Parliamentary questions
Rob Gibson
971 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in which ways it has encouraged the development of bilingual English and Gaelic signs where appropriate throughout Scotland, as recommended in the report on first impressions of Scotland and endorsed by the Executive in its review of that report.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is committed to a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland. In support of this the Scottish Executive has taken the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 through the Scottish Parliament and directs significant support towards Gaelic deve…
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many crofts were vacant and in what areas of the crofting counties on 1 October 2005.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: According to the Register of Crofts held by the Crofters Commission there were 100 vacant crofts at 1 October 2005 distributed as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>Area</p></td> <td> <p>Number</p></td> </tr> …
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time has been to place new tenants in vacant crofts across the crofting counties in the last year.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not held by the Crofters Commission. The time taken to place new tenants in a vacant croft can vary depending on when the commission becomes aware of the vacancy. The commission’s target time for concluding its consideration of a let of a …
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an up-to-date map of its crofting estates has been produced, showing accurately the crofts, dwellings and common grazings therein.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive does hold up-to-date maps of Scottish Ministers’ Crofting Estates which give details of croft boundaries and common grazing areas. Individual dwellings are not shown/mapped since croft houses invariably belong to the tenants.</p>
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time is to fill croft tenancies from vacated crofts on its estates.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p>The time taken to re-let crofts can vary considerably from case-to-case depending upon the circumstances.</p><p>Straightforward cases are re-let within the three month statutory period. However, there have been c…
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the longest time is that crofts have been left untenanted on its estates.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p>The time taken to re-let crofts can vary considerably from case-to-case depending upon the circumstances. There have been cases where due to legal or other complications it has taken some three to four years for …
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many crofts on its estates were without tenants on 1 October 2005.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Three crofts (including 8, 10/11 and 21/22 Syre) on Scottish Ministers Estates were un-let as at 1 October 2005.</p>
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when action was taken to remove stray and unwanted stock left by the previous tenants of crofts 8, 10/11 and 21/22 on Syre estate.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The department has been working towards obtaining vacant possession of the crofts and removal of the livestock left by the previous tenant since the Scottish Land Court orders granting removal of the tenant, were confirmed in April 2004.</p> <p>The matter has…
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any expressions of interest to the landlord from potential tenants for crofts 8, 10/11 and 21/22 on Syre estate.
Answer · Ross Finnie: One formal expression of interest in the tenancies of the crofts at 8, 10/11 and 21/22 Syre has been received.</p>
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether tenants have been identified to fill croft vacancies at crofts 8, 10/11 and 21/22 on Syre estate.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No.</p> <p>One formal expression of interest in the tenancies of the crofts at 8, 10/11 and 21/22 Syre has been received.</p>
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when crofts 8, 10/11 and 21/22 on Syre estate will be relet.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The department has been working towards obtaining vacant possession of the crofts at 8, 10/11 Syre and 21/22 Syre since the Scottish Land Court orders granting removal of the tenant were confirmed in April 2004.</p> <p>The matter has now been referred to the …
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long crofts 8, 10/11 and 21/22 on Syre estate have been vacant.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The department has been working towards obtaining vacant possession of the crofts at 8, 10/11 Syre and 21/22 Syre since the Scottish Land Court orders granting removal of the tenant were confirmed in April 2004.</p>
5 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what proposals are being considered to meet any increased demand for funding from the Scottish Land Fund and to ensure its sustainability.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Earlier this year the Big LotteryFund, in partnership with the Executive, consulted on the fund’s draft Scottishfunding framework which sets-out themes, outcomes and priorities for new initiativesfrom 2006 to 2009. Promoting community land ownership is one of…
29 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what different types and amounts of funding it provides for the support and promotion of Gaelic.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive provides revenue funding for specific Gaelic programmes. Expenditure on these programmes is set to rise by 16% next year and is shown in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td…
