Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,663 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought advice from Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the economic development implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it has received.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not sought any such advice.</p>
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crown Estate sought advice from Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the economic development implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it received.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is a matter for the Crown Estate Commissioners and HIE to respond to.</p>
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought the advice of Marine Scotland on the environmental implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it has received.
Answer · Jim Mather: Marine Scotland is part of the Scottish Government.</p>
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Crown Estate sought advice from Marine Scotland on the environmental implications of introducing a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth and, if so, what advice it received.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Crown Estate Commissioners have not sought advice from Marine Scotland on this matter.</p>
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Crown Estate concerning the decision to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the Crown Estate Commissioners regarding marine renewables development in these waters as part of our joint chairing of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Delivery Group.</p>
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the decision of the Crown Estate to introduce a moratorium on new leases for wave and tidal energy developments in Orkney waters and the Pentland Firth.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government''s recent consultation paper Securing the Benefits of Scotland''s Next Energy Revolution argued that the Crown Estate Commissioners in Scotland should be more accountable to the people of Scotland and maximise the economic impact from …
26 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36729 by Richard Lochhead on 28 October 2010, how often it liaises with other European administrations to ensure that the EC rules in relation to agricultural support scheme land eligibility regulations and penalty systems are interpreted and impleme…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is the responsibility of those charged with delivering support measures to ensure that, whether in matters of interpretation or implementation, those benefiting from those measures are treated fairly and in accordance with the relevant legislation. To that…
26 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36729 by Richard Lochhead on 28 October 2010, whether it has contacted any other EU member states in the last 12 months to discuss and compare approaches to agricultural support scheme land eligibility regulations and penalty systems and, if so, (a) …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37906 on 13 December 2010. As I explained, European legislation on these issues governs all member states and any comparison exercise would not yield a conclusive result.</p> <p >All answers to written parlia…
26 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36729 by Richard Lochhead on 28 October 2010, whether it considers that variations exist in approaches taken by different EU member states concerning agricultural support scheme land eligibility regulations and penalty systems.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: My officials have visited a number of member states to examine their systems for delivering agricultural support and have hosted several reciprocal visits to look at our systems. Although each member state is unique in terms of their support schemes, computer…
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has made available to organisations or individuals looking to develop osmotic power generation techniques or facilities.
Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise offer a range of research and development and investment support and this would potentially be available to businesses looking to develop osmotic power techniques or facilities in Scotland. These agenci…
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment has been made of Scotland’s osmotic power generation potential and, if so, with what result.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is not aware of any work that has been undertaken to assess Scotland''s potential for osmotic power generation.</p>
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken research into the potential advantages and disadvantages of deploying osmotic power generating facilities and, if so, with what result.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not undertaken any specific research on the potential advantages of deploying osmotic power generating facilities.</p>
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to recent developments in the field of osmotic power generation.
