Tavish Scott

15 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how investigations of the police will be carried out if there is only one police force.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Independent investigation of the police is crucial to ensure public confidence and to meet our human rights obligations. Once the Police Service of Scotland is established, the Police Investigation and Review Commissioner (PIRC) will be able to investigate of…

4 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members of the interview panel to select the convener of the Crofting Commission are; what areas of expertise they have in relation to crofting, and for what reason it chose this method rather than delegate the decision to the commission.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The planned members of the Crofting Commission Convener selection panel are David Barnes (Head of Scottish Government Agriculture and Rural Division), Yvonne Strachan (Head of Scottish Government Equality, Third Sector and Communities Division) and Drew Sloan…

2 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will clarify the transitional arrangements for the phasing out of the Housing Support Grant and the gradual debt reduction period to the Shetland Islands Council housing department.

Answer · Keith Brown: Shetland Islands Council has put forward numerous options for future funding of their Housing Revenue Account. All of these options involve significant levels of funding from Scottish Government. Scottish ministers are yet to come to a conclusion which, if an…

2 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials (a) attended and (b) remained throughout each meeting that the First Minister has had with Rupert Murdoch since May 2007.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is being collated. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 53984).

2 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what official visits to the United States the First Minister has made since May 2007.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Since May 2007 the First Minister has made three official visits to the United States in October 2007, April 2008 and February 2009.

19 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the European Commission’s assessment that fishing capacity in relation to Scotland's whitefish fishing fleet is growing at 3% per annum to be accurate and, if not, what action it is taking.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We note the Commission’s assumption that the fishing fleet is increasing by 3% per annum. However, Scottish fleet capacity, as measured by Gross Tonnage (GT) and Kilowatts (kW), has in fact decreased by 27,906 GT (20%) and 69,879 kW (18%) from 2001 to 2010.

19 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met the European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and whether they discussed in-year flexibility under the cod recovery plan.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I last met with Commissioner Damanaki on 25 April 2012. At this meeting and on previous occasions I underlined the concern of a number of EU Member States for there to be changes made urgently to the EU’s Cod Recovery Plan (CRP). In particular I have sought f…

19 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to deliver the 2012 in-year flexibility under the cod recovery plan.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question SW4-06823 on 4 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusine…

19 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether fishing vessels from EU member states other than UK registered vessels can enter and fish in marine areas designated as (a) Natura 2000, (b) special areas of protection or (c) proposed marine protected area sites.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the absence of specific EU fisheries regulations prohibiting fishing activities in certain areas then vessels from all EU member states can fish in any community waters that they have historical access rights under the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), irresp…

19 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which EU member states can legally fish in an area defined as closed under Scottish fishing regulations.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: EU legislation provides for closures of areas of sea for the protection of juvenile cod, haddock, whiting and saithe. If an area is closed this applies equally to all vessels regardless of their nationality. Marine Scotland also operates cod Real Time Closur…

18 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the possible implications for Scotland of the legal challenge by the Union of German Sheep Farming Associations (Vereinigung Deutscher Landesschafzuchtverbände) to the introduction of legislation on the electronic identification of sheep.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: At this time we are maintaining a watching brief on the progress on this challenge. The UK Government, as competent authority, has asked to see any submissions from the Commission and other member states. However, the Commission has not yet intervened with it…

18 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it is providing to the European Commission from the electronic identification of sheep pilot.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has commenced several strands of evidence based research work. On completion of this work we will write to the Commission and UK Government to highlight the key elements of our traceability system and its robustness. This will outline …

18 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on when the report from the EC’s Food and Veterinary Office visit to Scotland in April 2011 will be available.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The EC Food and Veterinary Office carried out a fact finding mission into sheep EID to the UK between 28 March and 7 April 2011. They also carried out similar fact finding missions to Eire, Portugal and Spain. A summary of these fact finding missions is expec…

18 Apr 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what map scale is used to assess land eligible for agricultural support under the Integrated Administration and Control System 2012.

28 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the location of public displays of significant historical artefacts found in Scotland.

