Tavish Scott

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for which commercial and industrial sectors (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise have planned, or are planning, to develop strategies and what level of resources has been allocated to each such sector strategy.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Enterprise Network's activities in the commercial and industrial sectors stem directly from the Executive's <I>strategy A Smart, Successful Scotland</I>, whose key themes are Growing Businesses, Learning and Skills, and Global Connections. In addition, Hi…

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise have spent on measures aimed at expanding the renewable energy sector in each year for which figures are available.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The amount spent by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on measures to expand the renewable energy sector since 1999 and committed until 2004 is around £700,000. This excludes expenditure on business development cases where Local Enterprise Companies have provid…

7 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18745 by Ross Finnie on 30 October 2001, whether it will give comparative figures of the projected water charges over the next five years for average Shetland domestic and commercial consumers (a) under the proposed Scottish Water and (b) under the e…

Answer · Ross Finnie: As announced on the 12 November, I have agreed the revenue caps as advised by the Water Industry Commissioner. This means that provided the case for the creation of Scottish Water is agreed by Parliament, I expect domestic charges not to increase in the north…

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishing boats fishing for shellfish within the six mile limit were boarded by officers of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and how many of these led to prosecutions in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Mr Paul Du Vivier, Chief Executive of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency to respond. His response is as follows:<P>During the past five years the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency carried out 1,390 boardings, of fishing boats which were …

8 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the "power of well-being" provisions to be granted to local authorities under its proposed Local Government Bill will create a duty to clear rubbish off the foreshore.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The power of well-being will not place a specific duty on local authorities in this regard. We envisage the power as a general power to allow local authorities to do anything to promote or improve the well-being of their area, subject to certain safeguards. I…

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the owners of fishing vessels who make an unsuccessful funding bid under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001 will be provided with a clear explanation as to why their bid was unsuccessful.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Regulations (The Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001) provide that applicants shall be notified, in writing, of the results of their application for decommissioning grant. The intention is to advise unsuccessful applicants why their g…

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to rank the funding bids under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Applications will be considered in accordance with the arrangements set out in the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001 (SSI 2001/332) and associated scheme documentation. They will be evaluated and ranked having regard to:<P>the cost of t…

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total funding available under the Rural Stewardship Scheme is in the current financial year and what funding will be made available in 2002-03.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Rural Stewardship Scheme payments for the 2001-02 and 2002-03 financial years will be funded from modulation of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments in respect of 2001 and 2002 respectively. Since it is too early to know the total CAP payments for these …

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications (a) not exceeding #1,000, (b) over #1,000 but not exceeding #10,000, (c) over #10,000 but not exceeding #50,000, (d) over #50,000 but not exceeding #100,000 and (e) over #100,000 have been approved to date under the Rural Stewardship Scheme, broken down by each Envir…

Answer · Ross Finnie: No applications for the Rural Stewardship Scheme 2001 have yet been approved.

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, for each Environment and Rural Affairs Department office area, how many applications have been made to date under the Rural Stewardship Scheme, broken down into (a) applications not exceeding #1,000, (b) applications over #1,000 but not exceeding #10,000, (c) applications over #10,000 bu…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Details of the applications made to date under the Rural Stewardship Scheme (2001) for each area office are given in the table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Are…

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases regarding the notification of an area of land as being of Special Scientific Interest were referred by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest in each of the last five years and how many times the advisory committee found …

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has referred 21 notifications to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) since 1996. The table shows the number of cases regarding the notification of a Site of Special Scientific Interest which …

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a statutory obligation on Scottish Natural Heritage to undertake consultations with local people when proposing to designate areas of land and sea as (a) Sites of Special Scientific Interests, (b) Special Protection Areas and (c) Special Areas of Conservation.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is no statutory obligation on Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to undertake consultations with local people prior to notifying a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Similarly, there is no statutory obligation on SNH to undertake consultations with local…

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a right of appeal, or right to resubmit applications, in respect of vessels on behalf of which bids are submitted to the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: No.

