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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S2W-00454

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances Scottish ministers might use their powers of direction in respect of non-departmental public bodies.

Question reference: S2W-00444

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any calculation of the cost of providing a mountain rescue service where the existing voluntary provision by mountain rescue teams has been withdrawn and, if so, what its estimate is of the total annual cost of providing such a service.

Question reference: S2W-00442

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to assist the scallop fishing industry.

The Scottish Scallop Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from the Executive, Food Standards Agency Scotland, Fisheries Research Services (FRS) and the scallop industry, is developing options for research that will inform the science behind the amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) action level. In recognition of the effects of ASP closures on the scallop industry, the Executive is committed to supporting any such research. FRS is currently undertaking a project to review the spatial and seasonal occurrence of harmful algal blooms in Scottish waters and their relationship to shellfish toxicity. In 2003-04, the scallop sector will benefit from funds committed from the Scottish Executive and Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance grant schemes. This will include support for an industry-led project analysing scallop portion sizes.

Question reference: S2W-00518

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) support and (b) opposition it has received in respect of draft proposals that there be a weekend ban on the scallop industry and by which individuals or bodies such support or opposition has been expressed.

Question reference: S2W-00509

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a statement from the management and/or owners of Arjo Wiggins paper mill, Corpach, in respect of the impending redundancy of 58 employees; whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government in respect of any grant that Arjo Wiggins sought or received in respect of the retention of jobs at the mill, and whether any proceeds from the fine imposed on Arjo Wiggins Appleton plc by the European Commission will be used to assist any employees who may be made redundant to find alternative employment.

The Scottish Executive is being kept fully informed of developments at the Arjo Wiggins paper mill in Corpach. Officials from Highlands and Islands Enterprise met the company's senior management to discuss the job loss situation and also what assistance can be offered to those employees affected.The company has been offered a grant under the Department of Trade and Industry's Bio-energy Capital Grant Scheme. The grant offer is based on the installation of a bio-energy plant and the DTI is monitoring the situation with Arjo Wiggins. In respect of their dealings with the EU, this is a separate matter of Competition Policy, which is reserved to the UK Government.

Question reference: S2W-00498

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include the upgrading to dual track of the remaining single track section of the A830 in its programme for trunk road improvements and, if so, within what timescale this work will commence.

Question reference: S2W-00530

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether reducing dredge numbers for larger scallop fishing vessels would result in scallop fishing vessels being forced to work on inshore grounds and thereby apply further pressure to such grounds.

Question reference: S2W-00516

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what stage research planned by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department into the biochemistry of the scallop, to establish the level at which the synergy between the naturally occurring glutamic and aspartic acids and the demonic acid caused by algal blooms becomes toxic, has reached; on what date such research was commissioned; when it is expected to be completed; who is carrying it out; what the estimated total cost is and by whom it will be borne; what response has been received by the Food Standards Agency from DG Sanco with regard to approving such research, and whether all correspondence relating to this matter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

The Scottish Scallop Advisory Committee, which includes Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Food Standards Agency Scotland, Fisheries Research Services and representatives of the scallop industry in its membership, is presently developing options for research relating to amnesic shellfish poisoning in scallops. I would be happy to write to the member, and to the Rural Development Committee, once research has been commissioned.

Question reference: S2W-00519

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether (a) an 80 mm scallop dredge belly ring si'e instead of the proposed 75 mm, (b) a days at sea scheme, such as for 240 days a year, (c) robust use of the scallop fishing licence and (d) a legal obligation to provide landing and fishing data to the scientists would promote conservation of stocks in the scallop industry and how likely each of these measures would be to achieve the twin aims of effective conservation and financial viability of the industry.

Question reference: S2W-00517

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is that a weekend ban on the scallop industry would conserve stocks and whether it will publish any such evidence.