Peter Peacock

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision will be made for an effective diagnostic and follow-up service for bee health.

Answer · Michael Russell: Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture provides a diagnostic service to beekeepers who suspect that their hives may be infected by the varroa mite or notifiable bee pests or diseases. This service is funded by the Scottish Government Rural Directorate at…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to consider licensing additional medical treatments, such as Apivar and Perizin, against the varroa mite across the United Kingdom.

Answer · Michael Russell: The approval of veterinary medicines, including those for the treatment of bee pests and diseases, is a reserved matter.</p> <p >Decisions on whether or not to apply for a marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product are commercial issues for t…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to prepare a 10-year bee health strategy, similar to that being implemented by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11577 on 17 April 2008. 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.uk/webapp…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to protect bee colonies from the varroa mite.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11576 on 17 April 2008 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.uk/webapp/…

21 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have in all cases maintained in real terms the budget for the specialist music schools following the removal of the ring fenced nature of previous funding.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has recently established a new working relationship with local government. It entered into a concordat with COSLA on 14 November 2007 which sets out a set of shared objectives and underpins the funding to be provided to local governme…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what payments were made to pension funds by Highlands and Islands Enterprise as part of the voluntary severance arrangements put in place to reduce its staffing levels.

Answer · Jim Mather: Once official approval to implement a severance scheme has been granted, payment to pension funds as part of the voluntary severance arrangements is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chief executive to write to you i…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish full details of the severance package offered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to its staff seeking voluntary severance.

Answer · Jim Mather: Once official approval to implement a severance scheme has been granted,<i> </i>publication of the full details of the severance package offered to its staff seeking voluntary severance is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have ask…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provided any additional support to Highlands and Islands Enterprise to fund the voluntary severance arrangements recently offered to its staff.

Answer · Jim Mather: No. The cost of the voluntary severance arrangements was met entirely from Highlands and Islands Enterprise''s agreed 2007-08 budgetary provision.</p>

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to which financial year the voluntary severance payments that Highlands and Islands Enterprise recently made to its staff are being allocated.

Answer · Jim Mather: The voluntary severance payments were met from Highlands and Islands Enterprise''s budget provision for the financial year 2007-08.</p>

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total amount of voluntary severance payments have been made by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to reduce its staffing levels in light of recent reductions in its budget.

Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise offered voluntary severance in the 2007-08 financial year as a result of the reform and refocus of the enterprise networks announced in September 2007.</p> <p >Once official approval to implement a severance scheme has been g…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the European Commission’s opinion was sought in respect of the Gordonbush windfarm application and, if so, what that opinion was.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought guidance from the European Commission on the Gordonbush wind farm application, since the European Commission has published several guidance documents relating to the implementation of the EC Habitats Directive.</p> <p …

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an appropriate assessment was carried out in respect of the Gordonbush windfarm application and, if so, whether it was qualitative.

Answer · Jim Mather: Under <i >Conservation (Natural Habitats, &amp;c.) Regulations 1994</i> Scottish ministers, as the competent authority, are required to carry out an appropriate assessment of any plan or project which they consider may have a likely significant effect on a Eu…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the advice it received from Scottish Natural Heritage on the Gordonbush windfarm application.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has published the advice received from Scottish Natural Heritage about the Gordonbush wind farm application on the Energy Consents website at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consent…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the planning consents it has approved for wind farms adjacent to Special Protection Areas.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Gordonbush application is the first wind farm within 1km of a Special Protection Area consented by Scottish ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.</p>

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has (a) sought and (b) received from the European Commission on the development of wind farms adjacent to Special Protection Areas.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought guidance from the European Commission on the Lewis wind power application, since the European Commission has published several guidance documents relating to the implementation of the EC Habitats Directive.</p> <p >The…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought guidance from the European Commission on the Lewis windpower application and, if so, what guidance it has received.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought guidance from the European Commission on the Lewis wind power application, since the European Commission has published several guidance documents relating to the implementation of the EC Habitats Directive. These are ava…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission on development on land designated under the EU habitats directive and whether it will publish any correspondence on this issue.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has had no discussion with the European Commission regarding specific development on land designated under the EU Habitats Directive.</p>

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought guidance from the European Commission on planning consent for major developments on land designated under the EU habitats directive which are under consideration by ministers.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11890 on 2 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/wa…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its officials gave approval to the terms of the voluntary severance arrangements recently offered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to its staff.

Answer · Jim Mather: Yes. Under the terms of the management statement governing the relationship between the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, any proposal by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to pay any redundancy or compensation for loss of office, requir…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers gave approval to the terms of the voluntary severance arrangements recently offered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to its staff.

Answer · Jim Mather: Ministerial approval is not part of the process for managing voluntary severance agreements. Under the terms of the management statement governing the relationship between the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, any proposal by Highlands…

16 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff of Highlands and Islands Enterprise who were granted voluntary severance have been able to take their pensions early and whether pension entitlement to normal retirement age has been protected as part of their severance arrangements.

Answer · Jim Mather: Provision of staff pensions is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the chief executive to write to you in this regard.</p>

20 Mar 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the composition is of the Health Inequalities Task Force.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities is chaired by Shona Robison:</b> MSP, Minister for Public Health. The membership of the group comprises the following ministers:</p> <p >Fergus Ewing MSP - Minister for Community Safety </p> <p >Adam Ingra…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8421 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 January 2008, what the further options are for a ferry service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9534 on 5 March 2008. 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.uk/webapp/wa…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8413 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 January 2008, whether CalMac Ferries Ltd was explicitly advised at any time during the extensive dialogue that any part of its bid was non-compliant.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the question S3W-9538 on 5 March 2008. 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.uk/webapp/wa.search">h…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it puts cutting taxes for business ahead of improving education and care services in its priorities.

Answer · John Swinney: This government's overarching purpose, as set out in the <i>Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007</i>, is to focus government and public services on creating a more successful country with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through increasing susta…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is a matter for the discretion of a council alone how much it holds in financial reserves, having considered any guidance or advice from the Accounts Commission for Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The focus by the Accounts Commission for Scotland in recent years on reserves is to ensure that councils set out their policies in relation to reserves and understand the reasons why they are holding reserves. How much councils should hold in financial reserv…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether councils are under any statutory duty to hold financial reserves of any particular scale.

Answer · John Swinney: There is no statutory duty for a council to hold financial reserves of any particular scale. It is for each council to estimate and hold financial reserves as it considers appropriate to meet its estimated future expenditure.</p>

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the terms of the agreement for teaching in the 21st century will be met in the Highlands as a result of the recent budget decisions by Highland Council.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We expect all councils to meet the terms of the agreement for teaching in the 21st century. The new concordat between the Scottish Government and Scottish local authorities provides total funding of £34.9 billion, an increase of 13.1% over the next three year…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether meeting the provisions contained in the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 is likely to be enhanced in the Highlands by Highland Council’s reductions in additional support for learning spending.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government will be providing local government in Scotland with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. We have increased local government''s budget by 5%, 4.1% and 3.4% over the next three years. It is the…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that support for the services provided by the voluntary sector in the Highlands should be rising or falling at present.

Answer · John Swinney: We believe that the third sector has a major contribution to make in creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth, in particular in the delivery of local outcomes within…