Murdo Fraser

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the expression "inland waters" is to have the same meaning in Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill as it does in part 1 of the bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The definition of "inland waters" in part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill does not apply to part 3.

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it considers it necessary to include salmon fishings within the provisions of compulsory purchase in Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill when it believes that the provisions will rarely be exercised in relation to salmon fishings.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We believe that there are advantages to be derived from being able to manage all land-based activities on a property in a holistic fashion. We consider that crofting communities should have that opportunity if they want it. The very existence of this right to…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Minister for Justice considered that the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was within the legislative competence of the Parliament, and therefore compatible with European convention on human rights (ECHR), given that part 3 of the bill includes provisions to expropriate compulsorily sal…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has been aware from the outset that many of the provisions in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill would require to be carefully formulated to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. Ministers consider that the provisions in the…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why communities should be given the opportunity under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill to purchase part of a salmon fishing compulsorily so that it may be utilised in a holistic fashion with croft land if this were to cause severance of the ownership and management of the salmon …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The crofting community right to buy is intended to support the sustainable development of fragile crofting communities and has been created because we believe this is the only way to ensure the future of some communities. It is a means of removing a land base…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it plans to prevent owners of salmon fishings from avoiding compulsory purchase of their salmon fishings under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill by the creation of tenancies, time shares or syndication arrangements.

Answer · Ross Finnie: None. Such arrangements may enable those who currently control and manage the fishings to continue to do so. The crofting community may still be able to purchase the salmon fishings and if they do so may benefit as owners from any revenues to be derived in th…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which provision in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill leaves tenancies, time shares and syndication arrangements of salmon fishings unaffected by the exercise of the provisions to acquire salmon fishings compulsorily in Part 3 of the Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The right to buy extends only to land which consists of salmon fishings as defined in section 65(2)(d). Where existing arrangements such as leases, timeshare or syndications are binding on the present owner, these arrangements will be binding on the new owner…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a crofting community will be required to show how it will fund its management, as well as its purchase, of a salmon fishing before it is permitted to acquire compulsorily a salmon fishing under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As with any other crofting community right to buy application, an application for a right to buy salmon fishings would be required to include the information specified in section 70(5)(e), (f) and (g) of the bill and to succeed such an application must also m…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure investor confidence in salmon fishings in the light of any concerns expressed in response to the proposals for the compulsory purchase of salmon fishings contained in Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: If there has been any damage done to the confidence of prospective investors in salmon fishings it has been done by those people who have, in contesting our proposals, sought to suggest that there will be massive adverse effects on the quality of the fishing …

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken or commissioned any research into the likely effect on salmon fishings of the existence of the provisions to acquire salmon fishings compulsorily in Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and, if so, whether it will publish this research.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No such research has been undertaken or commissioned by the Scottish Executive nor do we believe such research is needed. We are satisfied that any temporary uncertainties created by those who oppose the legislation will be resolved once the legislation is en…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive approximately how often it anticipates the provisions of compulsory purchase contained in Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will be exercised in relation to salmon fishings within the first ten years of enactment of the bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is not a right which we would expect crofting communities to attempt to exercise frequently, but it will be there if they want it. It will also help to ensure that in future all landowners in the Highlands and Islands have a proper regard for the interes…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken or commissioned any research into which salmon fishings in inland waters within or contiguous to croft land are being managed in a manner which is incompatible with sustainable rural development.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There has been no such research undertaken or commissioned by the Scottish Executive.

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the word "contiguous" in section 65(2)(d) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill is to be construed where part of the length of a salmon river abuts croft land at one of its banks.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The meaning of "contiguous" is clear and unambiguous. It means "touching" or "sharing a border with". In the context of the bill contiguous salmon fishings must abut the croft land and they will only be eligible croft land insofa…

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which salmon fishings in Scotland are "eligible croft land" within the meaning of the expression in section 67(4)(b) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Salmon fishings which are "eligible croft land" for the purposes of section 67(4)(b) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill are those defined as such by section 65(2)(d) of that bill.

22 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has defined the expression "public interest" in section 71(2) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill to include any sector of the public, however small.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This provision is to protect the interests of small groups of people whose activities and property would be affected by an application but who are not necessarily a party to the application. For example, it would protect the interests of an individual croftin…

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to provide training for health care staff working in the health service to enable them to identify alcohol-related problems in women.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22209 on 6 February 2002.

