Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult the Parliament with regard to determining the priorities for Scottish Water's capital investment programme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The investment program currently being undertaken by Scottish Water for the period 2002 to 2006 was the subject of public consultation (Water Quality and Standards 2002-2006) culminating in approval of an investment program by ministers. Investments for the p…
6 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it will play in determining the priorities for Scottish Water's capital investment programme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The investment program presently being implemented by Scottish Water for the period 2002 to 2006 is that identified following the Quality and Standards assessment, including public consultation (Water Quality and Standards 2002-2006), approved by Scottish min…
6 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is currently undertaking to estimate the employment creation potential of renewable energy.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We are currently discussing with Renewables UK the detailed remit for a national study, which will assess the wider economic impact of an expansion in renewable energy across the UK. It is likely that the initial part of this study will concentrate on the pos…
6 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish the report produced by the Jobs in the Environment Support Unit of Forward Scotland on the employment creation potential of renewable energy.
Answer · Iain Gray: In January 2002, the Jobs in the Environment Support Unit (JITESU) provided the Scottish Welfare to Work Task Force Energy and Environment Group with a paper outlining the existing information available on potential jobs, not just in renewable energy, but acr…
6 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31797 by Lewis Macdonald on 4 December 2002, why it did not detail any discussions it has had with British Airways and Loganair about their internal (a) Scottish and (b) Highlands and Islands routes with specific regard to the Route Development Fund …
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Officials are currently developing the detail of the Interim Route Development Fund in partnership with the appropriate agencies and airport operators. Discussions take place with airlines on an on-going basis covering a number of issues including route devel…
4 Dec 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in discussions with the European Commission on next year's management regime for white fish stocks in waters round Scotland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Preliminary discussions on a management regime for North Sea and West of Scotland stocks took place at the November Council following the Commission publication of its proposals for effort reduction. I met Commissioner Fischler on Tuesday 10 December, and fur…
28 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31549 by Lewis Macdonald on 26 November 2002, why it has no plans to undertake an assessment of the impact of Crown Estate seabed rentals for subsea cables on the laying of (a) power cables needed to harness renewable energy resources and (b) fibre o…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has no specific devolved functions which would require or justify an assessment of the impact of any specific elements of the operational costs of laying power or telecommunications cables, such as Crown Estate rentals and royalties. Th…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with British Airways and Loganair about their internal (a) Scottish and (b) Highlands and Islands routes with regard to the Route Development Fund for air routes announced on 18 November 2002.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is in regular contact with airlines and airport operators about a range of issues, including those referred to in the answer given to question S1W-31793 on 3 December 2002.<P>All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Pa…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to assess applications to the Route Development Fund for air routes announced on 18 November 2002.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Officials of the Executive and Scottish Enterprise, together with expert consultants, are currently working on the detail of the appraisal framework for target routes and the qualifying criteria for each route and airport. Any airline wishing to operate a tar…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration will be given to assisting existing domestic air services on less-used routes from smaller airports on which greater frequency and quality can be introduced and what mechanism will be used to assess such services in relation to the route development fund for air routes …
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31793 today. 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/searc…
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise will be involved in the assessment of bids to the Route Development Fund for air routes announced on 18 November 2002.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Highlands and Islands Enterprise will be consulted regarding the priorities for that part of the Interim Route Development Fund that is allocated to Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. Officials will meet to discuss this in the near future.
20 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits there will be for airports owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd from the Route Development Fund for air routes announced on 18 November 2002.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Interim Route Development Fund is primarily focussed on developing new European and UK routes that provide business, inward investment and in-bound tourism benefits. Given the special operating conditions in the Highlands and Islands and the social and ec…
20 Nov 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to support the Shetland economy in the light of job losses at the Sullom Voe terminal.
Answer · Iain Gray: Our immediate priority is to provide support and assistance for those facing redundancy. This will be provided through the Executive's PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) framework. The type of support will be tailored to meet individual needs…
14 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30495 by Lewis Macdonald on 13 November 2002, whether it will undertake an assessment of the impact of Crown Estate seabed rentals for subsea cables on the laying of (a) power cables needed to harness renewable energy resources and (b) fibre optic te…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has no plans to undertake an assessment of the impact of any specific elements of the operational costs of laying power or telecommunications cables, such as Crown Estate rentals and royalties.
