- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take following the publication of the 4th Report, 2001 of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee Report on the Inquiry into Fuel Prices in Remoter Rural Areas and in particular whether it has arranged to meet the Petrol Retailers Association and the Scottish Motor Trade Association to discuss how to address the lower turnover or throughput of small petrol stations.
Answer
The Scottish Executive welcomes the committee's constructive and balanced contribution to what is a very important issue for rural Scotland.As the report notes, the Executive already offers rates and capital support for eligible rural petrol stations. The Executive is nevertheless happy to meet with the Petrol Retailers Association and the Scottish Motor Trade Association to discuss the issues in greater detail.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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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
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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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
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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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.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations have been made into the means by which the foot-and-mouth disease virus has been transmitted during the current outbreak and whether geese have acted as vectors of transmission or whether this possibility can be ruled out.
Answer
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. Half the remainder are thought to have arisen because of vehicle movements. The sources of the rest are still being investigated. Geese are not considered to have been the source of disease spread.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has obtained any report by the Standing Veterinary Committee on amnesic shellfish poisoning and, if so, when it will publish a response; whether it has any plans to introduce a replacement method of tiered testing of scallops and, if so, when any necessary subordinate legislation will be brought forward.
Answer
Responsibility for this issue rests with the Food Standards Agency who have advised me that this matter was discussed by EU scientific experts on 3-4 April. The formal report of the meeting is expected shortly, though it is expected to be generally supportive of the principle of the tiered approach. The agency will consider the scientific report, along with the requirements for an enforcement regime to maintain consumer safety, before making final recommendations. If changes to subordinate legislation are required, these will be brought forward at the earliest opportunity.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of licensed hotel premises have a rateable value of more than #12,500 in local authority areas with businesses which qualify for the enhanced foot-and-mouth disease related contribution for rates relief of 95%.
Answer
Information on the number of hotels, boarding houses etc. with rateable values of £12,000 or less was given in the answer to question S1W-14858. Data on licensed hotel premises are not held separately.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 February 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will use in deciding whether to grant approval to proposed GM crop trial sites; in particular, how it will decide whether such trials pose a threat to (a) the environment and (b) public safety and whether it will make details of any such criteria public in advance of the formal notification of any proposed sites in Scotland.
Answer
Statute requires that decisions on whether to approve the growing of a particular GM crop on specific sites are based solely on scientific evidence. This has been made absolutely clear in all pronouncements made since the farm scale evaluation programme started last year. The decision to approve the sites for this year's programme was taken on advice from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Health and Safety Executive and the Food Standards Agency that this crop does not pose a threat to human health or the environment. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment also advised that no new evidence had emerged for it to amend its recommendation that these crops could be grown in safety.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 19 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the guidance, direction or advice given to (a) visitscotland, (b) Scottish Enterprise and (c) Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the way in which the additional funding for businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak can be used and, in particular, whether direct financial aid to businesses has been ruled out other than by way of a refund of the subscriptions to area tourist boards paid by businesses.
Answer
I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-14552 and S1W-14860.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 18 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the total sums which will accrue to (a) lawyers and (b) accountants from the #5 million funding to the Enterprise Network for businesses hit by the consequences of foot-and-mouth disease.
Answer
Where possible, businesses affected by the foot and mouth outbreak will receive advice from the relevant Small Business Gateway and Local Enterprise Company advisers. However, if additional assistance is required, the extra funding for the Enterprise Networks will allow such advice to be provided. Highlands and Islands Enterprise has decided to make discretionary grants of up to £2,000 available to support businesses towards the costs of accessing survival experts. This may involve lawyers and accountants. As support will be demand driven it is too early to say what the relevant costs might be across Scotland as a whole.