Parliamentary questions

Liam McArthur

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

19 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the review of the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The review panel has met with representatives of the agricultural industry in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as well as a number of representatives from European farming unions. It also held discussions with Scottish Go…

19 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its renewable energy strategy.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government will set out its plans for the development and deployment of renewables in Scotland in our Renewable Energy Framework consultation in the very near future.

12 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to make a decision in relation to the proposed wind farm development at Merranblo, Stromness, Orkney.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is anticipated, at this stage, that the report will be submitted by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) in the first week in October. Scottish Planning Policy 1: The planning system seeks to ensure that 80% of all applic…

12 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a report from the inquiry reporter following the public local inquiry into the proposed wind farm development at Merranblo, Stromness, Orkney.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is anticipated, at this stage, that the report will be submitted by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals in the first week in October.

10 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that farm inspection officials adopt a light touch approach in respect of cross-compliance measures where recent bad weather conditions have impacted on landscape management.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not have to alter current policy, in light of the recent bad weather conditions because the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) measures for Scotland were drawn up to reflect Scottish conditions and the country''s…

10 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to minimise any cost and inconvenience to farmers affected by the new nitrate vulnerable zone regulations.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Several actions are being taken to assist farmers who may be affected by the revised Nitrate Vulnerable Zone Action Programme. In particular, they may be eligible for funding from the Scotland Rural Development Programme towards the costs of manure and slurry…

10 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when farmers can expect to receive guidance on the new nitrate vulnerable zone regulations before they come into force in January 2009.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the first half of December. NFU Scotland and the Scottish Agricultural College have agreed to conduct test runs with selected farmers before the revised guidance is published. It is planned that the guidance will be put on the Scottish Government website i…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on woodland creation in each of the last five years and how much is planned to be spent in each of the next five years.

Answer · Michael Russell: Details of expenditure on woodland creation in the past five years and planned expenditure in the next five years are listed in the following tables. Details of Expenditure: Past Five Years <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards the target of planting around 9,000 to 10,000 hectares of new forests and woodlands annually.

Answer · Michael Russell: Earlier this year, Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) indicated in its Scottish Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan that a sustained programme of around 10,000 hectares of new planting would be required each year to achieve the strategy aspiration of 25% wo…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the total funds held under the Land Managers Options mechanism has been allocated.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Funds are not allocated specifically to Land Managers Options (LMOs) and spend will be dependent on uptake. Land Managers Options is one of a number of delivery mechanisms in the Scotland Rural Development Programme and is non-competitive. However, spending a…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of Scottish farms receive allowances through the Land Managers Options mechanism.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Any farmer or land manager with land in Scotland may choose to apply under Land Managers Options (LMOs) provided they also submit a single application form (SAF). Together with any existing ongoing five year commitments under land management contracts menu sc…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the Land Managers Options mechanism have been received and how many have been (a) approved and (b) rejected, broken down by (i) option and (ii) size of allowance allocated, also showing percentages.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Three-thousand, nine hundred and seventy applications to the Land Managers Options (LMOs) mechanism have been received. The breakdown by number and value and percentage of total by option is as follows. (Please note that the total by option exceeds the total …

5 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with the UK Government on the moratorium on fish quota transfers between Scotland and England since its imposition in May 2008.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have maintained regular dialogue with other fisheries administrations on this and other fisheries management issues.

5 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its intentions for the future of the moratorium on fish quota transfers between Scotland and England.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The moratorium was put in place to preserve Scottish fishing rights whilst work continues to deliver distinct quota management and licensing arrangements in Scotland. The moratorium has been kept under continual review during the on-going process of consultat…

5 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the moratorium on fish quota transfers between Scotland and England since its imposition in May 2008.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Where we have been asked to consider fish quota transfers outwith Scotland in exceptional circumstances, and where, on the basis of information supplied, we have concluded that there are indeed exceptional circumstances, we have allowed such transfers to take…

5 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisation and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the future of quota management and licensing.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The deadline for written responses to our consultation was 21 August and an initial assessment indicates that our proposals have been widely welcomed. Responses have been received from the NFFO and SFF and these are now being considered carefully alo…

5 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted fishing federations on whether they would prefer to continue with a modernised UK quota management system or move to a Scottish system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Our proposals, which were widely welcomed, give effect to the devolution of fisheries management in the Scotland Act 1998. The principle of having a separate quota management and licensing system for Scotland is recognised in statute and we have simply consul…

5 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with fishing organisations regarding the moratorium on fish quota transfers between Scotland and England.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As part of the consultation on Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota management and Licensing in Scotland, my officials conducted 25 meetings around the coast of Scotland, attended by over 350 stakeholders. The current restrict…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the accreditation process for installers under the Scottish Community and Household Renewable Initiative and whether it considers that the process could be streamlined by, for example, a reduction in the frequency with which installers are required to reap…

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government supports accreditation of microgeneration installers as this provides industry with robust standards and ensures consumer confidence. Therefore a current condition of domestic grants under the Scottish Community and Householde…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many installers were accredited under the Scottish Community and Household Renewable Initiative in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative relies on the accreditation undertaken under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), which is owned by the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). The S…

2 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all air ambulance flights undertaken by coastguard or military helicopters involving patients picked up in Orkney, also detailing the (a) helicopter used, (b) patient pick-up point, (c) flight destination and (d) reason for not using a Scottish Air Ambulance Service c…

Answer · Shona Robison: There have been four occasions where the Scottish Ambulance Service has utilised either the Ministry of Defence or the Coastguard to transport patients in lieu of using a Scottish Ambulance Service resource. This compares to the same number in the same period…