- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 4 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the process, detailing each stage, that written parliamentary questions go through after it receives them and whether it will publish any guidance notes issued to civil servants in relation to the drafting of answers to written and oral parliamentary questions.
Answer
The basic process which is followed is set out below:
Question and template for answer received by Parliamentary Clerk, Scottish Executive from the Chamber Office. Parliamentary Clerk allocates to appropriate Executive Department and issues question and template for answer in electronic form to Departmental Secretariat.
Departmental Secretariat issues question and template to appropriate official to prepare draft answer.
Appropriate official drafts answer. Depending on the question, this is likely to involve liaison with colleagues in other parts of the Executive, Whitehall departments or other bodies.
Draft answer cleared by senior official in Department and returned to Departmental Secretariat.
Draft answer considered by appropriate Minister(s) and any changes discussed with the Department.
Answer lodged with Member and Chamber Office by Parliamentary Clerk.Guidance was issued in May 1999 setting out the above process. Some existing Scottish Office guidance remains of relevance, eg on the interaction of PQs with data protection requirements. Arrangements for liaison with the UK Government on PQs are contained in the Memorandum of Understanding and Concordats. The Civil Service Management Code and the Scottish Ministerial Code also inform the role of civil servants in preparing answers to Parliamentary Questions. These various sources of guidance are being drawn together to create comprehensive guidance for staff on PQs, which will issue shortly. This guidance will also provide advice on dealing with common forms of questions. I will place a copy of this guidance in the Parliament's Reference Centre once it is complete.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 28 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current method for calculating funding awards to tackle deprivation takes account of areas suffering from poverty that may be part of larger communities that are deemed to be affluent and, if not, what plans it has to ensure that such funding awards are made available to these areas.
Answer
I shall answer this and Mr Lochhead's subsequent question (S1W-3749) together.In the reply of 13 January to a similar question from Mr Lewis Macdonald (No. S1O-902) we be explained that there is no single method of allocating resources for tackling deprivation across the range of the Executive's programmes.The reply also pointed out that the Social Justice Report, published in November 1999, makes clear that we will exploring how planning systems can be developed to ensure expenditure is effective and relevant to the problems experienced by particular groups and communities.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 28 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details on the methods, formulae, and criteria used to calculate funding awards for projects aimed at tackling social inclusion and whether it has any plans to make changes to ensure that all pockets of poverty are identified.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given in S1W-3748.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3200 on 24 December 1999 by Ross Finnie, whether it plans to introduce any measures in connection with the labelling of meat and meat products with the country of origin and, if so, what form these measures will take.
Answer
As explained in my answer of 24 December 1999 to a related question from Irene McGugan, the Scottish Executive issued a consultation paper seeking views from interested parties on this matter. Responses to the consultation exercise are being considered with a view to amending the Guidance Notes on the Food Labelling Regulations to clarify and strengthen the guidance relating to country of origin. No change to the Regulations themselves is proposed.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of its response to the European Union proposal to delay implementation of the beef labelling system established under EC Regulation 820/97.
Answer
I attended the EU council meeting in December at which the proposals for a compulsory beef labelling scheme were deferred by the EU until 1 September 2000. I support the introduction of a mandatory beef labelling scheme that would provide clear information to consumers as soon as is practicable. Officials from my department are participating in discussions within the EU on the new regulations.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 28 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage the Automobile Association to include the promotion of Scottish tourist attractions in its Benefits Guide which is distributed to its nine million members.
Answer
This is an operational matter for the Scottish Tourist Board but they are currently in discussion with the Automobile Association.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 25 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any correspondence or communication between The Scotland Office and/or The Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on the subject of the Scottish fisheries 'one.
Answer
Mr Lochhead should direct his question about correspondence between the Scotland Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the Secretary of State of Scotland.Regarding the correspondence between the Scottish Executive and other parties, Mr Finnie wrote to the Secretary of State about this issue on 20 June 1999. This letter has been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 25 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place, prior to 1 July 1999, between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and The Scottish Office on the definition of the Scottish fisheries 'one and whether, at any stage, MAFF suggested alternative boundaries other than that finally agreed and, if so, what were their co-ordinates.
Answer
The Scottish Executive cannot comment on the actions of a previous administration.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 25 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to withdraw or relax any control regulations in the light of the introduction of satellite monitoring of fishing vessels and, if so, which regulations.
Answer
Satellite monitoring arrangements apply to fishing vessels over 24 metres in overall length and are intended to supplement existing control measures.
As yet experience has to be gained of the practical operation of satellite monitoring. However, the Community has amended the rules for the Shetland Box so that satellite position reports may be accepted as fulfilling the obligations on masters of vessels over 24 metres to notify entry into and exit from the Box.The implications of satellite monitoring arrangements have also been considered as part of a recent review of pelagic management arrangements undertaken by a joint industry/Fisheries Departments working group. The group's report recommended, and we have agreed, some consequential changes to the arrangements for the exchange and uplift of pelagic licences. A copy of the report has been placed in SPICe for information. The Fisheries Departments will be writing to pelagic interests shortly setting out detailed guidance on the new arrangements.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 25 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the progress is of current research into seal populations including population dynamics and their impact on fish stocks and what its policy is on controlling the seal population.
Answer
Under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, the Natural Environment Research Council is required to provide Scottish Ministers with scientific advice on matters related to the management of seal populations. In practice this advice is provided on an annual basis. I have just received the 1999 report and I will be considering its contents very carefully. I will ensure that a copy of this report is placed with SPICe.A range of individual research projects are underway to investigate different aspects of interactions between seals and fish, for example, seals and salmon on the River Conon and the feeding habits of seals in Lochs Shieldaig and Torridon.The Conservation of Seals Act 1970 already permits the shooting of seals, provided that an appropriately licensed firearm is used, during the open seasons; and limited shooting under licence during the close seasons for the prevention of damage to fisheries. Current policy recognises that control of seal predation on fisheries is best handled at the local level.
