Parliamentary questions

Tavish Scott

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

15 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the December 2001 EU Fisheries Council meeting.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21331 on 17 January 2002. A note of the outcome of the Fisheries Council has also been sent to the Convenor of the Rural Development Committee.

15 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will ensure that those who seek to exercise a right of access do so at their own risk.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21848, which explained that we see no need to amend the Occupier's Liability (Scotland) Act 1960, given the terms of section 5(2) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. Section 2(3) of the 1960 Act also prov…

15 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what implications arise as to the availability of grants and loans under the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant and Loan schemes for crofters who pursue a community right to buy under the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: None, as the change in ownership of the land relates only to the landowner's interest. The individual crofters will continue to be croft tenants and thus their eligibility for crofting grants will be unaffected.

15 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals there are to ensure that personal liability is a matter for those who exercise a right to responsible access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-21848 and S1W-21851.

15 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to reform the Occupiers' Liability (Scotland) Act 1960 in light of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill with reference to the liability on farmers and landowners for personal injury to those exercising their statutory rights.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We see no need to amend the Occupiers' Liability (Scotland) Act 1960 which essentially enshrined in legislation the relevant common law principles relating to liability. Under the 1960 Act, the occupier of land has a duty to take such care, as in all the circ…

14 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be represented at Ministerial level at the 5th North Sea Ministerial Conference on 20 and 21 March 2002 in Bergen.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Yes. I will be representing the Scottish Executive as part of the UK delegation.

14 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the risk analysis being undertaken by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department of the 21-day movement restriction rule applying to cattle and sheep has been concluded and, if so, what conclusions have been reached.

Answer · Ross Finnie: A risk analysis which assessed the reduction in risk of new outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease by the imposition of a 20-day standstill for cattle, sheep and goats was prepared by the Department of Risk Assessment at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency. This …

14 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications under the Agricultural Business Development Scheme have been made in each of the last three years and the current year; how many applications were approved, and what funding was allocated and spent as a result, broken down by category of application and by local area…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Agricultural Business Development Scheme (ABDS) statutory instrument did not come into force until February 2001 therefore it was not possible to issue grant awards before that date. Four Project Assessment Committee meetings were held in 2001 to assess 4…

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific guidance it will give to local economic forums in their second year of operation with regard to their areas.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The two Ministerial Taskforces for Forums are currently considering the tasks for forums in year two of their operation. A decision will be made in February 2002 and guidance as required will be issued thereafter.

18 Dec 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer on what dates it has had meetings with P&O Scottish Ferries to discuss (a) extending the Northern Isles ferry contract and (b) any staffing issues relating to the transfer of the contract to Northlink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Ltd.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Executive officials have had a number of meetings and other exchanges by letter and telephone with P&O Scottish Ferries about a range of issues related to the Northern Isles ferry contract, including staffing matters related to the transfer of the co…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to develop policy on relief from water charges for charitable organisations beyond April 2002.

Answer · Ross Finnie: On 15 January the Executive announced an exemption scheme for certain water and sewerage charge payers. Those eligible for the exemption are organisations that have an annual income of less than £10,000 and that occupy premises that receive charitable relief …

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to introduce additional charges relating to security for passengers travelling through airports managed by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Plans to meet the additional costs relating to increased security are under consideration but no final decisions have yet been taken.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that teachers are adequately supported in delivering foreign language classes within primary and secondary schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20789.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what entitlement primary and secondary school pupils have to foreign language teaching.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Action Group for Languages outlined its recommendation that pupils should have an entitlement to foreign language learning. This entitlement, which comprises 11 elements, was accepted in full by the Scottish Executive in its published response to the repo…

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in enhancing the quality and availability of foreign language teaching in primary and secondary schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive response to the recommendations made by the Action Group for Languages in its report, Citizens of a Multilingual World, outlined proposals to support language education in primary and secondary schools. The response, available fr…

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its working arrangements are for responding to MSPs seeking factual and policy information directly from officials in its departments and when these arrangements were instituted.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: From 23 April 2001, the Scottish Executive business directory has been available electronically to MSPs, their assistants and Parliament staff. Guidance on usage is available on the front page of the directory which links into more detailed guidance for both …

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with oil companies over targets set for energy production involving renewable energy; which oil companies have been involved in any such discussions, and when any such discussions took place.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive's published objective is that by 2010 renewable energy will account for 18% of Scottish electricity supply. This will be delivered by the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) which is already stimulating demand for renewable energy development, and …

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 27 November 2001.

Answer · Ross Finnie: My officials attended the council as part of the UK Delegation.The council discussed a Commission proposal to extend the fourth Multi-Annual Guidance Programme (MAGP IV) for a further year as a transitional measure pending the outcome of th…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it made its submission to the European Commission on its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Sullom Voe was submitted to the European Commission by the UK Government on 30 November 2001.

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations and individuals were consulted before it submitted to the European Commission its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation and which of these were given the opportunity to see and comment on the full scientific documentation on which th…

Answer · Allan Wilson: Formal consultation documents were sent to all owners and occupiers and other interested parties in September 2000.The covering letter included in the consultation package offered further details to all consultees if they wished, and a copy of the full sci…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the scientific basis was for its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Shetland Voes have been identified as a discrete type of Large Shallow Inlet and Bay using definitions published by the European Commission and by the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee for the purpose of the Habitats Directive.The criteria used to ass…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what social and economic consequences of its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation it considered before deciding to submit the proposal to the European Commission.

Answer · Allan Wilson: European Court of Justice rulings have determined that socio-economic factors cannot be taken into account when considering the designation of Natura sites. Once a site has been submitted to the European Commission, socio-economic factors can be and are taken…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the social and economic consequences of its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation as included in its submission to the European Commission on this proposal.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The submission to the European Commission does not include social and economic information.

28 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the revision of the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme so that it targets aid more effectively to peripheral areas.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I announced improvements to the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme for 2002 last week. These have been welcomed by the Scottish industry. The measures help farmers in all parts of Scotland's Less Favoured Areas, including those in our remote communities. They…

27 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19427 by Rhona Brankin on 9 November 2001, of the fishing vessels fishing for shellfish within the six-mile limit which were (a) boarded by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and (b) reported for prosecution, how many were (i) boarded when at s…

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Mr Paul Du Vivier, Chief Executive of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency to respond. His response is as follows:All 1,390 boardings referred to in my previous answer were carried out at sea. The table provides details of the fishing meth…