- 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.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 27 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives of BP to discuss ways in which the work connected with the development of the Clair field for which contracts will shortly be issued can contribute to the Scottish economy, in particular with regard to employment opportunities.
Answer
We are in regular contact with BP about a range of issues including those concerning the development of the Clair field and the role of Scottish industry in this work.
- 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 27 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what position it took on the choice of Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines in any consultation with the Ministry of Defence on the environmental and other implications of the proposed location.
Answer
I understand that no sites have been selected.
- 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 27 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the Ministry of Defence on the environmental or other implications of the Interim Storage of Laid-up Submarines Project and whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any documents and communications in respect of such consultation.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on a wide range of issues including the Interim Storage of Laid-Up Submarines Study.I understand that at this stage no sites have been selected as the MOD have not concluded how the submarines would be stored on land.The information requested meets the requirements of commercial exemption in Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 19 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to any grant which may be awarded by Scottish Natural Heritage to the National Trust for Scotland for the proposed visitors centre at Inverigan, taking into account the study received by the local enterprise company showing the centre's potentially adverse impact on the local economy.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 19 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct Scottish Natural Heritage to (a) allow sufficient time for the application by the National Trust for Scotland for #200,000 assistance with the costs of providing interpretation facilities in the visitors centre at Glencoe to be considered by the Parliament if the Parliament so wishes and (b) carry out a public consultation on whether to award grant for this purpose prior to a decision being reached.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why a fee of #50 is imposed on farmers and crofters by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department in respect of applications for a license to move stock.
Answer
No fee is imposed on farmers and crofters by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department in respect of applications for a license to move stock. If a proposed livestock movement is not covered by the General Movement licence (possible only in the Provisionally Free Area), an application must be made to the local SERAD Area Office for an individual licence to move livestock. This is processed by SERAD staff without any charge. The farmer or crofter is required to abide by the conditions of the licence which may incur costs.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 14 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold an inquiry into the amount of public funding made available to the National Trust for Scotland in respect of its proposed visitors centre at Glencoe.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 May 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 14 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact implementation of the climate change levy will have upon the rural economy and whether it has made an estimate of the increase in quarry operators' power costs in order to assess this impact.
Answer
The UK Government expects the effect of its climate change levy on business energy use to be broadly neutral across business as a whole. No separate assessments of the impact on rural areas have been made.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 14 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding will be made available for the proposed Cairngorms National Park and whether any such funding will be utilised in a way that encourages the pursuit of sport and recreation.
Answer
The statutory consultation being conducted by Scottish Natural Heritage on the proposal for a Cairngorms National Park is required to address the matter of funding. That report is due on 13 July. Scottish Ministers will wish to take note of these findings in determining the funding levels through the usual processes of the public expenditure round.The National Park authority will determine exactly how they use their funding, but this must be consistent with the purpose of furthering their aims, one of which is "to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public".
