Parliamentary questions
John Scott
560 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to pursue a disease control levy on farmers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has noimmediate plans to pursue a disease control levy. There are wider discussions currentlyon-going at the European and UK levels on the wider responsibility and cost sharingagenda between government and industry and the Scottish Gov…
26 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S30-1301 by John Swinney on 22 November 2007, whether the cross-sector policy forum is considering the role that might be played by social enterprises in the public sector procurement process and what specific steps are being considered to help ensure su…
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that social enterprises have a part to play in public procurement and considerable guidance is already available to assist and support them. The establishment of the cross-sector procurement policy forum will enable best pract…
26 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S30-1301 by John Swinney on 22 November 2007, whether it supports the principle of setting a target for the award of public sector contracts to small and medium-sized businesses and, if so, what it considers to be a suitable target and when such a target…
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Governmentis committed to improving access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) topublic contract opportunities. Work is underway to establish the volume of publicprocurement already placed with SMEs and consideration will be given to ta…
14 Nov 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on its review of public sector procurement policy.
Answer · John Swinney: Procurement policyis being addressed as part of the wider procurement reform programme and a cross-sectorpolicy forum has been established to support the development of general procurementpolicy and guidance. In relation to policy on food procurement, and fol…
6 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the export market would still be available to Scottish livestock producers in the event of a significant outbreak of bluetongue in Great Britain.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Live exports wouldbe banned from any area covered by a bluetongue restriction zone. However, the exportof meat and meat products from these areas to the rest of the European Union wouldcontinue to be permitted. Export to 3rd countries are also permitted subje…
6 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect a significant outbreak of bluetongue in Great Britain would have on sales of lamb from Scotland to (a) home and (b) export markets.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The impact of thedisease on sales would depend on various factors including the extent to which productionwas disrupted and the timing of the outbreak. The export of meat and meat productsis not affected by bluetongue.</p><p>The Scottish Governmenthas commiss…
2 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the tender for bluetongue vaccines recently announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will include vaccines for Scotland and, if not, whether it has any plans to provide such vaccines for Scottish livestock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Bluetongue vaccinefor the strain of virus currently circulating in England and parts of mainland Europe is currently under development and it is hopedthat it will be available by mid-2008. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs tender was very…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what means to eradicate bluetongue would be put in place if the disease reaches Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The plan for respondingto bluetongue within the UK, including within Scotland, is outlined in the document “UK Bluetongue Control Strategy”,which was published in early August and is available on the Scottish Governmentand Defra websites. This strategy, on wh…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether bluetongue has reached Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: No. The disease iscurrently present in Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and England.</p>
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce the possibility of bluetongue reaching Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are three routesby which bluetongue could potentially enter Scotland: importation of infected animals, windborne spread of infected midges andmovement of infected animals from affected parts of Great Britain.</p><p>Currently only importsfrom the non-inf…
5 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that a 0% set-aside rate will not have negative impact on the corn bunting which is a high-priority Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and a red-listed species of conservation concern.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The EuropeanCommission has not yet taken a decision on the proposal to reduce thecompulsory set-aside rate from 10% to zero for 2008. However, at present, landmanagers will be able to receive support to carry out a number ofagri-environment options in the Sco…
5 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will put in place to retain the environmental benefits of set-aside if the rate is set at 0%.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The EuropeanCommission has not yet taken a decision on the proposal to reduce thecompulsory set-aside rate from 10% to zero for 2008. We are, however, currentlyconsidering the possible need for measures to mitigate any loss of environmentalbenefits which migh…
5 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the environmental impact of setting a set-aside rate of 0%.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The EuropeanCommission has not yet taken a decision on the proposal to reduce thecompulsory set-aside rate from 10% to zero for 2008. Representations have,however, been received from Scottish environmental organisations, who areconcerned about the possible lo…
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce or abolish set-aside land and, if so, what the timetable is for such action.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The European Commissionerfor Agriculture has announced an intention to reduce the compulsory set-aside ratefrom 10% to zero for 2008. This is in response to the current market situation ofhigh cereal prices and low world stocks, and follows a request from Eur…