27 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the eligibility criteria are for the European Commission's proposed European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The draft European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Regulation is currently being scrutinised by member states within the Working Party On Internal Fisheries Policy, and as such eligibility criteria are not yet confirmed.

27 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) on what date and (b) in what forum it last raised the proposed definition of permanent pasture under common agricultural policy reform with the (i) European Commission, (ii) UK Government and (iii) other devolved administrations.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has repeatedly raised the definition of permanent grassland in ongoing discussions with the European Commission, UK Government and other devolved administrations. The issue was raised with UK Government as recently as 19 April 2012.

27 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what amendments it has proposed to the European Commission to the proposed definition of permanent pasture under common agricultural policy reform.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has suggested amending the definition along the following lines: “permanent pasture means land used to grow grasses or other forage species suitable/utilised for grazing naturally (self-seeded), through cultivation (sown) or managed and t…

27 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact of the EC common agricultural policy proposal on the definition of permanent grassland on single farm payments to individual crofters and farmers across Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06486 on 23 April 2012. 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/parliamentaryb…

27 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact of the EC common agricultural policy proposal on the definition of permanent grassland on the amount of land in Scotland defined as permanent grassland under existing regulations.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Commission officials have indicated that the proposed permanent grassland definition is not intended to change the status quo, for example regarding the grazing of heather. However, this is not clear from the definition as it is currently worded. The Scottish…

22 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05973 by Alex Neil on 29 February 2012, which referred to a commitment to deliver a "future proofed digital infrastructure across of all of Scotland by 2020," whether its previously stated target of 95-98% coverage has changed and, if not, how it wil…

Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan makes clear the Scottish Government’s 2015 connectivity targets – broadband at a speed of 40-80 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 85-90% of premises. We will also put in place measures to ensure an uplift in …

22 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the procurement plan outlined in Scotland's Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan will impact on residents in so-called not-spots.

Answer · Alex Neil: The procurement plan will outline how the Scottish Government will deliver its 2015 connectivity targets outlined in Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan – broadband at a speed of 40-80 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 85-90% of premises. We wi…

14 Mar 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on devolving the marine estate to local authorities and harbour boards.

9 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are working to (a) ascertain the effect on current (i) activity and (ii) jobs of the proposed marine protected area (MPA) sites in Shetland and (b) complete seabed surveys to help form the management plan in relation to decisions on these MPAs, and what the total projected…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: (a) No MPA proposals have yet been finalised and the process for developing draft impact assessments on costs and benefits is still in development so the exact number of people who will be required and the associated costs for completing these assessments wil…

7 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans for it to increase its awareness of the extent to which CS spray is used by police forces nationally.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. The deployment and use of CS spray by the police is an operational matter for individual chief constables. As outlined in my letter of 24 October 2011 to the member, I would be happy to discuss any specific concerns he may have.

7 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to increase national awareness of the extent to which CS spray is used by police forces.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. The deployment and use of CS spray by the police is an operational matter for individual chief constables.

28 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the change from the Broadband Reach Project to Scotland’s Digital Future Action Plan will affect individual consumers living in so-called not-spots.

Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Digital Future: Infrastructure Action Plan published on 31 January 2012 sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment and the steps we will take to deliver world-class, future proofed digital infrastructure across all of Scotland by 2020, with an i…

28 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reinstate the Broadband Reach Project to subsidise the purchasing of satellites for coverage of so-called not-spots.

Answer · Alex Neil: There are no plans to reinstate the Broadband Reach Project in its current form. Scotland’s Digital Future: Infrastructure Action Plan published on 31 January 2012 sets out the Scottish Government’s commitment and the steps we will take to deliver world-clas…

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given an assurance to the Fire Brigades Union since May 2011 that there will be no fire station closures and, if so, what the content of the assurance was and when it was given.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The provision of fire and rescue services is currently a matter for each of the Joint Fire and Rescue Boards and Fire and Rescue Authorities not Scottish ministers.

17 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timeline is for identifying new special areas of conservation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05757 on 1 March 2012. 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/parliamentarybu…