Questions · Liam McArthur

14 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers and crofters entered into Scottish Natural Heritage land management agreements which required them to reduce their livestock numbers and, of these, which were in operation for all, or part of, the 2000-02 single farm payment reference period, broken down by SGRPID area of…

Answer · Michael Russell: The number of farmers and crofters who had Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) land management agreements requiring a reduction in livestock numbers over the single farm payment (SFP) reference period of 2000-02 is shown in the first column of the following table…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has noted the results of Fife Council’s Migrant Workers Survey; whether it will support a similar study on a national level, and how it would deliver such a study.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government intends commissioning some research shortly to review and analyse data and evidence relating to migration which exists at both a national and local level to see what it can tell us about migration and its impact, and to identify inform…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support or encourage the development of new training courses for people wishing to set up small craft businesses, such as those producing jewellery, ceramics, furniture, textiles and glass.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government will continue to support the work of Skillsfast-UK, the sector skills council for the craft sector, in encouraging employers to utilise the business start-up training and training in business skills delivered by the business gatewa…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any assessment of the availability of training courses for people wishing to set up small craft businesses, such as those producing jewellery, ceramics, furniture, textiles and glass, and what the conclusion was of any such assessment.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Skillsfast-UK, the sector skills council for the craft sector, in partnership with the Scottish Government, has carried out research in the craft sector with a focus on the Highlands and Islands. Part of this research looked at the business start-up training …

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is for the support and development of small craft businesses, such as those producing jewellery, ceramics, furniture, textiles and glass.

Answer · Jim Mather: The creative industries are identified as a key sector of the economy in the Government Economic Strategy, and the Scottish Government wishes to strengthen Scotland''s reputation as a source of contemporary crafts of the highest quality. Advice and support to…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role VisitScotland is envisaged to have in maximising the benefits to the Scottish venues included in the London 2012 Olympic Games training camp guide.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10759 on 14 March 2008. 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/webapp…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to ensure that Scottish venues included in the London 2012 Olympic Games training camp guide are able to maximise the opportunities that this presents.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We will be discussing very soon with sportscotland, and other relevant bodies such as VisitScotland and EventScotland, on how and when we can best engage with representatives from these venues to ensure they maximise the opportunities that being included in t…

5 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it sought advice on the legality of its decision to favour a select group of islands when introducing Road equivalent tariff fares on ferry routes and what the terms were of any such advice sought on the matter.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has significant legal advice at its disposal. The Scottish Government does not normally publish the legal advice which it receives.

29 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for its proposed charging system for cars on ferries to the Western Isles, which is to be based on the road equivalent tariff and which involves basing ferry fares on the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road, but which would charge cars £5.60 to travel on…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: To establish an appropriate rate for cars the consultants for the road equivalent tariff (RET) study considered Her Majesty''s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the AA and RAC current figures on the cost of car travel. The current HMRC rates for car travel have …

29 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for its proposed charging system for commercial vehicles on ferries to the Western Isles, which is to be based on the road equivalent tariff and which involves basing ferry fares on the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road, but which would charge 10-metre…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: To establish a fair rate for commercial vehicles the consultants for the road equivalent tariff (RET) study considered Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association rates. The suggested rate reflects a cost of £1.80 per mile for a 10-metre ve…

29 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for its proposed charging system for pedestrians on ferries to the Western Isles, which is to be based on the road equivalent tariff and which involves basing ferry fares on the cost of travelling an equivalent distance by road, but which would charge passengers £2.10…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: To establish a rate for passengers the consultants for the road equivalent tariff (RET) study considered passenger fares on comparable bus and train journeys in Scotland. In addition, they considered worldwide experience of RET. In provinces in Canada where R…

29 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of its proposed road equivalent tariff fares on (a) ferries to the Western Isles and (b) the economies of each of the Scottish Islands served by ferries which will not to see a cut in their fares from October 2008 to spring 2011, and what the resu…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The examination and assessment of the impact of introduction of the road equivalent tariff approach is the principal reason why we are carrying out a pilot. While the desk-based study has been very informative only a live pilot can determine what the impact o…

29 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether fares for cars, passengers and 10-metre long commercial vehicles on each of the ferry services running to or within Orkney would increase or decrease and, if so, by how much if the fares were set using the road equivalent tariff fares proposed for ferries to the Western Isles from…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10569 on 13 March 2008. 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/webapp…

28 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether fares for cars, passengers and 10-metre long commercial vehicles on each of the ferry services operated by Calmac Ferries Ltd and not included in the road equivalent tariff pilot would increase or decrease and, if so, by how much, if the fares were set using the road equivalent ta…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The consultants are currently finalising the first phase of the study into road equivalent tariff (RET). The report will include details of current fares and potential RET fares for all ferry services subsidised by the Scottish Government. As a gener…

27 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received from Scottish Natural Heritage and other statutory advisers on the risks and benefits of undertaking a pilot translocation scheme to remove sparrowhawks from the vicinity of pigeon lofts and whether it will publish any such advice.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage have been involved in discussions about this research project and their comments are reflected in the Project Protocol. The Project Protocol has been made available to RSPB and the Raptor Study Groups and will be available on the Sco…

27 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering introducing a pilot translocation scheme to remove sparrowhawks from the vicinity of pigeon lofts and, if so, who will carry out the work, whether they will be approved to ring birds and whether live birds will be used in order to attract the sparrowhawks.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is agreeable in principle to the issue of licences for a limited translocation research project. The purpose of the project is to assess whether trapping and relocation of sparrowhawks is a satisfactory solution to the problem of sparr…

27 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from (a) MSPs, (b) pigeon owners and (c) other interested parties in relation to undertaking a pilot translocation scheme for removing sparrowhawks from the vicinity of pigeon lofts.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has received representations in favour of a sparrowhawk translocation scheme from Alex Neil MSP and from the Scottish Homing Union. We have discussed the scheme with the RSPB, the Scottish Raptor Study Groups and the Scottish Society f…

20 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to ensure that any barriers to the development of anaerobic digestion projects are identified so that plans can be made to overcome them.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is keen to encourage the development of anaerobic digestion projects in Scotland. Any barriers would vary depending in particular on the size and location of the plant and the nature of the feedstock. However, anaerobic digestion is on…

20 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to match the plans of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministers who, as part of their Water Strategy, will convene a high-level meeting of stakeholders from all the relevant sectors to discuss how to make best use of anaerobic digestion to contribute …

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are no current plans to do so in relation to Defra''s Water Strategy. However, the Scottish government is keen to encourage the development of anaerobic digestion projects in Scotland. I would refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1045…