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in developing gender-sensitive approaches to the needs of women with alcohol problems.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive's <I>Plan for Action on alcohol problems</I> which was published on 18 January 2002, sets out that alcohol problems services should be sensitive to the needs of particular groups, including women. The Executive has recently consulted on a framew…

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to voluntary groups who provide support and treatment to people with alcohol problems.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive provides core funding of £175,000 for Alcohol Focus Scotland, Scotland's national voluntary organisation on alcohol. Funding for local groups who provide support and treatment services for people with alcohol problems is provided by lo…

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the development of alcohol services in rural and semi-rural areas.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive's <I>Plan for Action on alcohol problems</I>, which was published on 18 January, acknowledges that there are gaps in current alcohol support and treatment services across Scotland. It requires Alcohol Action Teams to assess local needs and devel…

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol-related deaths there have been in each of the last three years, broken down by gender.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: There is no universally accepted definition of an alcohol-related death. The information given in the following table relates to deaths certified as due to alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic cardiomyopathy and mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol.<…

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many women have been admitted to psychiatric hospitals and units for (a) alcoholic psychosis, (b) alcoholic dependence syndrome and (c) non-dependent abuse of alcohol in the last year.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Information on the number of women admitted to psychiatric hospitals and units for alcoholic psychosis, alcoholic dependence syndrome and non-dependent abuse of alcohol in the last year is given below.<P>Women Admitted to Mental Illness Hospitals and Psychiat…

25 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the cost of introducing a Gaelic Language Bill similar to the Welsh Language Act 1993.

Answer · Mike Watson: The cost would depend on how the provisions in it were to be implemented.

19 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the tourist industry about the impact of the small business rates relief scheme.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There was wide consultation with all sections of business before the scheme was announced. VisitScotland and the Scottish Tourism Forum have been consulted throughout the implementation phase.

18 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of any concerns of heritage and tourist railway companies about the costs of promoting private bills, the Light Railways Act 1896 and the Light Railways Act 1912 will remain in force following introduction of the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 199…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Light Railways Acts of 1896 and 1912 will remain in force following introduction of the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 on the promotion and construction of railways which start and end and are wholly within Scotland. Order-maki…

18 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what transitional arrangements will be made for any (a) draft provisional orders to authorise railways under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936 and (b) orders under the Light Railways Act 1896 and Light Railways Act 1912 that have been applied for and are outstanding o…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No such transitional arrangements are currently being made. There are no current or outstanding applications, and none are anticipated before the Order in Council, under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998, on the promotion and construction of railways comes …

18 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21311 by Lewis MacDonald on 16 January 2002, whether it no longer anticipates that the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 to provide legislative competence to the Scottish Parliament in respect of the promotion and constructio…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I currently expect that the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998, to provide legislative competence to the Scottish Parliament in respect of the promotion and construction of railways which start and end and are wholly within Scotland, w…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding announced in June 2000 for the prevention of youth crime has been allocated to tackling youth crime in rural areas.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A total of £25.5 million over four years has been allocated to tackle youth offending.<B> </B>The following table shows the allocation by local authority: <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Authority</TD><T…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the #21.75 million available from the New Opportunities Fund to promote the role of sport in diverting young people from offending will be allocated to projects in rural areas.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Every local authority in Scotland has been given a provisional allocation of funding to support activities, designed to promote the role of sport in diverting children and young people from crime or behaviour likely to lead to this type of activity.<P>The pro…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in developing closer links between the youth justice system and agencies dealing with children and young people who are at risk of offending.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: All authorities have multi-agency youth justice teams in place. The Executive is completing a mapping exercise of all local authorities to measure their progress in working with children and young people who offend or are at risk of offending. The results wil…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of young people referred to Children's Panels live in rural areas.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Statistics relating to the children's hearings system are an operational matter for the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration. National statistics are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18780).

6 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in rural areas in implementing its Action Programme to reduce youth crime.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: All authorities have received help to establish multi-agency teams to develop programmes aimed at reducing youth crime. The Executive is completing a mapping exercise of all local authorities to measure progress. The results will be available in the Parliamen…