John Lamont

20 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of farmers has received any payment under the single farm payment system.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: From 2015, the single farm payment has been replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment Scheme. At 18 May 2016, 82% of eligible businesses had received a first instalment payment from the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme.

20 May 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of farmers has received (a) 100%, (b) 90% and (c) 80% of their single farm payment entitlement.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: From 2015, the single farm payment has been replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Scheme. The member therefore asks about a scheme which no longer exists. Assuming the question relates to Pillar 1 payments, at 18 May 2016, 82% of eligible busines…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the conservation of biodiversity and other environmental assets is highlighted and fully integrated into any future Scottish Government action relating to the analysis provided by the report, Economic Opportunities of Renewable Energy for Scottish Island Communiti…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The environmental and biodiversity impacts of developments brought forward on the Scottish islands would be assessed at application stage either by the local authority under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 or by the Scottish Government under…

8 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the need to conserve biodiversity and other environmental assets was taken into account in the commissioning and preparation of the report, Economic Opportunities of Renewable Energy for Scottish Island Communities, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The independent research study Economic Opportunities of Renewable Energy for Scottish Island Communities prepared by Baringa and published by the Scottish Government on 7 March 2016 shows that Scotland’s island economies could benefit from up to £725 million…

7 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains its position that all farmers who are all eligible will receive basic payments in full by the end of April 2016.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has earmarked up to £200 million of national funds so that anyone who has not received an instalment by the end of March 2016 will receive a nationally-funded payment up to 80 per cent of their common agricultural policy claim.

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what activities consent is determined by Marine Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers determine applications for offshore electricity generating stations over 1MW in size within Scottish territorial waters (between 0 and 12 nautical miles) and over 50MW in the offshore region (between 12 and 200 nautical miles).

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many public representations it has received in (a) support and (b) opposition to the application to construct and operate the Strathy South windfarm.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: To date, the Scottish Government has received 27 public representations in support of the application and 245 in opposition.

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for consent have been determined by Marine Scotland since 2010; how many it refused; how many required environmental impact assessment, and how many required appropriate assessment of their effect on European wildlife sites.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2010 the Scottish Ministers have determined 14 offshore Section 36 applications. None have been refused. All 14 required an environmental impact assessment, and 13 required an appropriate assessment.

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to make a decision on the application to construct and operate the Strathy South windfarm.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The consideration that officials and ministers have been required to give to this proposal has been complex and time consuming. Now that the public local inquiry is complete Scottish Ministers are considering the terms of the report and should be in a positio…

19 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive answer to question S4W-29361 regarding single farm payments to farmers, which received a holding response from Richard Lochhead on 1 February 2016.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: With apologies for the delay, please note that S4W-29361 has now been updated to reflect the current position regarding payments made to farmers and crofters in Scotland. The relevant information is also copied below: As of 24 February 2016, a total of 8,846…

2 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions there have been in each year since 2011 for the purchase of tobacco products by under-18-year-olds.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There were no prosecutions for the purchase of tobacco products by under 18 year olds since 2011-12. Information for 2014-15 will not be available until publication of the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland, 2014-15 Statistical Bulletin. This is due to be publ…

2 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many prosecutions there have been in each year since 2007 for the sale of tobacco products to under-18-year-olds.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The available information is show in the following table. Number of people proceeded against for the sale of tobacco products to under 18 year olds 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 19…

1 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS patients have been treated in private hospitals in each year since 2011, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of NHS patients treated as an inpatient or day case in NHSScotland and in private hospitals for the years 2011-12 to 2014-15 by NHS board of residence is provided in the following tables: 2011-12 2012-13 Health Board NHS Priva…

20 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Ministers directed or otherwise influenced the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland in relation to its Fifth Reviews of Electoral Arrangements.

Answer · Marco Biagi: The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is an advisory non-departmental public body. As such, decisions about the conduct of the Fifth Reviews of Electoral Arrangements have been taken solely by the commission and Scottish Ministers have not dir…

20 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is able to direct or otherwise influence the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland in carrying out reviews of electoral arrangements.

