- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 13 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the comment made by the First Minister that private airlines must recognise their "social responsibility" as reported in the press on 24 April 2002, what the precise meaning is of the First Minister's comment; what action it will take in respect of the First Minister's viewpoint, and whether the First Minister plans to meet British Airways to discuss the obligations which he believes are incumbent upon them to fulfil their social responsibility to the people of the Highlands and Islands.
Answer
The Scottish Executive meets airlines, including British Airways, on a regular basis to discuss a range of aviation matters, including the cost of flights and the encouragement of new services.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 10 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any alterations have been made to its contract with BEAR Scotland Ltd; whether any changes have been made in the service specification contained in that contract in relation to the length of maintenance routes, and, if so, whether any alterations are being made to the level of remuneration paid to BEAR Scotland Ltd in respect of its maintenance routes and what any such changes are.
Answer
The Scottish ministers have entered into two contracts with BEAR Scotland Ltd, one in respect of the management and maintenance of the North West Unit and one for the North East Unit. There have been a limited number of minor alterations to these contracts since 1 April 2001. The construction of a new grade separated junction has also added to BEAR's management and maintenance responsibilities. The level of remuneration paid to BEAR will be increased to cover these additional responsibilities, in accordance with the rates specified in the trunk road contracts.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what records are kept in relation to meetings between ministers and MSPs.
Answer
Ministers meet regularly with MSPs of all parties, both formally and informally. No central records are kept but, depending on the nature of the meeting, a record may be prepared by the Minister's Private Office or other Scottish Executive officials.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the passing of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill, whether it will act as if the provisions of the bill were in force from 25 April 2002.
Answer
It will not be possible for the Executive to operate as if the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill were in force from 25 April 2002 because many aspects of the Freedom of Information regime to be established by the bill are not yet in place. Most notably, the Scottish Information Commissioner is yet to be appointed and will need to be in place before certain preparations begin, for example, the development of publication schemes.In the meantime, the Executive will continue to consider the disclosure of information in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet with, and make representations to, any interested parties, other than Her Majesty's Government and civil servants, in regard to the Public Service Obligation application for the Inverness to Gatwick air link and, if so, which organisations and individuals it intends to meet.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to meet with other interested parties at this time but will continue to liaise with local stakeholders on the securing of Inverness access to Gatwick Airport.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are no procedural or technical impediments to the grant of the Public Service Obligation application submitted on behalf of Highland Council in respect of the Inverness to Gatwick air links.
Answer
The Scottish Executive believes that the case submitted to the UK Government to secure Inverness' access to Gatwick Airport meets the required criteria set out in European Regulations.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet MSPs representing constituents served by the A82 in order to discuss the need for upgrading the road and whether the A82 will be included in the next round of trunk road improvements, detailing the reasons behind is position on this matter.
Answer
Requests for meetings should be submitted directly for consideration by Ministers. The Executive will review the 1995 Route Accident Reduction Plan (RARP) for the A82 between Tyndrum and Inverness next year to identify priority schemes for inclusion in future motorway and trunk road programmes. Identified schemes will be considered against competing priorities across the Scottish trunk road network.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the tenure of the present Chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne expires; whether the post will be publicly advertised; whether there will be an opportunity for the users of Caledonian MacBrayne services to participate in any selection process for the appointment of a new chairman; what selection process will be used to decide which candidates will be interviewed for the post of chairman; what criteria will be employed to ensure that the selection process for an appointment is fair and impartial, and whether the criticism expressed by Dame Rennie Fritchie, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, regarding the appointment process of the present chairman will be taken into account in any new selection process.
Answer
The present Chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne was appointed for a three-year term from 1 August 1999. An announcement relating to the future arrangements for this post will be made in due course. The processes and procedures for public appointments, including the involvement of independent advisers, are set out in the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice. These procedures are strictly followed for all appointments to Caledonian MacBrayne. They were introduced to ensure the selection process for public appointments is fair, impartial and transparent. The commissioner's comments in relation to the 1999 appointment process have been borne in mind in all subsequent appointment processes, including those relating to Caledonian MacBrayne. One of the main conclusions of the commissioner's report was that the present chairman was appointed on merit.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the passing of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill, whether it will urge non-departmental public bodies, including Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Enterprise, to respond to requests for information as if the bill was in force from 25 April 2002.
Answer
It will not be possible for non-departmental public bodies, including those referred to, to operate as if the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill were in force from 25 April 2002 because many aspects of the Freedom of Information regime to be established by the bill are not yet in place. Most notably, the Scottish Information Commissioner is yet to be appointed and will need to be in place before certain preparations begin, for example, the development of publication schemes.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specify the precise provisions under which it was required to grant approval for the GM crop trials; whether it had any discretion to refuse such approvals, and whether any such discretion could have been exercised, giving its position on these matters in respect of each trial.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is bound, by Article 6.1 and 6.2 of Directive 90/220/EEC, to consider whether an application to release a genetically modified organism into the environment does, or does not, comply with the terms set out elsewhere in the directive. Ministers are required to grant consent for a release, where they are satisfied that the application is in compliance with the directive and will not pose a threat to human health or environmental safety. A moratorium or refusal to grant approval would be illegal unless based on sound scientific evidence of potential harm. Scottish ministers discharge their responsibility to base their decisions on sound scientific evidence by referring applications to expert advisory bodies; principally the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE). ACRE examines all relevant material in relation to a proposed release and advises ministers as to whether, in its opinion, the release will pose a threat to the environment. Scottish ministers have powers under Article 6.6 of Directive 90/220/EEC to modify the conditions of, suspend or terminate GM crop trials where, at any time, information becomes available which could have significant consequences for the risks posed by the release. No such sound scientific evidence has emerged which might call into question the safety of any of the Scottish trials.