Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when and how it first became aware of the French Prime Minister's recently publicised views on Scottish beef in relation to the current ban on beef imports by France.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive became aware of the views expressed by the French Prime Minister on his apparent preference for a UK herd-based export scheme, which might include Scottish herds such as Aberdeen Angus, through press reports immediately following his re…
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place, prior to 1 July 1999, between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and The Scottish Office on the definition of the Scottish fisheries 'one and whether, at any stage, MAFF suggested alternative boundaries other than that finally agreed and, i…
Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive cannot comment on the actions of a previous administration.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any correspondence or communication between The Scotland Office and/or The Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the subject of the Scottish fisheries 'one.
Answer · John Home Robertson: Mr Lochhead should direct his question about correspondence between the Scotland Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Secretary of State of Scotland.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Regarding the correspondence between the Scottish Ex…
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) the United Kingdom's and (b) the EU's fishing entitlement is allocated to Scottish registered and owned fishing vessels.
Answer · John Home Robertson: Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for each Member State are set each year by the Council of Ministers. The figures for 1999 appear in the Official Journal of the European Commission, L13, volume 42, of 18 January 1999.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">TACs for the United Kingd…
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the water commissioner's recommendations on changes, when it will make public its response and what plans it has to consult the Parliament before finally setting the charges.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I received the Commissioner's advice on strategic charge levels for the period 2000-02 on 22 December, and I announced my decision to Parliament on 26 January.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to consider and respond to the findings of Deprivation amongst affluence: social exclusion in the City of Aberdeen by Professor Thomas Lange of the Centre of Public Policy and Management at the Robert Gordon University.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I have received a copy of <I>Deprivation amongst affluence: social exclusion in the City of Aberdeen</I>. The Scottish Executive recognises the disadvantage that exists in areas of Aberdeen. The Great Northern Partnership in the city has been designated as a …
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide statistics relating to awards granted to organisations based in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow for the purposes of tackling poverty expressed on a per capita basis for each of the last five years.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not available.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it had (a) the authority and (b) the necessary funds to introduce a safety improvement grant scheme for fishing vessels as from 1 July 1999 to replace the scheme ended by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in May 1999.
Answer · John Home Robertson: I refer Mr Lochhead to previous answers given to him on this matter (24 June and 3 November). It would have been inappropriate for the Scottish Executive to introduce a safety scheme while consideration was being given by the UK Government to r…
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give statistics relating to absenteeism caused by stress related illnesses among teaching staff in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools by local authority area for each of the last five years.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Absenteeism amongst teachers is a matter for Local Authorities as employers and the information requested is not held centrally.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the number of civil servants in its Rural Affairs Department and, if so, by how many.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There is likely to be a small increase in the Department's staff over the next 12 months, mainly to handle the more complex support regime being introduced by the European Union under Agenda 2000, but the precise numbers involved are not yet clear.
2 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding reform of the severe weather allowance for pensioners in Scotland.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: No. This is a matter for the Secretary of State for Social Security, not for the Executive.
2 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those fisheries measures that will cease or be subject to budget reductions following the reduction in overall fisheries expenditure outlined in its recent spending plans.
Answer · John Home Robertson: There is no reduction in fisheries expenditure. I refer Mr Lochhead to the answer I gave to his question number S1W-1888.
23 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all existing and proposed regulations relating to capacity penalties, engine power, quotas and licences, and related matters, in respect of the sea fisheries sector.
Answer · John Home Robertson: A list of extant European legislation, including that relating to fisheries, can be found in the Directory of Community Legislation in Force, published by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. There is also a Commission database of…
23 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the forms, record sheets and any other paperwork, by agricultural sector, issued by its Rural Affairs Department and its predecessor departments which farmers are required to complete in order to comply with legislation or in order to apply for subsidies and grants.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Documentation which the Rural Affairs Department requires farmers to complete in order to comply with legislation relates to statistical surveys. The main survey is the agricultural and horticultural census carried out annually in June. Several other sample s…
23 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the forms, record sheets and any other paperwork, by fisheries sector, issued by its Rural Affairs Department and its predecessor departments which owners of fishing vessels are required to complete in order to comply with legislation and what plans it has to review a…
Answer · John Home Robertson: Documentation which the Rural Affairs Department may require fishing vessel owners to complete relates primarily to the licensing of fishing vessels, control and quota management. Most require to be completed only in specified circumstances. Owners are routin…
23 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings it has had with the major supermarket chains to discuss Scottish agricultural produce and the promotion of Scottish produce, with whom it met, who represented it, when these meetings took place and whether the issue of supermarkets' profit margins on Scottish agricultura…
Answer · Ross Finnie: I met with the Technical Manager of Marks and Spencer on 7 August. I had also planned to meet the Chief Executive of Asda, but this meeting was postponed at the company's request following their take-over by Walmart.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">On 10 November, the Firs…
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage new entrants into farming.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive's aim is to help create a strong and sustainable agriculture industry which will prove attractive to potential new entrants.<P>The concept of financial incentives to encourage new entrants into farming received little support during a public con…
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist young farmers to remain in farming or continue their family's involvement in the industry.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is committed to help in the creation of a strong and sustainable agriculture industry. This will benefit farmers of all ages and give an incentive to young people to continue the family farming tradition.
