- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 20 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishing boats are currently licensed solely to fish for scallops, and of those, how many are affected by the current ban on scallop fishing, and how many people's incomes have been affected as a result of the ban.
Answer
There are no vessels currently licensed to fish solely for scallops. At present there are 214 over 10 metre vessels, administered by the Scottish Executive, which are licensed to fish for scallops by mechanical dredge in addition to other species appropriate to the terms of their licence. All vessels of 10 metres and under may fish for scallops.
Since vessels may fish for other species and in other areas, depending on the conditions of the licence, it is not possible to determine definitively how many fishermen's incomes may have been affected by the ban on scallop fishing which began on 9th July in certain sea areas in the west of Scotland. Local assessments suggest that many of the larger vessels have targeted other species or re-located; so far, the total value of landings recorded centrally for the first seven months of this year by those over 10 metre vessels licensed to fish for scallops by mechanical dredge is about 3 per cent higher than the same period last year. It is not possible accurately to assess the effect on smaller vessels. We recognise the importance of the scallop fishery, and we will lift the restriction as soon as it is safe to do so. The safety of consumers is the overriding priority.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations, dated 4 August 1999, from the Western Isles Fisherman's Association asking it to take steps to alleviate the severe financial difficulties faced by some of its members and, if so, what response it will make to these representations.
Answer
Yes. A letter has been received from the Western Isles Fisherman's Association requesting the early opening of specific grid boxes within the scallop grounds which are currently closed due to high levels of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning. The letter also expressed concern over the activities of scallop divers.
A reply to the Association was sent on 6 August 1999 providing them with a copy of the results from the grid boxes mentioned. Further results from the latest round of sampling which took place last week are awaited and these results will be considered as soon as they become available.The comments regarding scallop divers have been passed to the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and Western Isles Council who are responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of the Emergency Closure Orders.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 20 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has examined the impact on the Scottish economy of the current level of taxation on hauliers and motorists, and if so, whether it will provide information on its findings.
Answer
The Scottish Executive undertakes regular analysis of the current and future prospects for the Scottish economy. However, decisions on levels of taxation of motoring and haulage are reserved under Schedule 5 of the Scotland Act and are therefore a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 17 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has met with the Chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne since Dr Mills' appointment to that position and, if so, on what dates.
Answer
No, the First Minister has not met the Chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd since Dr Mills' appointment to that position. However, I met Dr Mills on Thursday 5 August.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 17 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any recent representations from the Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association regarding amnesic shellfish poisoning and, if so, whether it will make a statement.
Answer
The Scottish Executive received a letter from the Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association dated 20 August. The letter covered a range of issues, including amnesic shellfish poisoning. I have issued a reply to this letter.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-521 by Mr Jack McConnell on 23 August, how the #100 average cost of answering a Scottish Parliamentary Question was calculated and whether this average cost is a mode, median or mean average.
Answer
The £100 average cost was calculated by estimating the amount of time spent by members of staff of the Scottish Executive on dealing with a limited sample of Scottish Parliamentary Questions covering a range of subjects. Staff time was costed to include, for each grade of staff, a share of the overhead costs of the Scottish Executive. The overhead costs are based on expenditure in 1998-99. The total value of staff time was divided by the number of questions in the study to arrive at an average cost per question of about £100.The preliminary work to assess average costs was undertaken over a short period and with a relatively small sample of questions so that a broad indication of costs could be provided quickly to members who asked for that information. The Executive intends to undertake a detailed study of the cost of answering questions over the coming months and will make the results of that exercise available to members.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-521 by Mr Jack McConnell on 23 August, whether the reference to the #100 average cost of answering a Scottish Parliamentary Question being consistent with evidence from the UK Parliament means that the cost of answering Scottish Parliamentary Questions is (a) the same as or (b) different from the cost of answering UK Parliamentary Questions and, if it is different, whether the cost of answering Scottish Parliamentary Questions is more or less, and by how much, than the cost of answering UK Parliamentary Questions.
Answer
The average cost of £100 for answering written Scottish Parliamentary Questions is an estimate based on preliminary work undertaken over a short period and using a relatively small sample of questions. The Executive intends to undertake a detailed study of the cost of answering questions over the coming months and will make the results of that exercise available to members.The last comprehensive exercise to assess the cost of answering Westminster Parliamentary Questions was undertaken in 1991. The resulting average cost figure is uprated on an annual basis. The latest published figure for the average cost of answering written questions is £115 (Hansard, 11 March 1999, Column 363). This reflects uprating to April 1998.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 17 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the recommendations of the House of Commons Select Committee on Scottish Affairs' Report on "Tourism in Scotland" (published on 21 July 1999) it (a) accepts, (b) is inclined to accept, (c) wishes to consider further and (d) rejects, and what the reasons are in each case.
Answer
We are preparing a new strategy for tourism which will address the issues raised by the Select Committee's report. The strategy will be published in January 2000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use powers under Schedule 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to make regulations with regard to Section 6 of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956, and in particular whether it will use the powers prescribed thereunder to make regulations in order to reduce business rates for smaller businesses.
Answer
The powers under Schedule 12 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to make regulations with regard to Section 6 of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956 may be used to prescribe how the Net Annual Value (NAV) of lands and heritages is calculated. It would therefore not be appropriate to introduce a rate relief scheme for small businesses under these powers.Powers do exist in terms of Section 153 of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 to prescribe the amount payable in non-domestic rates in respect of any lands and heritages. We will consider whether rates relief for small businesses is needed in the light of the results of the independent revaluation survey of the rates base (expected in late autumn).
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 17 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive who will prepare the new strategy for tourism.
Answer
The Scottish Tourist Board will prepare the strategy, working in partnership with the member organisations of the Scottish Tourism Co-ordinating Group which include the Scottish Tourism Forum, and under my direction.
