Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what length of notice was given to prawn fishermen in the under 10m fleet before the recent prohibition was introduced in nephrops fisheries on 12 October.
Answer · John Home Robertson: Variations to licences to prohibit fishing for North Sea nephrops as of 12 October were issued by fisheries officers by post to owners of 10 metres and under fishing vessels from 6 October. In addition a press notice announcing the prohibition was issued by t…
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to Her Majesty's Government in connection with the re-introduction of a grant scheme for improving the safety of fishing vessels or whether it intends to introduce a separate Scottish scheme.
Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive has had discussions with the UK Government Departments about this issue. I made clear earlier my intention to introduce a Scottish scheme. An announcement about that will be made shortly.
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1665 by Mr Jim Wallace on 6 October 1999, whether it will define the area referred to as "part of this area is out with the sea area covered by the Scottish Adjacent Boundaries Order".
Answer · Jim Wallace: The southern boundary to the Scottish zone of British fishery limits in the North Sea is defined in the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999. The Civil Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987 defines a boundary further to the south in the Nort…
20 Oct 1999 · General 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.
12 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact its expenditure plans, as announced by the Minister for Finance on 6 October 1999, will have on the rural affairs expenditure as set out in the previous budget forecasts in Serving Scotland's Needs.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The new plans add £1.5/0.5/1m to those set out in Serving Scotland's Needs for the three years beginning 1999-2000. The allocation of this expenditure will be detailed in a report to the Finance Committee, as will any changes to departmental spending plans wi…
8 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the plans to increase provision of new computers and other information technology for primary and secondary schools including details of any plans for the North East of Scotland; whether it intends to provide full-time computer technicians at each school…
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive is supporting local authorities' plans for information and communications technology through the Excellence Fund. The resources available to local authorities in the North East of Scotland are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELL…
8 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local farmers were consulted before the decision was taken to designate the Ythan catchment and estuary in Aberdeenshire as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) as required by the EC Nitrates Directive.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Proposals for designation of the Ythan as a NVZ were the subject of consultation in 1994, when it was decided not to proceed with the designation. Successive administrations since have made it clear that the matter would be kept under review.<P>We will short…
6 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to make the case for the retention of RAF Buchan, to whom the case was put and when it was made.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence on a wide range of issues including the consultation on the future of RAF Buchan.
6 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact its expenditure plans, as announced by the Minister for Finance on 6 October 1999, will have on fisheries expenditure.
Answer · John Home Robertson: There are no changes to the fisheries spending plans as announced in <I>Serving Scotland's Needs</I> (Command Paper No 4215), the last departmental report of the Scottish Office. The additional £9 million previously announced to help salmon farmers cope with …
23 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any minutes taken during discussion with representatives of Her Majesty's Government in connection with the Memorandum of Understanding and related concordats.
Answer · Donald Dewar: No, but the texts themselves will be made public tomorrow and will be subject to debate in the Parliament before they come into effect. Copies will be available for Members in the Document Supply Centre.
22 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any plans to introduce a vaccine for Infectious Salmon Anaemia which has affected salmon farming and, if so, when it will be available
Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive is aware that there is commercial interest in developing a vaccine for ISA. Any application would be considered by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate which is responsible for the authorisation of animal vaccines in the UK.<FONT FACE=…
22 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state its response to compensation claims by fishermen whose livelihoods are affected by the ban on scallop fishing due to Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, and when its policy on this matter was agreed.
Answer · John Home Robertson: It has not been the policy of successive governments to compensate for losses due to disease or other natural phenomena in the marine environment. The Scottish Executive is continuing to assess the economic impact of the ban, with the assistance of the catchi…
22 Sep 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any minutes taken during discussion with representatives of Her Majesty's Government in connection with the Memorandum of Understanding and related concordats.
Answer · Donald Dewar: No, but the texts themselves will be made public tomorrow and will be subject to debate in the Parliament before they come into effect. Copies will be available for Members in the Document Supply Centre.
15 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been the economic value of the inshore fishing industry, by sector, to the Scottish economy for the last three years, including any relevant statistics.
Answer · John Home Robertson: The value of landings in Scotland by Scottish registered vessels by the inshore fleet (defined as vessels under 10m in length, creelers, nephrops trawlers and 10-15m line boats) was £46.1 million in 1998, £46.2 million in 1997 and £45.2 million…
15 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been the economic contribution to Scotland of the aquaculture industry, including any relevant statistics, over the last three years.
Answer · John Home Robertson: Some 92 per cent of UK aquaculture production is based in Scotland where it makes a major contribution to the rural economy, particularly in the Highlands and Islands. Farm gate values were around £260-275m in 1996 and 1997 (data for 1998 is not currently ava…
15 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to support the inclusion of Article 12.5, outlined in the draft regulations on European Structural Assistance in the fisheries sector, in the final document.
