- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions or meetings it has had with other EU member states or European countries which operate national compensation schemes for losses incurred by fish farmers as a result of the compulsory slaughter of farmed fish and what information it has about any such schemes.
Answer
No such discussions or meetings have taken place. There has been no detailed research into national compensation schemes, but we understand that there is no common approach.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 October 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sent to the European Commission for their attention and comment a copy of the European Committee's 7th Report 2000, Report on a review of the impact of European list 1 designated disease Infectious Salmon Anaemia and list 2 disease Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia on the Scottish aquaculture industry and, if so, when it sent a copy of the report, whether it will place a copy of any reply from the Commission in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and, if no reply has been received, what explanation the Commission has given for the delay in replying and what representations it will be making to the Commission on this matter.
Answer
It is the responsibility of Parliament to communicate to the European Commission recommendations of parliamentary committees which are directed towards the European Commission. I understand that this has been done. It will be for Parliament to decide how to deal with the response.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 28 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek a meeting with officials of the European Commission (EC) to discuss the future of the Scottish aquaculture industry and any measures which it wishes the EC to take in order to promote the sustainable development of the industry.
Answer
The Executive is in regular discussion with European Commission officials about measures designed to ensure the sustainable development of aquaculture such as the review of the fish and shellfish health directives and the emerging fish welfare proposals, the operation of the EU/Norway salmon trade agreement and the Common Fisheries Policy, which embraces aquaculture development.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 27 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposals for development of the Fort William waterfront.
Answer
The Scottish Executive believe the proposals have the potential to benefit not only Fort William but also communities throughout Lochaber, both in terms of job creation and the local economy.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 26 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what new steps it has taken or intends to take in response to the findings of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee's Report on the Inquiry into Fuel Prices in Remote Rural Areas.
Answer
The Scottish Executive's response to the committee's report was sent to its Convener on 27 August, after lengthy consideration.
The report recognised that the tax-varying proposals being put forward to address the higher cost of fuel in rural areas are reserved to the UK Government. It also acknowledged that the Executive has already put into place many measures which will help to mitigate the effects of higher rural fuel prices. We have:
- increased the Rural Transport Fund to £18 million over three years, funding some 380 new and improved public transport services;
- used the Rural Petrol Station Grant scheme to fund structural improvements at 24 vital rural petrol stations;
- increased funding in Scotland for the Powershift Liquefied Petroleum Gas vehicle conversion scheme by £900,000 over the next three years, and
- introduced, with the UK Government and Shell UK, an initiative to deliver 23 new LPG outlets in rural areas.
We will continue to press Scotland's interests on taxation, as on other reserved matters, through the Scotland Office and through direct contacts with UK ministers. We will also continue to develop effective measures of direct benefit to rural communities, and remain open to imaginative and innovative proposals.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 25 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or the enterprise network support the proposals for the Fort William waterfront development, what financial assistance the enterprise network will provide to this scheme and whether the network will support and match fund any application for EU funding.
Answer
Lochaber Enterprise has previously supported, and is willing to consider further, any request for financial assistance towards proposals for the development of Fort William Waterfront. The nature of financial commitments by any of the partners has yet to be agreed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 25 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not met its target for the commencement of its central heating installation programme of 1 April 2001.
Answer
The programme did begin as planned and we are paying grant for all heating systems installed in local authority dwellings since 1 April 2001. We will ensure that our commitment to provide every council and housing association tenant and everyone aged 60 or over in the private sector with a central heating system is met. We are also considering how the programme might be extended.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 25 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S1W-16226 by Jackie Baillie on 2 July 2001, when it will announce who will be the managing agents of its central heating installation programme and why the announcement has been delayed.
Answer
Eaga Partnership Ltd were appointed to administer the Central Heating Programme on 29 August 2001. The appointment was made as soon as possible following a careful and thorough evaluation of the tenders received.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 25 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relocate any executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies either in whole or in part to Inverness.
Answer
Following consideration of the appropriate operational locations for the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, and in the context of the Executive's relocation policy, it is planned to locate a regional office of the new body in the Inverness area.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 24 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relocate civil servants to Inverness.
Answer
In line with the relocation policy, ministers consider a range of suitable locations when relocation opportunities arise. No particular areas of the country are targeted, nor are any ruled out. Inverness will be considered along with other locations.