29 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the geographical boundaries in which area-based policies will be applied under the draft Crofting Reform Bill have been delineated.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The geographical boundariesof area-based policies have not been delineated and there are no plans to dothis. The intention is that areas to which local policies apply will be definedby crofting communities and the draft Crofting Reform Bill is worded to allow…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft Crofting Reform Bill will lead to an increase in types of crofting (a) landlord and (b) tenant.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The bill is unlikely to havean impact on the type of landlord as every type of crofting landlord is alreadyrepresented. There is likely to be an increase in the type of tenant given theprovision in the draft bill enabling the creation of new crofts. This prov…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between (a) its Environment and Rural Affairs Department and (b) the Crofters Commission and the Minister for Communities regarding the implications of the Housing (Scotland) Bill for the development of common grazings.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There have been discussionsbetween the Environment and Rural Affairs Department and the DevelopmentDepartment about provisions in the Housing (Scotland) Bill affecting landlordsof housing tenancies and whether these should apply to landlords of crofts andagri…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between (a) its Environment and Rural Affairs Department and (b) the Crofters Commission and the Minister for Communities regarding the implications of the proposed Planning Bill for the development of common grazings.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: No formal discussions have takenplace as of yet, however, I am due to meet with Malcolm Chisholm to discuss theseissues on 19 October.</p>
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases handled by the Crofters Commission are disputed by crofters and have been submitted for consideration by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Since the creation of the ScottishPublic Services Ombudsman in September 2002, five cases handled by the CroftersCommission have been submitted for consideration by the Ombudsman. Three of thesecases were closed by the Ombudsman after preliminary investigatio…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the extent of area-based policies, as provided for in the Draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill, has been determined.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is scope for developingarea based policies in all parts of the crofting counties. It is intended that areabased policies should be developed for discrete and identifiable geographic areas.The size of the area within which a particular set of area polici…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory functions the Crofters Commission would have in respect of proposals to develop area-based policies, as provided for in the draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The intention is that the billwill empower the Crofters Commission to develop, in conjunction with crofting communitiesin different areas, policies to suit local circumstances in these areas and alsoempower it to apply these policies when making regulatory de…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role is of assessors appointed by the board of the Crofters Commission.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Area Assessors act as a valuableresource of information to both the Crofters Commission and their local communities.Assessors are appointed to provide advice to the commission on policy development,local issues, assisting in the assessment of demand for croft…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to base Crofters Commission staff in crofting areas other than Inverness.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Although the staff of the CroftersCommission are based mainly in Inverness, there are several staff based in outlying areas of theCrofting Counties. Many of the day‑to-day functions of the Crofters Commissionare carried out on behalf of the commission b…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the current workload of staff in the Crofters Commission and its Environment and Rural Affairs Department, it has any plans to increase or decrease staffing complements.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There are no plans atpresent to make any significant changes to the current staffing complement inthe Crofters Commission. However, it is the responsibility of the seniormanagement of the commission to monitor resources - including staffing - toensure that th…
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14661 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 March 2005, what action it will take on leases or any other legal devices which might be thought to impede crofting community bodies in exercising their right to buy under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have not yet reached a decisionon what action will be taken. My officials are currently advising me as to the optionsavailable to me. I hope to reach a decision shortly.</p>
28 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14661 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 March 2005, what evidence has been obtained from the Draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill consultation on the impact of interposed leases.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The evidence we have receivedis contained in the responses to the consultation. These are available on the websiteat <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/09/08115214">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/09/08115214</a>.</p>
28 Sep 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of any shortfall in numbers of qualified Gaelic teachers to meet the current demand.
Answer · Peter Peacock: In 2005-06, there were fivesecondary probationers available to fill three places in Gaelic mediumsecondary education offered by local authorities. In primary education, 16probationers were available to fill 19 places.</p>
19 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any distinction is made in relevant oral or written answers to parliamentary questions between written and emailed submissions to consultations.
Answer · Margaret Curran: No distinction is made. In practice, we view any e-mailed submission as “written” so long as it is transmitted in a legible form.</p>
5 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the lifespan is of avian influenza vaccine to be stockpiled in Scotland.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18941 on 14 September 2005. 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/web…
5 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the quantity of avian influenza vaccine to be stockpiled in Scotland is sufficient to protect the whole population and, if not, when sufficient quantities will be stockpiled.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18941 on 14 September 2005. 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/web…