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17911 by Rhona Brankin on 18 September 2001, which of the 19 projects undertaken by the Fisheries Research Services involved the use of the fisheries research vessel Scotia.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: None of the 19 projects referred to in the answer to question S1W-17911, undertaken by the Fisheries Research Services (FRS), involved the use of the fisheries research vessel <I>Scotia</I>. The costs of <I>Scotia</I> have not been, and will not be, charged t…

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the operating costs of the fisheries research vessel Scotia, operated by the Fisheries Research Services were in each of the last three years for which records are available.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Operating costs per day at sea for FRV Scotia: <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">1998-99: £5,474<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">1999-2000: £5,098<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">2000-01: £5,140

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the bodies and individuals with a statutory entitlement to object on scientific grounds to the designation of (a) Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (b) Special Protection Areas and (c) Special Areas of Conservation.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Under S.28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Scottish ministers, the local authority and every owner and occupier of property within a proposed Sites of Special Scientific Interest are entitled to be consulted and to object to notification on scientif…

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill will have a positive impact on water charges for island communities in the North of Scotland Water area, as stated in the Bill's Policy Memorandum, and what it estimates this impact will be.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The main element of the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill is the creation of Scottish Water as a single all-Scotland water and sewerage authority, with the key objective of providing services to customers across Scotland more efficiently than can be done by the …

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on the development of a specification for an independent scientific review of any link between fin fish farming and shellfish poisoning syndrome events, whether any experts have been appointed to undertake the work, and, if so, what the estimated cost and comple…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: A specification for the review has been prepared and independent experts who may be prepared to carry out the review identified. Contracts have yet to be finalised but study specifications and background reports and other materials have been sent to these exp…

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by its fundamental review of aquaculture regulation and whether it will detail the organisations carrying out the review, the bodies consulted, or to be consulted, during the progress of the review, the expected date for the completion of the review and the es…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The bodies consulted on the proposals I published on 29 June are listed in the table. My officials are currently considering their responses. I expect to receive their recommendations around the turn of the year. Work on the review is being discharged from wi…

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions relevant to the development of sustainable aquaculture in Scottish waters have been reached as a result of the work of the Continuous Plankton Recording project.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Continuous Plankton Recorder project (CPR), maintained by the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation, provides important information on the composition and abundance of algae present in the north east Atlantic. The data generated by this project are utilised as par…

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the sites included in the examination of areas of coastal waters where eutrophication is most likely, using the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Fisheries Research Services assessment tools, and what the results have been to date from each site.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is currently undertaking a review of all coastal waters around Scotland, as part of the UK's obligation to examine areas where eutrophication occurs, or may be likely to occur. This assessment is still to be completed, and so a list of …

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on, and what conclusions have been reached from, the examination of areas of coastal waters where eutrophication is most likely, using the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Fisheries Research Services' assessment tools, and when this work programme is…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The work on reviewing the eutrophication status of coastal areas of Scotland is currently in progress and proceeding to schedule. The work programme is due to be completed for reporting in the early part of 2002, and its conclusions will be available shortly …

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of, and what progress has been made to date by, the Fisheries Research Services' examination of nutrient inputs to, and effects on, Scottish waters and what the programmed completion date is for this work.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is not possible to disaggregate the cost of work on nutrient inputs and their effects from the more general environmental support provided by Fisheries Research Services (FRS). The advisory and monitoring work of FRS is generally of a long-term and strateg…

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the details and cost of each item within its programme of research and development into aquaculture.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The individual items of work commissioned by the Scottish Executive from Fisheries Research Services are as follows: <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=594><TR><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=17><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P…

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members of the Aquaculture Health Joint Working Group are, what the results of its work have been to date and when its work is programmed to be completed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Copies of the Group's first annual report, for 2000 have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 16504) and membership is set out in Appendix 5. The Group is continuing to work on the tasks outlined in the report. No date has been set fo…

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members of the Aquaculture Tripartite Working Group are, what the results of its work have been to date and when its work is programmed to be completed.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The members of the Aquaculture Tripartite Working Group are: the Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards, the Association of West Coast Fisheries Trusts, Scottish Anglers …

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's current modelling technique for assessing the benthic impact of trade effluent and therapeutants from cage fish farms has been compared in the field against actual impacts from real cages and, if so, whether it will list the sites where…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

27 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members of the Aquaculture Forum are, when it last met, what items were discussed at that meeting and what work it is currently undertaking.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The organisations represented on the Aquaculture Forum are :<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Highland Council<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Argyll &amp; Bute Council<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Shetland Islands Council<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Orkney Islands Council<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Comhairle nan Eil…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15536 by Rhona Brankin on 16 May 2001, whether it will list the fishing gear research projects commissioned, under way or completed, in each case detailing the cost, outline aims of the project and the name of the organisation carrying out the resear…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: In my answer to question S1W-15536, I referred to an additional £1 million for collaborative research which would benefit those fishermen whose vessels were used for trials as well as benefiting fishermen in the longer term.<P>A partnership board has been set…

29 Aug 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to address the cost of travel on lifeline air services between the Scottish mainland and the Northern Isles.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is committed to the maintenance of affordable links to island communities. Our subsidy to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd results in lower costs to airlines than if the full economic costs were applied.