Answer · Jim Mather: Although the Scottish Government is aware of some of the international activity taking place with regard to osmotic power generation, no specific consideration has been given to development in Scotland. The focus of the Scottish Government and its agencies ha…
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from stakeholders suggesting that its tree-planting provisions are inadequate and, if so, from what organisations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: ConFor has expressed its concerns to the Scottish Government on behalf of the forestry sector regarding woodland creation grant aided under the Scottish Rural Development Plan.</p>
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the results of the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland to be published.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The first eight local authority summary reports* were published in May 2010. Another five** were published in October 2010. The remaining local authority summary reports will be published in batches each spring and autumn through to spring 2013.</p> <p >The…
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the Native Woodland Survey of Scotland to identify additional woodland area and, if so, approximately how many additional hectares.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Native Woodland Survey of Scotland is determining the precise area and status of native woodlands in Scotland for the first time, and will provide an accurate baseline for future monitoring. It does not include other types of woodlands, so cannot be used …
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the definition of a woodland area from land with a 20% cover of trees to land with a 10% cover of trees and, if so, how much additional woodland area this would result in.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There are no plans to change the definition of a woodland area.</p>
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of woodland area have been cleared in the last two years as a result of (a) wind farm developments and (b) bog restorations and how this compares with the number of hectares planted in the same period.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A breakdown of these figures is not readily available at present.</b></p> <p >Following discussions with the forestry sector this autumn, Forestry Commission Scotland will be piloting the collection of woodland removal data in the period 2000-10 within one …
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm reports that there has been a net decrease in woodland area of 8,000 hectares in the last two years and whether it considers that there will be a net increase or decrease in 2010-11.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: It is not possible to confirm a net decrease in woodland area in the last two years. Based on felling approvals and the area of replanting and new planting in the same reference period, there was an apparent decrease in woodland area of about 5,000 hectares b…
18 Nov 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) farmers and (b) crofters have notified a reduction in their eligible land areas for the purposes of claiming under Single Farm Payment or Less Favoured Area Support schemes since new guidance was issued by ministers in May 2010.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The member has raised the matter of land eligibility for these schemes in previous questions and in correspondence with me. I very much regret, therefore, that I must again remind him that the guidance issued was not new and had been represented to farmers an…
17 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered transferring vessels deployed on the NorthLink Ferries to run on services operated by CalMac Ferries, or vice versa, since 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The optimum deployment of the ferry fleet available to Scottish Ministers is an important part of effective delivery of ferry services.</p>
17 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to transfer vessels deployed on the NorthLink Ferries services to run on services operated by CalMac Ferries or vice versa.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to transfer vessels between the two ferry networks.</b></p>
25 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36525 by Alex Neil on 4 October 2010, what the (a) earliest and (b) latest date of referral was of the 15,066 applications to Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package was introduced on 6 April 2009. This is when the first applications to Stage 4 were received by the Energy Saving Trust. These were forwarded by the Energy Saving Trust to Scottish Gas on 22 April 2009. The last referrals for tha…
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that claimants who have incurred penalties resulting from an over declaration of eligible land under the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes have an opportunity to appeal.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: All farmers and crofters have a fundamental right of appeal against the recovery, reduction, or refusal of subsidy for whatever reason. This right is provided by The Rural Payments (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (Scottish Statutory Instrument 2009/376,…
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the penalty regime associated with an over declaration of eligible land under the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government''s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) has worked with the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS), and taken its advice, on how best to communicate with farmers and crofters on how they can avoid penalties by claimin…
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to mitigate the impact of any penalties incurred by claimants as a result of an over declaration of eligible land under the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government''s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) does not have any discretion to vary the level of penalties. Only the EC can alter the penalty regime by changing its legislative base. SGRPID''s approach to mitigation, therefore,…
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted or will conduct an official inquiry into the reasons for the guidance on Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes land eligibility being distributed so late in the application cycle and, if such an inquiry has been conducted, what the conclusions…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government''s Notes for Guidance on the Single Farm Payment Scheme are a bold initiative to explain what constitutes eligible / ineligible land for the purposes of claiming support. They are unique amongst the notes issued by all UK agriculture d…
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much support it expects to be withheld from claimants in 2010-11 as a result of penalties arising from an over declaration of eligible land under the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The inspection cycle for 2010-11 is underway but not complete and the settlement of claims has not begun, so it is not possible to answer the question as asked.</b></p>
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many claimants it expects to be affected by penalties arising from an over declaration of eligible land under the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes in 2010-11.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The inspection cycle for 2010-11 is underway but not complete so it is not possible to answer the question as asked. The analysis of the 2009-10 inspection cycle shows the following:</b></p> <p >Number of inspections undertaken: 1,107;</p> <p >Number penali…
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many inquiries each Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) office has received regarding Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes land eligibility since January 2010 and how these figures compare with the number of inquiries received …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government''s Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (SGRPID) receives numerous enquiries from its client group of c.21,000 farmers, and crofters. It does not keep, however, records of those enquiries as a matter of routine. It is not possibl…