John Finnie

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to dispose of land that it owns, which is suitable for food production.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13983 on 23 April 2013. 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…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with organisations that support allotments regarding the planned disposal of land at its farm at Knocknagael.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Proposal of application notices, were served on each of the four community councils within whose areas overlap with the planning application boundary. These community councils were also invited to the public event. The Highland Council validated the proposal …

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to using farm land that it deems surplus to requirements at its farm at Knocknagael as a means of attracting more tenant farmers.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16282 on 6 August 2013. 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…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to renting land at its farm at Knocknagael for agricultural purposes.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The majority of the land at the Scottish Government stud farm at Knocknagael is required for the running of the stud. Land at Knocknagael which is surplus to the requirements of the stud will be disposed of, as required by the Scottish public finance manual. …

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all environmental impact assessments that it has undertaken in respect of developments and the planned disposal of land at its farm at Knocknagael.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening report, prepared by Deloitte planning consultants, to the Highland Council on 23 January 2013, requesting that the council provide a formal screening opinion. The Highland Co…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in relation to its withdrawn planning application for a housing development at its farm at Knocknagael, it complied with neighbour notification requirements.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Following introduction of Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedures) Regulations 2008, neighbour notification is the responsibility of the planning authority. The Scottish Government complied with all statutory requirements with regards to…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its plans for Balrobert Farm, Inverness.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment made an announcement at the Royal Highland Show that there would be an agricultural tenancy created ideally targeted at new entrants at Balrobert Farm. Officials are currently working on the detail …

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations about its vacant farm dwelling houses.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I can confirm that no central records are held of any recent discussions taking place with either local authorities or housing associations concerning any farm dwelling houses falling within the ownership and control of the Scottish Government. However, I can…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many renovated unoccupied farm dwelling houses that it owns have required subsequent renovations due to frost damage since 1999.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16276 on 6 September 2013. 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/parliamenta…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on renovating unoccupied farm dwellings that it owns in each year since 1999.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Unfortunately this information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by making enquiries with all Government Departments as to how much each area has spent on renovating unoccupied farm dwellings each year since 1999. Accor…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its dwelling houses are located on farms that it owns.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government and its agencies own a number of farms with dwelling houses on them and we are in the process of collating and updating that information. There are seven dwelling houses at Knocknagael and Balrobert farm.

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many houses it owns and, of these, how many (a) are unoccupied and (b) have been unoccupied for (i) less than a year, (ii) between one and two years, (iii) between two and five years, (iv) between five and 10 years, (v) between 10 and 15 years and (vi) for more than 15 years, and wha…

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This information is not held centrally. However, there are two houses on the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (RPID) estate which are unoccupied. One is located at the Bull Stud and the other is on Shetland, and both have been unoccupied for around …

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it carried out a risk assessment before designating land at its farm at Knocknagael as no longer safe for crop production and, if so, whether (a) it will publish this and (b) this has wider implications for crop production in the Highlands.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The field in question is a large field that is flat to the north end, with a considerable slope in the southern end which accounts for a third of the area. As a single unit, this field could have been safely used for crop and forage production, up and down th…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a reduced acreage of land for cattle feed production, whether it will be self-sufficient in animal feed at the bull stud at its farm at Knocknagael.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government Bull Stud Knocknagael will be self-sufficient in silage, hay and feed barley. Only concentrate feed and mineral supplements will be bought in as normal. Sufficient land has been retained to allow for a fully functional arable crop rota…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much income it received from silage sales at its farm at Knocknagael in each year since 2007.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Any surplus silage is sold through the local machinery ring. receipts from crop sales are not broken down between the sales of silage, barley and fodder. The income received each year from financial year 2006-07 to the present is set out in the following tabl…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what agricultural criteria it used to designate fields at its farm at Knocknagael as "surplus to requirements".

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The fields were designated as surplus to agricultural requirements of the Scottish Government Bull Stud Knocknagael as their use was limited to arable cropping and winter forage production. This was due to their immediate proximity to housing estates and the …

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the full business case for the bull stud at its farm at Knocknagael.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Yes, the information is now available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Rural/crofting-policy/support-for-crofting/CroftingCattleImprovementScheme.

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the Scottish Public Finance Manual to ensure that best value and sustainability are the main considerations in its financial transactions.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Public Finance Manual provides guidance to relevant public bodies on the proper handling and reporting of public funds, emphasising the need for economy, efficiency and effectiveness across all aspects of delivery and financial transactions. The…

3 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to golf's (a) Open Championship and (b) Scottish Open this year.

Answer · Shona Robison: Through VisitScotland, the Scottish Government is supporting the Open Championship with £220,000 and the Scottish Open with £1 million this year.

28 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has contributed to police units with a UK-wide remit in each year since 1999, broken down by unit.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since 2000-01, the Scottish Government has made the following payments to UK-wide units, under the remit of international policing. Figures are not available prior to 2000: Year Payee Amount 2000-01 National Criminal Intelligence Service £3.084 million …

28 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any illegal activity carried out in Scotland by the Special Demonstration Squad or the National Domestic Extremism Unit and, if so, whether it will institute an inquiry into those activities.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is not aware of any illegal activity carried out by the Special Demonstrations Squad or the National Domestic Extremism Unit in Scotland.

28 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate has directed or can direct the (a) UK security services,  (b) Special Demonstration Squad, (c) National Domestic Extremism Unit and (d) other police units with a UK-wide remit when they operate in Scotland.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The Lord Advocate, as head of the system of prosecutions in Scotland, has primary responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences in Scotland. (a) UK Security Services. The Lord Advocate does not instruct the Security Services, bu…

28 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any jurisdiction over police units with a UK-wide remit operating in Scotland and, if so, which units; under whose direction they operate in Scotland, and to which minister they are accountable.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has no jurisdiction over police units that have a UK-wide remit. The Serious Organised Crime Agency may carry out activities in Scotland in relation to an offence which it suspects has been committed (or is being committed) with the a…

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Lockerbie air disaster.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Previous anniversaries of the Lockerbie air disaster have been commemorated in a manner decided by the wishes of the bereaved families. With the 25th anniversary approaching later this year, the Scottish Government will be guided by the wishes of the bereaved…

18 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has with universities when they are replacing senior posts, such as principals.

10 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what factors it considered prior to approving the recently reported land swap between Forestry Commission Scotland and Anders Holch Povlsen.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15582 on 26 June 2013. 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/parliamentarybu…

10 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent assessment was carried out prior to the recently reported land swap between Forestry Commission Scotland and Anders Holch Povlsen.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: All land involved in this land swap was independently valued. However, decisions on individual land purchase, sales and exchanges are for Forestry Commission Scotland, working within established procedures (such as those set out in the Scottish Public Finance…

6 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15192 by Richard Lochhead on 6 June 2013, what steps the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has taken to engage with communities and local authorities in Scotland. 

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Further to the answer to question S4W-15192, engagement with communities and local authorities on the subject of movements of nuclear materials by rail from Dounreay is a matter for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). In July 2011, the NDA published…

5 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent impact assessment it has made of fees charged to patients who want a copy of their medical records.

Answer · Alex Neil: There has been no recent impact assessment relating to the charging of patients to access their medical records in Scotland. Such charges, when imposed, are in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998) which sets a limit of £50. This charge covers part …

3 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4F-01418 by Alex Salmond on 30 May 2013 (Official Report, c. 20501), what estimate it has made of how much money would be allocated to Scotland if all corporation tax due to be paid was collected.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that everyone, including businesses, should pay the tax that is due. While we do not have access to detailed HMRC data, it is possible to estimate the value of the “Tax Gap”, defined as the difference between the total expect…