Parliamentary questions

Tavish Scott

2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Small Business Consultative Group last met; what issues were discussed, and when it will next meet.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Small Business Consultative Group last met on 2 October 2007. Issues discussed at that meeting were: reform of the enterprise networks; the Skills Strategy, and the implementation of the Small Business Bonus. The next meeting is planned for 12 May 2008.</…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the National Economic Forum will interact with the Small Business Consultative Group.

Answer · John Swinney: The government has not reached a firm view as yet on the relationship between the National Economic Forum and the Small Business Consultative Group (SBCG). When the SBCG last met, in October 2007, the group agreed that the SBCG should continue until the Natio…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the annual running costs of the National Economic Forum, also showing the total annual running cost.

Answer · John Swinney: It is impossible at this stage to provide a breakdown of the annual running costs of the National Economic Forum. Only one meeting has been held to date and ministers wish to reflect on the outcome of that meeting and consider the views of forum members thems…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs of setting up the National Economic Forum, also showing the total set-up cost.

Answer · John Swinney: The costs (excluding Scottish Government staff costs), including VAT, involved in setting up the National Economic Forum, incorporating the costs of holding the first meeting of the forum on the 6 February 2008, are as follows: <table border=1 cellspaci…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the National Economic Forum will interact with the Business in the Parliament conference.

Answer · John Swinney: The government regards the two events as complementary. The former is a partnership event, between the Scottish Government and the Parliament, which aims to facilitate engagement between Scotland''s businesses and politicians, both the government and the Parl…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the National Economic Forum will contribute to the work of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Answer · John Swinney: The Council of Economic Advisers brings together a small group of experts of the very highest calibre to advise the First Minister on how to achieve higher, sustainable economic growth. The National Economic Forum brings together senior figures and thought le…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the National Economic Forum will contribute to the Government’s economic strategy.

Answer · John Swinney: The purpose of the government economic strategy is to focus the Scottish Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through increasing sustainable economic growth. The Nat…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish reports of the meetings of the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: Yes. Reports of the discussions held at the first meeting of the forum, which took place on the 6 February 2008, have been published recently and are available on the Scottish Government website.

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Economic Forum is required to report on its findings and conclusions and, if so, to whom it will report.

Answer · John Swinney: Findings and conclusions of the National Economic Forum will be made public. Reports of the discussions held at the first meeting of the forum, which took place on the 6 February 2008, have been published recently and are available on the Scottish Government …

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the themes and issues for discussion at the meetings of the National Economic Forum are determined.

Answer · John Swinney: The theme for the first meeting of the forum, determined by the government, was the Government Economic Strategy. Members of the forum considered, in particular, the contribution that three of the Government''s Strategic Objectives “ achieving a Smarter; a We…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the National Economic Forum will next meet.

Answer · John Swinney: No date has been set but we expect the second meeting of the forum to take place before the end of 2008.

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions were reached at the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: No formal conclusions were reached at the inaugural meeting of the forum, which highlighted a number of issues that might be developed further at future meetings. Reports of the discussions held at the first meeting have been published recently and are availa…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what issues were discussed at the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: The forum discussed the Government Economic Strategy. Members of the forum considered, in particular, the contribution that three of the Government''s Strategic Objectives “ achieving a Smarter; a Wealthier and Fairer, and a Greener Scotland “ could make towa…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which groups and individuals attended the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested has been set out in a table placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44863).

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many delegates attended the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: A total of 88 delegates, excluding Scottish Government officials, attended the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum.

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the same groups and individuals will be invited to each meeting of the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: The forum will not have fully fixed membership and will retain flexibility (in terms of both size and representation), according to the theme(s) to be considered at each meeting, around an emerging core membership.

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether groups and individuals are invited to participate in the National Economic Forum on a meeting-by-meeting basis or whether a general invitation has been extended for all meetings.

