- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 17 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers and crofters have submitted statements of intent to make applications for funding under the Scottish Rural Development Programme in the last year, broken down by SGRPID office area, and how many of the applications have so far received red light and amber light responses.
Answer
We are not able to identify the number of applicants to the Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities element of the SRDP who are farmers or crofters. The scheme is also open to a range of other land managers, rural businesses and community groups.
As at 30 June, 1,026 SoIs had been submitted, of which 232 had been awarded an amber rating and 258 awarded a red rating.
Applications can be submitted to any of the local offices of SGRPID, Scottish Natural Heritage or the Forestry Commission in Scotland. These cases are allocated to one of 11 Regions. The regional boundaries are shown on the SRDP website.
The breakdown of applications submitted by region is as follows:
Northern Isles – 64
Highland – 143
Grampian – 368
Outer Hebrides – 31
Tayside – 94
Forth – 78
Borders – 137
Ayrshire – 43
Clyde Valley – 19
Argyll – 47
Dumfries and Galloway – 96.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking in partnership with local authorities to address mental health problems.
Answer
Our partnership approach to improving the mental health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland is focussed on health promotion, prevention, recovery and ensuring quality, integrated mental health services are available for all who need them.
We are working with all partners to deliver that ambition.
Progress will be achieved through delivery of the specific HEAT targets and other commitments for mental health. I also expect the mental health priority to be reflected in single outcome agreements.
I expect these to be agreed with all 32 local authorities by the end of this month.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 19 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many crofters submitted applications to the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme in 2006 before the deadline of 31 December 2006 without having in place the necessary economic status test documentation and, of this number, how many were (a) rejected because of the lack of such documentation and (b) accepted because they had been informed by the Crofters Commission that relevant alternative income information could be submitted in place of the missing documentation and had submitted such alternative information.
Answer
This is an operational matter for the Crofters Commission, which administers the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme on behalf of Scottish ministers. I have asked the commission’s chief executive to write to you with the information you request.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 18 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that there are equity profits to be made under non-profit distributing schemes.
Answer
A key feature in the non-profit distributing model is the lack of equity capital as it has a 100% debt funded structure. This means that the returns to the private sector are capped and that any surpluses generated are retained and used for the benefit of the public interest.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 18 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out the procurement, timetable and financing plans for the replacement Forth crossing before autumn 2008.
Answer
Decisions on these matters will be made before the end of 2008.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 18 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the “14 possible options for work to be carried out under the umbrella of the Scottish Futures Trust”, described by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 5 June 2008 in motion S3M-2057, have been identified as suitable for financing the replacement Forth crossing.
Answer
As members have been informed previously, the procurement and financing options for the Forth replacement crossing will be brought to the Parliament in 2008.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 18 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still considering the use of the non-profit distribution model to finance the replacement Forth crossing.
Answer
Transport Scotland is currently reviewing various funding options available for the Forth replacement crossing, including the use of the non-profit distribution model.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 18 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it discovered that patriotic bonds would not be a viable method of financing the replacement Forth crossing.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14013 on 18 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 18 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all “14 possible options for work to be carried out under the umbrella of the Scottish Futures Trust”, described by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 5 June 2008 in motion S3M-2057, are currently subject to further development.
Answer
The Scottish Futures Trust, which is to be set up this summer, will further develop the 14 delivery and funding concepts set out in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605).
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 18 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the replacement Forth crossing to open.
Answer
The Forth Replacement Crossing is expected to open in 2016.
