- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 4 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what new appointments have been made to the senior management team of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
Answer
Since June 2000, the only new appointment to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) central management team was that of Dr Campbell Gemmell to the post of Strategic Planning Director in April 2001. There have been two retirements during the same period, resulting in an overall reduction in the number of Directors, so that the team now comprises the Chief Executive and four Directors. The only appointment to the SEPA Board during the past 12 months was that of Mrs M. Patricia Henton, on her promotion to the position of SEPA Chief Executive in October 2000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 4 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts have been transferred from offices within the former regional structure of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to their corporate office in Stirling following the new appointments made to the agency.
Answer
This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). The information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to lodge a motion in the Parliament on the fluoridation of the public water supply.
Answer
Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change promised a wide-ranging consultation on children's oral health, which would seek views on a range of measures, including fluoridation of public water supplies. Proposals for the consultation are being developed and will be announced in due course.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice Scottish Natural Heritage has given on whether Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross should be chosen as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines.
Answer
Scottish Natural Heritage has not been asked for advice on whether Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross should be chosen as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines. Mellon Charles lies within the Wester Ross National Scenic Area and, consequently, should a planning application be submitted, then SNH would be consulted as required by the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether fluoridation of the water supply would have any implications for the future development of organic farming and horticulture.
Answer
Fluoride is a natural mineral present in many soils. It is also present in fresh water and sea water. It is not added to any Scottish drinking water at present but occurs naturally in some.There is no evidence that the addition of fluoride at the optimum (1 ppm) level for dental health would have any implications for organic farming or for horticulture.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether teachers who work as education advisors will, under the McCrone agreement, receive salary increases at least equivalent to those already agreed for other local authority teachers and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
A short-life working group has been set up under the auspices of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers to review the pay and conditions of service for educational advisers.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps sportscotland is planning to take to promote the Cairngorm National Park as a sport and recreation centre of international excellence.
Answer
The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 provides for the establishment of a National Park Authority and the promotion of the park will be a matter for the authority. However, sportscotland intends to work closely with the authority to develop a Park Plan that will ensure that the aim of "promoting understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public" is met.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that it should ensure that the leaflets produced by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions which set out basic rules about driving in the United Kingdom, including advice on driving on the left, turning right at junctions and roundabouts, alcohol, accidents, motorways, speed limits and special motorway signs, are reprinted and made freely available through car rental companies and other outlets to tourists visiting Scotland from outwith the UK and whether it has any plans to produce a version of this leaflet specific to Scotland similar to Driving in Scotland, produced by the Scottish Road Safety Campaign.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in touch with Her Majesty's Government on a wide range of issues.The leaflets produced by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions, formerly the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which set out basic rules about driving in Great Britain, are currently being revised. It is intended to make the new versions widely available later this year to a range of bodies in Great Britain including local authority and police Road Safety Units, ports and car hire companies.The Scottish Executive has no plans to produce Scottish versions of the GB leaflets. The Executive will continue to provide funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the development of road safety education and publicity materials, including leaflets such as Driving in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage the Scottish Tourist Board to conduct specific marketing of the West Highland Way in specialised publications and maga'ines in Germany, Holland and any other countries which constitute significant markets for the West Highland Way.
Answer
I understand that visitscotland wrote to you recently, detailing their marketing activity promoting walking holidays in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what difficulties the 20-day standstill rule following the movement of cattle and sheep could cause farmers, especially those in peripheral areas, and whether it has any plans to modify the rule in the light of any difficulties experienced.
Answer
No decisions have yet been taken on the 20-day standstill rule. The consultation period on the proposal has just ended and the responses, along with comments from meetings with key industry sectors, are being carefully considered.I am of course well aware of the far-reaching implications that such a standstill would have for Scottish farming. I am also aware, however, that we must do all we can to prevent any repetition of the rapid and unchecked spread of foot-and-mouth disease which has had such devastating effects on almost everyone in rural areas.
