Strathclyde Police.
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the rates of drug-related crime were in the North Ayrshire local authority area in (a)1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01 and (f) 2001-02, broken down by (i) reported offences, (ii) cases brought and (iii) convictions secured.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The information available is contained in the following tables. The statistics relate to offences involving the illegal importation, cultivation, supply or possession of drugs. Other offences may be drug related, such as those committed to fund a drug habit, …
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where the highest and lowest rates of house price inflation are.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive does not collect data on house price inflation, however, the following table gives information from the Lloyds-TSB <I>Scottish House Price Monitor</I> on the year-on-year percentage increase in house prices, adjusted for the mix of prop…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions have been taken since 1 July 1999 to help North Ayrshire improve its record as one of the worst areas of unemployment and what success these have had in terms of the percentage of unemployment within the area and other socio-economic indicators.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is working closely with the Ayrshire Economic Forum to ensure that through investing in jobs and skills, and encouraging the growth of new businesses, we create sustainable economic growth and employment opportunities.<P>In recognition …
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) Executive, (b) Executive agency and (c) non-departmental public body jobs have been re-located to North Ayrshire since 1 July 1999 and how many such jobs there were in North Ayrshire on (i) 1 July 1999 and (ii) 1 January 2003.
Answer · Peter Peacock: No Executive, Executive agency and non-departmental public body jobs have been relocated to North Ayrshire since 1 July 1999. At that point there were no such posts in North Ayrshire and that was also the position at 1 January 2003.<P>The Executive remains co…
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when sportscotland intends to decide on a relocation of its headquarters and whether North Ayrshire is being considered as a possible location.
Answer · Mike Watson: Following consideration of the report from the consultants, we and <B>sport</B>scotland commissioned to carry out a property review and national facilities study, I announced on 23 March a strategy for the development and procurement of national and regional …
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to organise a television debate featuring politicians, including the First Minister, that would promote the importance of the Union of the Crowns and, if so, what the status of such plans are; whether the proposal has been discussed by the advisory group and, i…
Answer · Mike Watson: There are no plans to have such a debate.
17 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it is providing to schools and young people with regard to the historical significance of the Union of the Crowns; who has drawn up such information, and what efforts have been made to ensure that it is fair and balanced.
Answer · Mike Watson: Education features strongly in the plans to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Union of the Crowns this year. Historic Scotland are inviting pupils from schools across Scotland to participate in a Schools Art Competition to design a crown, a sword or a …