Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,663 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has compared the penalty regimes associated with an over declaration of eligible land under the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes and equivalent agricultural schemes in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland, (e) the Republic of Irel…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: No comparison of penalty regimes associated with declaring land over and above what would otherwise be considered as eligible has been undertaken. Since the penalty regime is set in European legislation and, therefore, applicable to all member states, such a …
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that any penalties incurred by claimants resulting from an over declaration of eligible land under the Single Farm Payment and Less Favoured Area Support schemes are fair and proportionate.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Any reductions in the area claimed, as a result of declaring land over and above what would otherwise be considered as eligible are calculated on the basis of a physical measurement using modern mapping and measurement technologies. Each calculation of land a…
6 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the fairness and proportionality of 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 is committed both to helping farmers and crofters maximise their share of Common Agricultural Policy funds and to avoid the loss of support through penalties levied for non-compliance with regulatory requirements that were avoidable. W…
1 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-36066 and S3W-36059 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 September 2010, whether its “regular ongoing contact about ferry services in Scotland with a range of public bodies” included discussions with (a) Orkney Islands Council, (b) Shetland Islands Council a…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council and Argyll and Bute Council have, through regular road equivalent tariff (RET) stakeholder meetings, and the recent Scottish ferries review meetings, been kept fully involved and informed during all stages of t…
28 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were registered against the air ambulance service in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.</b></p>
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there have been for Stage Four measures under the Energy Assistance Package; how many (a) were rejected, (b) were withdrawn and (c) are under consideration; for how many (i) the improvement work has been completed, (ii) the improvement work is underway, (iii) surveys…
Answer · Alex Neil: 15,066 applications were referred to Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package in the financial year 2009-10. Of these, five were duplicates, leaving 15,061. </b>Of these 15,061 applications, by the end of August 2010: </b></p> <p >a. 2,799 had been rejec…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) VisitOrkney and (b) VisitShetland regarding its plan to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes for a further 12 months prior to that decision being (i) taken and (ii) announced.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The decision to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot was taken on the basis of consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has been made of the displacement of traffic from other island routes as a result of the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The evaluation of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot will be completed in early 2011 and the final evaluation report will be published thereafter. Initial findings indicate that there has been no significant displacement of traffic as a result of RET. The…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) Orkney Islands Council and (b) Shetland Islands Council regarding its plan to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes for a further 12 months prior to that decision being (i) taken and (ii) announced.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The decision to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff(RET) pilot was taken on the basis of consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliam…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered extending the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles to cover additional ferry routes to islands other than the Western Isles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The possible extension of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot has been under consideration since the pilot was initiated. The impacts of the current pilot scheme are being closely monitored to allow ministers to make informed decisions on a possible wider …
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it began its consideration of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It would have been premature to end the pilot before the final evaluation study had been completed and fully considered. This decision was taken within the context of ongoing consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 Sep…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the outcome of the assessment made of the cost of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made to extent the pilot by one year.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The estimated additional cost of extending the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot to spring 2012 is £6.5 million.</b></p>
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the outcome of the assessment undertaken of the legality of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made to extent the pilot by one year.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is the Scottish Government''s view that the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme is compliant with EU law. This view is not affected by our recent decision to extend the RET pilot to spring 2012.</b></p>
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the outcome of the studies made of the social and economic impact on Scottish Islands other than the Western Isles of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made t…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36067 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parlia…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies, businesses, organisations and individuals that made representations to it in support of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busin…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies, including local authorities, it consulted during the period when it was considering extending the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has regular ongoing contact about ferry services in Scotland with a range of public bodies, including local authorities, VisitScotland, Regional Transport Partnerships, Public Corporations such as David MacBrayne Ltd and Caledonian Mar…
19 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the government of Iceland regarding its proposal to increase quotas of mackerel for Icelandic fishermen.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35770 on 9 September 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="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…
19 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the government of Faroe regarding its proposal to increase quotas of mackerel for Faroese fishermen.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35770 on 9 September 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="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…
19 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackerel.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35770 on 9 September 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="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…
19 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackerel.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35770 on 9 September 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="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…
19 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the proposal by the governments of Iceland and Faroe to increase their fishermen’s quotas of mackerel.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The actions of Iceland and Faeroes in setting unilateral total allowable catches (TACs) for mackerel in the North East Atlantic are irresponsible and risk the future sustainability of the stock, which in turn could have serious impacts for the Scottish Pelagi…
30 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times its proposed Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has been mentioned in its (a) press releases, (b) consultations and (c) public documents since May 2007.
Answer · Jim Mather: This information is not held centrally. Publications by the Scottish Government can be found online at:</p> <p >(a) <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases</a>.</p> <p >(b) <a href="http://www.scotland.gov…
30 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to prepare and inform relevant stakeholders ahead of the publication of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland
Answer · Jim Mather: We will continue to engage with key stakeholders across all sectors prior to the publication of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) for Scotland. This has been our approach throughout the process of developing the Conserve and Save consultation and the d…
30 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the delay in the publication of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has adversely affected the take-up of energy efficiency measures across Scotland
Answer · Jim Mather: No. The delay in publishing the Energy Efficiency Action Plan has not adversely affected the take-up of energy efficiency measures across Scotland.</p> <p >An increased level of emissions savings have been reported in 2009-10 by both the Energy Saving Trust …
30 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the publication of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland has been delayed and what the reasons were for each delay.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government originally intended to publish an Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) for Scotland in 2008. However, a mandatory commitment to publish an EEAP, and set and report on energy efficiency targets, was subsequently included in the Climate …
30 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executiveon what date it will publish its Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland will be published this autumn.</p>
29 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it ensures that the European Commission (EC) is kept fully aware of the results of the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership’s research, which shows that climate change is causing the distribution of some fish species to move north, so that, when the EC makes recommendations f…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Marine Climate Change Impact Partnership (MCCIP) is responsible for the publication and dissemination of its results. Marine Scotland Science scientists highlight these results at meetings of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)…
29 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, given the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership’s research, which shows that climate change is causing the distribution of some fish species to move north and which may make the collection of thorough comparative fish stock data more difficult, whether the Fisheries Research Services…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland Science (formerly Fisheries Research Services) is fully aware of the work of the Marine Climate Change Impact Partnership (MCCIP) research and contributes to this research. Stock assessment methodologies, including survey design and sampling s…
29 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when assessing fish stocks and preparing advice for future stock management, the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory takes into account the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership’s research, which shows that climate change is causing the distribution of some fish spe…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland Science (formerly Fisheries Research Services) is fully aware of the work of the Marine Climate Change Impact Partnership (MCCIP) research and contributes to this research. Stock assessment methodologies are designed to be robust and can accom…
28 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much ancient woodland was lost in each of the last five years.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32887 on 28 April 2010 which set out the total amount of woodland felling in each of the past five years. A breakdown of these figures into the various categories now requested is not readily available at prese…