- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 29 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs incurred by the pig industry of compliance with regulations to eradicate BSE amount to approximately one tenth of revenue, and whether it considers that BSE cannot be transmitted through pigs.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is unable to confirm the estimate of the cost to the pig industry of compliance with the regulations to eradicate BSE. Any such estimates depend on a range of assumptions relating to costs and market returns.
A number of research projects on BSE and pigs have been carried out. Whilst not all of these experiments are complete, there is no evidence that BSE can be transmitted orally to pigs.The Scottish Executive remains of the view that it is in Scotland's interests to maintain vigorous and effective controls to eradicate BSE.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 29 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to ensure that all GPs in Scotland have access to the best possible information on the available treatments for prostate cancer.
Answer
The treatment for prostate cancer involves a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy in different measures according to factors such as the stage of the disease and the patient's degree of fitness. GPs would not normally decide on the treatment, but appropriate GP involvement can be secured through referral protocols and communication. Through the provision of electronic links to all GP practices, steps have already been taken to ensure that GPs in Scotland have access to the best possible information about treatment for prostate cancer.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 29 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies and voluntary organisations whose representatives have (a) supported and (b) not supported the fuel duty escalator.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not have the information requested as the fuel duty is a reserved matter.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 26 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the water supply at Bracara does not pose any health risk to consumers.
Answer
I am satisfied that the water supply at Bracara does not pose any health risk to consumers. The treatment necessary to protect public health has however resulted in some taste problems. The long-term solution to this is investment to improve the treatment works, in line with our programme for Government commitment.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing for those debtors whose total unsecured debts do not exceed a specified and relatively small limit, an alternative to sequestration such as the administration order which is available in England, or a procedure which provides a respite within which to determine whether a sequestration decree is necessary.
Answer
he Scottish Executive has no immediate plans to introduce such changes to the law, but will keep the matter under consideration.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the annual report of the Accountant of Bankruptcy for 1998-99 and whether it is considering reform of the law of sequestration in relation to protected trust deeds.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has received the annual report of the Accountant in Bankruptcy for 1998-99 and is considering reform of the law of sequestration in relation to protected trust deeds.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many protected trust deeds were registered in the financial years 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.
Answer
The number of Protected Trust Deeds registered in each of the years is:
1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 |
525 | 532 | 890 | 1,574 |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 23 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Highlands and Islands Convention will next meet and whether all MSPs representing the Highlands and Islands (including both constituency and regional list members) will be members of the Convention.
Answer
We are currently considering the future of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands. An announcement will be made in the near future.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 23 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for funding under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme are currently pending, what the total amount of funding sought by these applications is and what action it is taking to determine the outcome of these applications.
Answer
There have been 3,955 grant applications made under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) since 1 August and up to the statutory closing date of 31 October 1999. All are currently being processed. The total grant value of these applications is estimated at £22.8 million.As announced on 16 November, an extra £1 million is being made available for ABIS, thus raising the total amount still to be allocated by 31 December 1999 to £2.2 million. I announced on 16 November that, in the light of consultations, the money will be used to fund resource audits, information technology, alternative agricultural production, mobile sheep fanks and dippers, residential letting and self-standing systems for the storage and disposal of farm waste.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 23 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Highlands and Islands Convention will have an opportunity to consider the Highlands and Islands Special Programme 2001-06 and, in particular, whether it will have an opportunity to consider the priorities for action and the project selection criteria listed in the consultative draft plan before they are finalised.
Answer
The Highlands and Islands Special Programme has now been submitted to the European Commission and will be finalised in negotiation with the Commission over the next few months. The plan has already been the subject of widespread consultation throughout the Highlands and Islands.We are currently considering the future of the Convention. An announcement will be made in the near future.