Answer · John Swinney: Individuals and groups were invited specifically to participate in the first meeting of the forum. Many of those invited are likely to form part of a core membership but ministers wish to retain flexibility (in terms of both size and representation), accordin…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it chose the groups and individuals invited to (a) make up the core membership and (b) participate in the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: The groups and individuals invited to attend the inaugural meeting of the forum were agreed by ministers at the recommendation of officials with the aim of bringing together senior figures and thought leaders in business, trade unions, government, the wider p…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which groups and individuals were invited to (a) make up the core membership and (b) participate in the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: No such distinction was made in the invitations to delegates to attend the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Forum and no final decision has yet been taken by ministers about the size and composition of any emerging core membership for future meeting…

11 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all interested groups and individuals are entitled to participate in the National Economic Forum.

Answer · John Swinney: Attendance at the National Economic Forum is by invitation of the Scottish Government only. However, ministers would be, of course, consider requests from any groups or individuals interested in participating.

25 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8284 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2008, whether there are any proposals to provide interim alternative grant support for the fisheries industry using funding from Her Majesty’s Government or the Scottish Government ahead of the opening for appli…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We will consult shortly onproposals for delivering the European Fisheries Fund Programme in Scotlandincluding arrangements for managing the transition from the predecessorprogramme alongside the forthcoming consultation on the UK operational programme.

25 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8284 by Richard Lochhead on 18 January 2008, whether the delay to the opening for applications to the European Fisheries Fund will lead to any loss of funding to Scotland from that originally offered by the European Commission and, if so, what the ex…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the course of theapproval process for the UK Operational Programme for the European FisheriesFund, the Commission will make proposals as to the allocation of funds for theprogramme. The Scottish Government is working closely with the other UK fisheriesadmi…

25 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8475 by Michael Russell on 24 January 2008, what its policy is on the role of Scottish Natural Heritage in the planning process and, in particular, on the size and nature of planning applications against which it should consider submitting official o…

Answer · Michael Russell: SNH plays an important role inthe planning system.SNH is a statutory consulteeon several categories of planning applications and has a duty to respond to allsuch consultations. The decision to object to any particular planning applicationwill be a matt…

15 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the conclusion of the Beauly to Denny transmission line local public inquiry, when ministers plan to make a determination on the planning application.

Answer · Jim Mather: The main public sessions of theBeauly to Denny line public inquiry concluded on 20 December 2007 but hearings connectedwith land acquisition and the sub-station at Beauly will not be concluded untilFebruary or later of this year. Following the complete closur…

15 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the public comments of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism that a nine-month timescale should be the upper limit for renewable energy planning applications, whether this is now its policy and whether it applies only to renewable projects or to all planning applicati…

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish ministers have set anaspirational target to process new section 36 and 37 applications within nine months,under the Electricity Act 1989, provided no public local inquiry is called. Thisdoes not apply to planning applications, including those for ren…

15 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the recommendation of Heriot-Watt University’s review of Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) role in the planning process that states that SNH should limit its official objections to UK or European law breaches or in respect of the most substantial development proposals.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Heriot Watt University reviewof Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) role in planning casework is still being finalisedby the consultants. Once the report has been finalised it will be for Scottish NaturalHeritage, in the first instance, to consider the reco…

15 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be opened for applications.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I can confirm that the ScotlandRural Development Programme 2007-13 was approved by the European Commission’s RuralDevelopment Committee on 23 January. This milestone was achieved following intensedialogue between my officials and officials of the Commission t…

15 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is to improve the accuracy of the determination of croft boundaries and when it last discussed this with the Crofters Commission.

Answer · Michael Russell: As with all privately owned land,the responsibility for accurate boundary information rests with the owner and occupierof that land. Determination of boundary disputes is a matter for the courts ratherthan the Crofters Commission. The Register of Crofts held …

15 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local nature reserves have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.

Answer · Michael Russell: This is a matter entirely withinthe responsibility of local authorities.

15 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many nature designations, including Special Protection Areas, have been approved by Scottish ministers since May 2007.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish ministers have designatedtwo such sites since May 2007. These are the Renfrewshire Heights and Oronsayand South Colonsay Special Protection Areas.