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the ongoing delay in securing European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme and the resulting lack of access by applicants to rural development schemes, whether the Executive will confirm that all receipts from modulation of single farm payments in …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under Europeanrules, receipts modulated in one year from the single payment scheme are madeavailable for use on rural development measures in the subsequent year. Therefore,modulation receipts generated in 2007 will be available to fund rural developmentmeasu…
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total receipts from national and EU compulsory modulation will be in 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: National(voluntary) and EU compulsory modulation in 2007 will generate total receiptsof approximately £33.7 million for Scotland. This estimateis based on an exchange rate of €1=£0.685 which may differ from the rate at 30 September 2007 which will be used to …
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the delay in securing European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme, whether the Executive can confirm that Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme payments for 2007 will be issued to farmers before the end of the year, if necessary as “at risk” payments…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are currently consideringcontingency plans should approval of the Scotland Rural Development Programme bedelayed. It remains our intention to make Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme paymentsfor 2007 at around the end of the year.</p>
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for European Commission approval of the Scottish Rural Development Programme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was officiallysubmitted to the European Commission during week ending 22 June 2007. The programme has been deemed by the Commission as “admissible”and therefore the Commission now has six months from 22 June …
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) supermarkets and (b) the European Union about the equivalence of production standards for beef within and outwith the EU.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: No such discussionshave taken place yet but I shall be writing to the EU Commission about this matterin due course.</p>
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that importing beef from South America increases the risk of foot and mouth disease occurring in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-934 on 25 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to raise the issues of traceability and method of production of imported beef with the European Union in the near future.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I have discussed thiswith the other UK agriculture ministers and the UK will be making representations to the EU Commission aboutthese matters in relation to Brazilian beef production. I shall also be writingto the Commission.</p>
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether similar traceability and welfare standards are in place for beef and lamb imported from outside the EU as are required of Scottish, UK and EU farmers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Third Countries exportingbeef and lamb into the EU are required to meet the equivalent traceability and welfarestandards which apply to EU member states. The EU Food and Veterinary Office isresponsible for inspecting these standards.</p>
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the risk of importing foot and mouth disease from South America.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In accordance withEU rules beef imported from third countries, including those in South America, must be deboned and matured. Meat originating fromfoot-and-mouth disease affected areas is not permitted to be exported to the EU.All animal products entering the…
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that imported beef is free of hormones.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The EU does not permit importsof beef from countries permitting the use of hormones. Random testing for hormonesis undertaken at Border Inspection Posts when animal products are imported intothe EU. The Food Standards Agency also undertakes monitoring at poin…
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure the full traceability of beef imports.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: All imports of beeffrom third countries must enter the EU through border inspection ports where documentaryand identity checks are undertaken. Imports from Third Countries are a matter forthe EU Commission. I have discussed this with the other UK agriculture …
8 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a dedicated fund to refurbish or modernise village halls and other community buildings.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scotland RuralDevelopment Programme will open up new opportunities for rural communities. It hasbeen designed to enable support to be offered for the provision of leisure, recreation,sporting, catering, and other rural community services and facilities, i…
21 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the issue of English-registered vessels landing mature spurdog in Scottish waters, in light of the recommendation by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that a maximum landing size be introduced for this species and the most recent advice…
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the questionS2W-30036 answered on 5 December 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…
21 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a maximum landing size for spurdog.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the questionS2W-30036 answered on 5 December 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can befound at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
21 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consultation paper, Conservation of skates, rays and spurdog, which outlines DEFRA’s intention to propose that a maximum landing size be set for spurdog and, if such a proposal is adopted, whether such …
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive isaware of concerns regarding spurdog, skates and rays and officials have beenconsidering the issues, including the possibility of a minimum landing size,together will colleagues in Defra. The matter is being taken forward on a UK basis…
6 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in clarifying guidance for allied health professionals regulated by the Health Professions Council in respect of the provision of acupuncture treatment to patients in any location.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Health Protection Scotland(HPS) is setting up a working group which will include representation from the Executive and the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS). Thepurpose of this group will be to develop additional guidance for localautho…