- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 April 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 8 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease reported in the Sunday Post on 22 April 2001 as having been caused by migrating geese and whether it will place the findings of any such investigation in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
Geese are not considered to be the source of foot-and-mouth disease spread. This is due to the birds natural behaviour. Geese have to keep themselves clean in order to migrate successfully and there is a high probability that most of the geese will not come into contact with susceptible livestock. Based on initial analysis and epidemiological information, it is estimated that around 90% of the cases of infection are attributable to local spread between premises caused by animal and people movements.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 4 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rates relief scheme for businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak is to be granted by local authorities under the terms of the Local Government Finance Act 1966 and, if not, on what statutory basis the scheme rests.
Answer
Local authorities have the power to remit rates on account of hardship in accordance with section 25A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1966 as inserted by section 156 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 4 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider increasing its estimated contribution of #3.5 million to the cost of meeting a rates relief scheme for businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and, if so, what sum it will make available for such an increase.
Answer
We will meet 95% of the cost of providing hardship relief from rates for businesses affected by the foot and mouth outbreak occupying property with a rateable value up to £12,000 in 17 rural local authority areas. We will also fund 75% of the cost of providing such relief for larger businesses and those in other areas. However, the scheme is not cash limited and its terms will be kept under review.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 April 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 4 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated cost of the artificial fluoridation of water throughout Scotland.
Answer
Initial estimates by the Scottish water authorities suggest that fluoridating the water supplies where it is possible to do so, serving the majority of the population, would imply capital expenditure in the order of £29 million and annual running costs of £4 million. It is not practical technically to fluoridate some 15 per cent of public water supplies in Scotland. Some 2-3 per cent of the population is served by private water supplies. These costs might vary considerably if fluoridation schemes were introduced at local level at different times.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 06 April 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 4 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how the cost of the artifical fluoridation of water compares with fluoridated drinks or tablets.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to S1W-14947, which gives initial estimates of the cost of fluoridating public water supplies. Directly comparable costs for fluoridated milk or tablets are not available, since such schemes would normally focus only on particular population groups, especially children.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated #492,000 strategic co-ordination costs referred to in Proposals for a Highlands and Islands Integrated Transport Authority.
Answer
These calculations were based on the estimated salary and employer costs of those Executive staff who have responsibility relating to one or more functions that could be transferred to a HIITA. This extended to over 40 staff, principally in the roads and ferries Divisions, within the Executive's Development Department. Many of these staff also have responsibilities that would not be transferred, so an estimate was made of the time they spend on the "transferable" functions only and costs were adjusted accordingly.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 March 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive from which countries meat imports into Scotland are banned and whether meat is permitted to be imported into Scotland from any country in which foot and mouth disease is endemic.
Answer
Bans are imposed by the EU Commission as and when disease outbreaks are confirmed. As a result of the current outbreak of FMD, meat imports from three departments in France, four provinces in the Netherlands, one county in the Republic of Ireland and the areas of Newry and Mourne in Northern Ireland are banned. These restrictions are adapted as circumstances change. Meat imports are only permitted from countries or regions which are guaranteed free from FMD.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the source of infection has been in relation to each livestock unit where there has been a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease.
Answer
The spread of foot-and-mouth disease between livestock units appears mainly to have been by direct animal to animal contact or through people who have been in contact with animals acting as a conduit. Foot and mouth has been a particular problem in sheep, which have acted as a reservoir for the disease.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the division of Scotland into three 'ones for the purpose of controlling foot-and-mouth disease will affect the prices paid by slaughterhouses for livestock from each 'one and, if so, whether it will take any steps to prevent any potential variation in prices between 'ones.
Answer
It is too early to say how the zoning might affect livestock prices. The matter will be kept under review.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
-
Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether hotels whose rateable values exceed #12,500 are entitled to receive rates relief in respect of hardship as a consequence of the impact of foot and mouth disease and whether it will provide urgent direction to local authorities as to whether such hotels should or should not receive any relief.
Answer
Any business occupying a property with a rateable value above £12,000 in Scotland may apply for relief from rates providing it can be demonstrated that the business is suffering hardship. Local authorities are already aware that this relief is available but a reminder has been included in the guidance issued on 10 April. It is for the local authority to consider each case on its merits.
