Parliamentary questions

Liam McArthur

3,663 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those public authorities to which section 72 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill will apply.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31225 on 10 February 2010. 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/App…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those public authorities that will be required to comply with the requirements of section 71 of the Marine (Scotland) Bill by virtue of section 71(1) of that Bill.

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those public authorities that will be subject to the duty in section 11(1) of the Marine (Scotland) Bill to take authorisation or enforcement decisions in accordance with the appropriate marine plans unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government cannot say definitively which authorities will be covered but does not think that there will be many cases where there will be any real doubt as to whether an authority is covered or not.

12 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated proportion of households defaulted on energy bill payments in the last 12 months.

Answer · Alex Neil: Information on the proportion of households who defaulted on energy bill payments in the last 12 months is not held centrally.

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to farmers who believe that they may have been disproportionately penalised under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Land managers who are penalised under cross-compliance can submit an appeal under the new EU Rural Payments Appeal Procedure which was launched on the 20 November 2009.

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is undertaking to examine the fairness and proportionality of fines imposed under the Single Farm Payment Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are looking at the detailed results of European Commission audits across the rest of Europe and speaking to other member states who have been audited to confirm the position in their countries.

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that penalties imposed under the Single Farm Payment Scheme are fair and proportionate.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: All cross-compliance inspections are carried out according to clearly laid down procedures across Scotland and the results and any penalties that are applied are monitored on a national basis.

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects to meet European Commission officials to discuss the single farm payment penalty system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No meetings are scheduled at present as the new commission has yet to be agreed and finalised by the European Parliament.

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with European Commission officials regarding the single farm payment penalty system since May 2007.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Officials from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland met with Commission officials in February 2009 to discuss proposals to revise the Cross Compliance payment reduction systems as a result of the 2008 audits in England and Wales. The Commission made …

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects to meet stakeholders to discuss the single farm payment penalty system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have regular meetings with stakeholders and these matters will be discussed if appropriate. Although no meetings are scheduled at present to discuss this specific topic, we expect this to be raised at forthcoming meetings.

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the single farm payment penalty system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Stakeholders were alerted to the review of payment reduction levels in January 2009, following the audits in England and Wales in 2008. We had meetings with them and kept in touch as the review progressed. The revised cross-compliance payment reduction system…

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the fairness and proportionality of the single farm payment penalty system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The rules for CAP payment reductions under cross-compliance are laid down in European legislation. In general breaches of cross-compliance should result in a reduction of 3% being applied to a beneficiaries payments for one year under the Single Farm Payment …

23 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to revise the definition of the protected geographical indication status for Scottish farmed salmon.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30297 on 26 January 2010 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/Apps2…

23 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it received during 2009 asking it to revise the definition of the protected geographical indication status for Scottish farmed salmon; who made the representations, and what changes they were seeking.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have received an application to amend the Scottish Farmed Salmon PGI from the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation. Once this application is finalised the Scottish Government will issue it for public consultation.