Answer · John Home Robertson: Article 12.5 of the draft has now been included in the final regulation.
15 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made or intends to make of the economic impact on Scotland's coastal communities of the bans on scallop fishing introduced as a result of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.
Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive is assessing the economic impact through analysis of information on landings of scallops, and contacts with the catching and processing industries. We have been involved with Highlands and Islands Enterprise on a recent analysis by cons…
14 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what formula is used to calculate the allocation to Scotland under each EU funding programme; what funding has been allocated in each year since 1998-99 and what funding has been subsequently disbursed to organisations under each allocation.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Scotland's allocations under European Structural Fund Programmes were set with reference to criteria set out in the EU Structural Fund regulations. Such criteria relate to per capita economic and social indicators, including employment, social exclusion, trai…
10 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to allow MSPs to meet with Scottish Trade International without going through the office of the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Enterprise.
Answer · Donald Dewar: As the Civil Service Code applies to officials of Scottish Trade International, requests for contact should go through the Office of the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. This is in accordance with the procedure relating to all officials to whom …
10 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list, by water authority area, average water and sewerage charges for (a) domestic customers and (b) non-domestic customers for each of the last ten years and projections for the next five years.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The following table shows the average combined water and sewerage charge for domestic customers since the water authorities became responsible for provision of water services in 1996. The figures are shown before domestic sewage relief grant:<TABLE BORDER CE…
10 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to raise the quality of Scotland's drinking water as outlined in Making it Work Together: A Programme for Government.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The water authorities are undertaking an investment programme of £1.7bn over the next 3 years. Part of this will meet the investment needs of the European Drinking Water Directive (98/83/EC) that will introduce new quality standards from the end of 2003.
10 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve standards of urban wastewater treatment systems as outlined in Making it Work Together: A Programme for Government.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The water authorities are undertaking an investment programme of £1.7bn over the next 3 years. The main purpose of this investment is to meet the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994, which will result in significant imp…
10 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has for the management of freshwater fisheries in Scotland and whether it will list the meetings it has had with representatives from the various organisations active in that sector.
Answer · John Home Robertson: An extensive legislative framework regulates freshwater fisheries in Scotland. The sustainable management and development of these fisheries requires a balance to be struck between conservation and access. On 21 September I met with representatives of 'A…
10 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to examine the implications of Private Finance Initiative projects commissioned by the water authorities for charges for water and sewerage customers.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: PFI projects in the water and sewerage sector are essential schemes needed to meet the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994. This investment is therefore unavoidable and it is for the authorities to achieve a value for m…
7 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-886 by Donald Dewar on 24 August, whether it intends that the Parliament and its committees be given the opportunity to debate each individual draft concordat between Parliament and Her Majesty's Government before final draft concordats are presented…
Answer · Jim Wallace: Concordats will be administrative agreements between the Scottish Executive and Whitehall departments. The Scottish Parliament will not be party to any concordats. Concordats will be published only after they have been agreed between administrations.
3 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase funding to local authorities for the purpose of diversion from prosecution services for drug using offenders.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Justice Department of the Scottish Executive is funding 18 pilot diversion schemes to 31 March 2000. Many of the schemes offer support to drug dependent offenders. A report on the evaluation of the pilots has been received and will be considered carefully…
3 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the criteria used for selecting the members of the focus group created as part of Creating Scotland, the consultation document on a national cultural strategy, and why the focus group has no members who represent the North East of Scotland or any organisation based in…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Members of the group were appointed on the basis of their personal professional expertise in relation to the arts. The focus group will oversee the consultation process which aims to engage people, organisations and interests from all parts of Scotland.
26 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive if it will extend the consultation period for the Scottish Tourism strategy document issued on 3 August beyond 31 August.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Over 300 businesses and individuals had submitted views by 30<SUP>th</SUP> August. I recognise, however, that it is difficult for some to respond at the height of the tourist season. I announced on 1 September that the consultation period would be extended un…
25 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer given to question S1W-867 by John Home Robertson on 24 August 1999, who is representing the Scottish Executive and who is representing Her Majesty's Government during discussions relating to the Memorandum of Understanding between Her Majesty's Government and the Sco…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive is considering carefully the draft Memorandum of Understanding it has received from the UK Government. It will discuss it as necessary with the other parties to it and will then put the agreed documents to the Parliament for endorsement.
19 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has corresponded with Scotland's major supermarkets in order to seek their support for Scotland's lamb industry.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Recognising the important role played by the major supermarkets in selling meat and meat products, efforts have been and will continue to be made, to encourage them to support home-produced products, including lamb. Special lamb promotions are planned for thi…