- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 27 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the review of the functions of the Crofting Commission, proposals will be rejected if there are found to be serious concerns in the crofting community.
Answer
The interests of stakeholders will be an important criterion to be taken into account. The other criteria will be how far the proposals help deliver government policy, how far they maximise accountability, and how far they maximise efficiency, effectiveness and value for money.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce measures to enable the oil fabrication yards in the Highlands to diversify into new areas.
Answer
We take very seriously the difficulties currently facing the fabrication yards in the Highlands. The Deputy Minister for Enterprise in the Highlands and Islands and I visited the Ardersier yard only last week to meet the management and unions. While there is uncertainty over the immediate future of the yards, I am encouraged that they have not been closed and that the owners are committed to their retention on a care and maintenance basis in order that the yards are able to compete for orders when market confidence returns. The enterprise agencies are working closely with the company, and stand ready to help it in any way they can to develop new products and services and compete in new markets.At last week's Oil & Gas Industry Task Force, my DTI colleague the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe, Mrs Liddell, and I impressed on the industry the need for a response to the problems currently facing platform fabricators. As a result, a "Fabricators Forum" has been established and will be meeting before the end of the month.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 2 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce CCTV to the South Kessock area following the recent spate of attacks by young people using fireworks.
Answer
The Scottish Executive funds CCTV through its 'Make Our Communities Safer' Challenge Competition. Applications are submitted to the Scottish Executive through Chief Executives of local councils and Chief Constables. I understand that no application is being considered for South Kessock for the 2000-01 round of the Competition which starts next April.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 2 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce CCTV to the South Kessock area following the recent spate of attacks by young people using fireworks.
Answer
The Scottish Executive funds CCTV through its 'Make Our Communities Safer' Challenge Competition. Applications are submitted to the Scottish Executive through Chief Executives of local councils and Chief Constables. I understand that no application is being considered for South Kessock for the 2000-2001 round of the Competition which starts next April.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 23 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will widen the scope of its recently announced review of the Careers Service to include a consideration of the issue of ownership, taking into full account the recommendations of the McIntosh Commission on local government.
Answer
The terms of reference for the review of the careers service are: "To examine the role of the careers service in Scotland, and the scope for change and development of that role in the light of trends and initiatives in education, lifelong learning, and the labour market".All careers service companies are jointly owned by the relevant local enterprise companies and local authorities. The review's remit suggests a concentration on the role, rather than the ownership and organisation of the careers service, but remains sufficiently wide to allow the committee to consider all options for the future of the careers service.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 18 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to lift the restrictions on scallop farms that have fallen within the permitted toxin level on two consecutive tests.
Answer
This is the general rule operated. However, if toxin levels remain above the statutory limit in adjacent waters additional data will be required.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 18 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to lift the restrictions on scallop farms that have fallen within the permitted toxin level on two consecutive tests.
Answer
This is the general rule operated. However, if toxin levels remain above the statutory limit in adjacent waters additional data will be required.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase funding for the Agricultural Business Improvement scheme to fund current applications.
Answer
Industry interests have been consulted on how best to deal with the substantial number of applications received under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme. I am now considering those comments and will be announcing my decision as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase funding for the Agricultural Business Improvement scheme to fund current applications.
Answer
Industry interests have been consulted on how best to deal with the substantial number of applications received under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme. I am now considering those comments and will be announcing my decision as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 29 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what account it has taken of the European Committee's comments on the plan for the Highlands and Islands Special Programme.
Answer
Following the completion of the consultation process, and in response to representations made to me on the Plan, I have decided to increase the provisional allocations of finance to the agriculture, fisheries and water provisions of the Plan. I am writing to the Convenor of the European Committee with detailed responses to the questions put to me by the Committee following the meeting on 19 October. I am also asking the Plan Team to take on board some detailed comments by the Committee.A copy of the Plan as submitted to the Commission will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