Answer · Marco Biagi: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29419 on 3 February 2016. 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/parliamentaryb…

20 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is able to direct or influence the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland in terms of the methodology that it applies when determining councillor numbers either before or after its report is published.

Answer · Marco Biagi: The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is an advisory non-departmental public body. Under section 15(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Scottish Ministers may give directions to the commission for their guidance in conducting revie…

19 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to reduce the impact of powerlines on wildlife.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers take their obligations to safeguard the natural environment extremely seriously and when considering applications for overhead lines take advice from consultees including Scottish Natural Heritage on potential impacts on wildlife and mitiga…

19 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the impact of powerlines on wildlife.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29395 on 1 February 2016. 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/parliamentaryb…

19 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact of powerlines is on wildlife.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Due to the site-specific nature of proposals, each line is different and needs to be considered individually on its own merits. Assessing the impacts of proposed powerlines on wildlife is integral to the Environmental Impact Assessment process required by the…

18 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of farmers has received a partial payment under the new single farm payments system.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As of 24 February 2016, a total of 8,846 (approx. 49%) payments have been issued to farmers and crofters in Scotland.

7 Jan 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support those affected by Hawick Knitwear entering administration.

17 Dec 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in fulfilling commitment (a) 6, (b) 8, (c) 9, (d) 11, (e) 12, (f) 13, (g) 15, (h) 18, (i) 19, (j) 22, (k) 23, (l) 24, (m) 25, (n) 28, (o) 29, (p) 33 and (q) 35 of the Mental Health Strategy for Scotland 2012–2015 and, if the commitment has been achieved, how th…

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The progress against each of these commitments is updated, where appropriate, on the Mental Health Strategy website (link below). Where there is no update on an individual commitment, we will report the status by spring 2016, after the completion of the strat…

11 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support Burgons of Eyemouth and its employees following the recent announcement that a redundancy process will begin and whether it will consider setting up a stakeholders' group to try to prevent closure.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government and its agencies will do everything they can to provide support. The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Borders Council are already working closely with the company to explore all possible options for the continued u…

10 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the Sunday trading laws.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There is no general legislation regarding Sunday trading in Scotland and there are no plans to review Sunday trading laws.

16 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve safety and traffic flow during peak times on the A1 at the junction with the A720.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Transport Scotland is working with East Lothian and other councils in the South East of Scotland to determine what is needed at the A1/A720 Old Craighall Junction to support development in the area and improve road safety and traffic flow.

28 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to the registration of all land owned by the public sector by 2019 and what percentage of this land has been registered on the Land Register of Scotland since December 2014.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government remains committed to completing the land register by 2024 and the registration of land owned by the public sector by 2019. As expected, the amount of public land voluntarily registered since December 2014 is small, with nine voluntary…

28 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether fees will be charged for keeper-induced registration under the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012.

Answer · John Swinney: No. As indicated in the Financial Memorandum accompanying the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Bill on its introduction to Parliament, costs associated with keeper-induced registration will be met by Registers of Scotland. The keeper intends to consult on h…

28 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work has been done to estimate the cost of registering all land owned by the public sector on the Land Register of Scotland by 2019.

Answer · John Swinney: There are two areas of cost associated with registration: registration fees and costs incurred by the applicant in preparing their registration application. Registration fees are set by Scottish Ministers by way of affirmative order in the Scottish Parliamen…

28 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost of registering land owned by the public sector has been since December 2014.

Answer · John Swinney: Since December 2014, £10,840 has been paid in application fees for voluntary registration. This excludes applications submitted by the public sector on a non-voluntary basis through normal land transactions, i.e. buying and selling property.

28 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost will be of registering all land owned by the public sector in the five years from December 2014.

Answer · John Swinney: There are two areas of cost associated with registration: registration fees and costs incurred by the applicant in preparing their registration application. Registration fees are set by Scottish Ministers by way of affirmative order in the Scottish Parliamen…