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place and what measures it intends to introduce to consult specifically tenant farmers on legislation and measures that affect their livelihoods.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We consult as widely as possible when planning new administrative and legislative measures and make every reasonable effort to ensure that those likely to be directly affected by a proposal, in this case tenant farmers, have an opportunity to give their views…
19 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase air support and surveillance resources for Scotland's police forces.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Air support and surveillance are operational issues and therefore matters for Chief Constables. The Scottish Executive does not provide resources specifically for air support or surveillance.
11 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2087 by Donald Dewar on 3 November 1999, when it expects to be in a position to make a further announcement about the information gathered on any possible relocation of its staff.
Answer · Donald Dewar: The Executive's policy on the location and relocation of public service jobs was set out in my reply of 15 September to Question from Duncan McNeil. My reply made clear that where new units or agencies are set up there will be a presumption against an Edinbu…
11 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all Scottish legislation and UK legislation as it effects Scotland, both primary and secondary, which has already been amended or will require amendment as a result of the coming into force of the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order (SI 1999/1126); when such ame…
Answer · John Home Robertson: Some UK legislation was amended to take account of the creation by the Scotland Act 1998 of the Scottish zone of British fishery limits, the boundary of which zone is defined by the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 (SI 1999/1126). The purpose of…
11 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote boat building, particularly the building of fishing vessels, and to ensure the survival of the remaining shipyards in Scotland.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Action to assist shipbuilders in the UK is being developed through a UK-wide Shipbuilding Forum chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry, and in consultation with industry and trade union representatives. The Scottish Executive is represented at this F…
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to support the fishing industry's call for Government funding to be made available in Scotland towards the modernisation and renewal of the Scottish fishing fleet which will then allow access to specific European Union funding.
Answer · John Home Robertson: The measures referred to form part of the proposals for a new Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) which is the subject of ongoing EU negotiations. It is not yet clear to what extent eligibility for vessel construction and modernisation funding …
29 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs on 28 October 1999, whether it will reconsider its decision not to make a Ministerial statement to the Parliament following each meeting of the EC Fisheries Council.
Answer · John Home Robertson: I intend to report to Parliament after every Fisheries Council. Whether this should be by oral statement, by written means, to the Rural Affairs Committee or indeed a combination of these will depend on the substance of what I have to report.
26 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with representatives of the fishing industry the impact of fuel duty on its costs.
Answer · John Home Robertson: I have had no representations about this matter.
26 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much income has been generated by the collection of levies on each meat and livestock sector in Scotland by the Meat and Livestock Commission in each of the last five years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The following table provides this information on a financial year basis.<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><U><P ALIGN="CENTER">Cattle</U></TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="…
26 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what was the level of Meat and Livestock Commission and other public sector grants awarded to bodies involved in the promotion of meat and associated products, such as the Scotch Beef and Lamb Association, in each of the last five years, giving the name of each organisation and the amount…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information is as follows:<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=601><TR><TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3><P>Year</B></TD><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=3><P>Company</B></TD><TD WIDTH="27%" VALI…
26 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote the sale and consumption of Scottish meat in Scotland and internationally.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive continues to support, both at home and abroad, the marketing and promotional efforts of Scotland's meat and livestock industry. The formation of the new Scottish Quality Meat Council, which I announced on 8 November, will strengthen the…
21 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to commission an independent legal opinion to determine the validity of the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundary Order 1999.
Answer · John Home Robertson: No.