Parliamentary questions

Liam McArthur

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

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider reviewing which tourism services are funded by local authorities and which are centrally funded through VisitScotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: We are determinedto do all we can to increase the effectiveness of Scotland’s tourism effort. To do that, we will consider all aspects of Scotland’stourism industry, including funding for tourism services.

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform the structure of the tourism network.

Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotland isalready a high performing organisation which has demonstrated that it can makea very effective contribution to the growth of Scottish tourism. Nevertheless,I am determined to ensure that the structures we have in place to supportScottish touri…

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential for spreading the benefits of tourism more widely within Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: There is real potentialfor tourism benefits to be spread across Scotland, and indeed this has already started happening. Many visitors come to Scotland for a city break, so VisitScotland promotes all of Scotland’s cities rather than just the traditional touri…

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the tourism sector develops in a sustainable way.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scotland’s tourism strategy – the Tourism Frameworkfor Change – sets out an action plan for growing Scotland’s tourism revenues in a sustainable way, and this government is committedto working with the industry to ensure that this is delivered. A Sustainable …

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the key areas of growth for the tourism sector in the next 10 years.

Answer · Jim Mather: The key areas forgrowth in the tourism sector are greater productivity and increased investment forexpansion. As with most business models, a number of different drivers are requiredto influence that growth. These include: better capacity utilisation; greater…

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider undertaking independent research into the benefits of, and options for, a decentralised system of energy generation.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Governmentis currently considering conducting studies into the feasibility, costs and benefitsof implementing combined heat and power (CHP) systems in parts of Scotland.

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the benefits of a decentralised system of energy generation.

Answer · Jim Mather: Various studies fromthe Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Greenpeace and the World Alliance forDecentralised Energy (WADE) have assessed the feasibility, cost and benefits ofdecentralised energy systems. These studies suggest that local generation of el…

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it is taking to support the development of more affordable housing in (a) rural areas and (b) Orkney.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-1172 on 28 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its approach is to supporting the development of more affordable housing in (a) rural areas and (b) Orkney.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis currently assessing a broad range of housing issues across the country and recognisesthe acute shortage of affordable homes whether in urban, rural or island communities.Our approach includes improving the supply and affordability of…

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in respect of the Bus Route Development scheme.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are currently reviewingScottish government funding for the bus industry, including the Bus Route DevelopmentGrant scheme, with bus operators and transport authorities to ensure that it isdirected at improving the quality and reliability of services and at …

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to local authorities for the (a) training of primary school teachers to teach modern languages and (b) teaching of modern languages in primary schools in each year since 1990.

Answer · Maureen Watt: In January 1993, ministersannounced that all Scottish primary schools should offer teaching in a modernEuropean language. To facilitate this a national modern languages in theprimary school (MLPS) training programme was set up to train primary languagesteache…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to local authorities for the promotion and advancement of modern language teaching in secondary schools since the publication of Citizens of a Multilingual World – A Guide for Secondary School Pupils in March 2002.

Answer · Maureen Watt: In 2001 thegovernment set up the languages fund to support language learning and teachingin both primary and secondary schools, and in particular to support theimplementation of the recommendations made in the report Citizens of aMultilingual World. It…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the decision to retain full accident and emergency services at Monklands and Ayr hospitals will have on the (a) current and (b) future budget resources available to NHS Orkney.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: None.

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has with regard to the transportation of livestock to and from the North Isles and the mainland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answers to questions S3W-628, S3W-633 and S3W-634 on 19 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:<ahref="http://www.scotti…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of the introduction of the new cassette system for transporting livestock to and from the North Isles will be on the cost of such transport.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Freight and livestocktariffs are charged on the basis of the lane meterage used per journey and the agreementbetween Scottish ministers and NorthLink Ferries Ltd provides for annual index linkedincreases to those tariffs. The charge per head of livestock ship…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new cassette system for transporting livestock to and from the North Isles will be introduced.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I can confirm thatfurther development work on the new livestock containers continues and is beingtaken forward by NorthLink Ferries Ltd in conjunction with industry representativesand animal welfare authorities. NorthLink expects to have new prototypes availa…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the (a) UK Government and (b) European Commission on designating islands as particularly fragile under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-629 on 14 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) European Commission about the future of the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Executive officialsare participating in discussions between UK Government and European Commissionofficials about future designation of Less Favoured Areas within the EuropeanUnion. In addition, the Scottish Executive has been discussing the interimSc…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the designation of islands as particularly fragile under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answerto 3W-629 on 14 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search">http:…

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the designation of islands as particularly fragile under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: All Scottish Islands areclassified as “very fragile” under the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme,recognising the higher transport costs and degree of natural handicap.

6 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the arrangements in relation to freight and livestock transport to and from the North Isles and the mainland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under the terms of the public service contract for the provision of lifeline ferry services to andfrom the Northern Isles, which commenced on 6 July 2006, NorthLink Ferries Ltd is contractually obliged to carryfreight and livestock as part of the Approved Ser…

30 May 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a review of the system of penalties applied to mistakes in applications for agricultural grants and subsidies, and of the associated appeal system, with a view to finding ways of making the system fairer and quicker for farmers and crofters.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We shall be having early discussionswith key stakeholders on general issues surrounding the implementation of the commonagricultural policy. We shall also be undertakinga review of the EU agricultural subsidies appeals procedure.

23 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contact (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise, (c) Scottish Development International and (d) the Scottish Affairs Office in Washington DC have had with the North American Celtic Buyers Association in each of the last four years.

Answer · Jim Mather: I am not aware of any contactbetween Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish DevelopmentInternational or the Scottish Affairs Office and the North American Celtic BuyersAssociation over the last four years.

23 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing additional training and other support to Scottish companies looking to attract increased business from Russia.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Development International(SDI), the international arm of the Scottish Government’s economic development agency,has doubled its resources in the Russianmarket in the last 18 months. SDI continuesto look for ways in which to maintain and improve the al…

23 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is currently being provided by (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) Scottish Development International to Scotland’s craft industry.

Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matterfor the Enterprise Networks and Scottish Development International and I have askedtheir chief executives to respond to you directly.

23 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support a programme of visits by North American buyers to Scottish craft businesses to take place between the major craft shows in Glasgow and Dublin in January 2008.

Answer · Jim Mather: Responsibility for internationaleconomic activity such as promoting Scotland as a place to do business in and with rests with ScottishDevelopment International (SDI). The craftindustry is not currently an SDI priority industry and SDI currently has no plansto…

23 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional steps it considers might be taken to attract overseas buyers to Scottish craft trade shows.

Answer · Jim Mather: Responsibility for internationaleconomic activity such as promoting Scotland as a place to do business in and with rests with ScottishDevelopment International (SDI). The craft industry is not currently an SDIpriority. We are happy to support priority compani…

23 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to attract overseas buyers to Scottish craft trade shows in each of the last four years.

Answer · Jim Mather: Responsibility for internationaleconomic activity such as promoting Scotland as a place to do business in and with rests with ScottishDevelopment International (SDI). The craft industry is not currently an SDI priorityindustry and over the last four years SDI…

23 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) Scottish Development International and counterparts in Ireland on how best to promote Scotland’s craft industry.

Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matterfor the Enterprise Networks and Scottish Development International and I have askedtheir chief executives to respond to you directly.

23 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is being provided to Scottish companies doing business in Russia.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Development International(SDI), the international arm of the Scottish Government’s economic development agency,provides a range of services in support of Scottish companies doing business inRussia.SDI has an office in Moscow and supportprovide…