8 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments have been made of the effectiveness of agri-environmental schemes currently operating in Scotland, with particular reference to the Environmentally Sensitive Areas schemes; which bodies have carried out any such assessments, and when they were commissioned to carry out an…
Answer · Ross Finnie: Following a competitive tendering exercise, a 10-year contract to monitor the effectiveness of the Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes in Scotland was awarded in September 1994 to a consortium headed by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute. The other m…
8 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to the publication of reports commissioned by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive's policy with regard to the publication of commissioned reports is set out in the <I>Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information</I>. As set out in the code, the assumption is that information should be released except …
8 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the report commissioned by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department and compiled by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and others, referred to in page 10 of The Press and Journal on 6 November 2002, has been made available to (a) the Parliament and (b) the media and, if …
Answer · Ross Finnie: The report comprises 10 volumes setting out the results of the first five years of a 10-year monitoring programme for Scotland's Environmentally Sensitive Area Schemes, which commenced in 1994. The reports were published in 1999 and 2000 and have been publicl…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the Lessons to be Learned Inquiry, the Royal Society Inquiry into Infectious Diseases in Livestock and the Royal Society of Edinburgh Inquiry into Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Scotland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: When I welcomed the publication of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Royal Society and Lessons to be Learned reports in July, I undertook to respond to their conclusions and recommendations by the end of the year and to make them available to Parliament. I am p…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any restrictions on the investigative powers of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman relating to its Environment and Rural Affairs Department and the Crofters Commission and, if so, what these restrictions are and whether it has any plans to alter or remove them.
Answer · Peter Peacock: There are no specific restrictions on the investigatory powers of the ombudsman in respect of complaints made against the Environment and Rural Affairs Department or the Crofters Commission. General restrictions and exclusions on the Ombudsman's investigatory…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in respect of apportionment applications in Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes on common gra'ings in relation to regulations that pertain to particular common gra'ings.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Policy in respect of apportionment' applications is a matter for the Crofters' Commission. The Executive is responsible for the administration of the Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes. The conditions of any Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme agreement…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in relation to apportionment applications in Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes on common gra'ings where there may or may not be financial implications for the crofters in the common gra'ings.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Policy in respect of apportionment applications is a matter for the Crofters Commission. The policy of the Crofters Commission is that there will be a presumption against approval of apportionments where the Grazings Committee has entered into a management sc…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are applied to ensure that the Crofters Commission follows its rules of operating procedure in relation to decision-making and what right of appeal is open to an individual crofter over decisions made by the commission.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Board of Commissioners of the Crofters Commission set and revise the rules and procedures that govern the way the Crofters Commission undertakes its various regulatory functions. Paragraph 11 of schedule 1 to the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 provides that…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what routes of appeal are open to an individual crofter where the Crofters Commission has refused a public hearing over particular aspects of a decision and where a request for a public hearing has been made.
Answer · Ross Finnie: At present, with the exception of decisions relating to de-crofting and re-letting, the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 provides that all decisions by the Crofters Commission, including decisions regarding procedures to be adopted in handling individual cases, a…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been, or are being, taken to ensure that reports submitted by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department to the Crofters Commission on the decision-making process over apportionments are fair and impartial; what monitoring takes place of such reports, and whether any …
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Crofters Commission employs the services of locally based agricultural staff of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department to compile reports relating to apportionment applications. In carrying out these responsibilities, the agricult…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct the Crofters Commission to make information available to Mr and Mrs J Ramsay, 9 Veensgarth, Tingwall, Shetland, relating to a decision taken over an apportionment currently being denied and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have been assured that all existing information relevant to the decision taken by the Crofters Commission has now been sent to Mr and Mrs Ramsay. <P>I understand that the Crofters Commission intends to offer Mrs Ramsay a hearing on the decision relating to …
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policy applies to requests made to the Crofters Commission for the public disclosure of information held by it.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Crofters Commission is required to comply with the <I>Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information</I>.
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any funding has been, or is being, provided to NorthLink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Ltd for the purchase, lease or rent of six additional livestock trailers and what discussions have taken place with the agriculture industry in Shetland over such action.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I understand that NorthLink is renting the Livestock Trailers. The rental is one of the costs to the company of transporting livestock and the company will, in the normal course, recover those costs by the charge per head of livestock transported. In terms of…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with agricultural representatives, NorthLink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Ltd, Norse Island Ferries Ltd and Aberdeen Harbour Authority over the lairage currently available at Jamieson's Quay, Aberdeen.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Officials are in regular contact with agricultural representatives, NorthLink and Aberdeen Harbour Board on a variety of issues including lairage at Jamieson's Quay. No approach has been made to the Executive by Norse Island Ferries on the issue of lairage at…
5 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why NorthLink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Ltd is not using the existing general livestock trailers to provide safe and welfare-compliant passage for livestock from the northern isles to Aberdeen when the existing livestock shipping contract with P&O Scottish Ferries ceases.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The system used to carry livestock on ferries is an operational matter for the companies concerned, provided that the system complies with all the relevant statutory requirements.
1 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether capital grant applications to the Shetland Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme made by individual producers who hold binding agreements with the Scottish Executive were stopped on 1 November 2002 and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Ross Finnie: With effect from 1 November 2002 variations to existing Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme agreements will be accepted only where the additional costs are affordable within the agreed expenditure limits of such agreements.<P>These arrangements are necessar…