- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 11 December 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what the value of sporting rates collected was in the last full year of their operation, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
An exemption from business rates for ‘shootings, deer forests, fishing and fish counters’, often referred to as ‘sporting rates’ has been in place since 1995-96.
The Scottish Government does not hold records of the amount of sporting rates collected, broken down by local authority area, but notes that UK Ministers advised the UK Parliament in 1994 that annual sporting rates income in Scotland were estimated at £2 million.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 4 December 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19629 by Alex Neil on 4 March 2014, what discussions it has had with the Department of Health regarding the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.
Answer
The warning letters stage of the Penrose Inquiry, which is a complex and detailed part of the process, is not yet complete. I have recently received a letter from Lord Penrose providing a progress update on the work of the inquiry. Lord Penrose has advised that the warning letter process is still ongoing, but he will be in a position to announce a publication date for his report as soon as that process is complete.
All persons who may be the subject of significant or explicit criticism in the report will receive warning letters. There is a duty of confidence in relation to the warning letters, so disclosure of the contents is not permitted. The obligation of confidentiality only ends when the final report is published, which prevents any discussion of the content with the Department of Health at this stage.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 3 December 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19628 by Alex Neil on 20 February 2014, what steps it has taken in light of the delay in the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV, and what further steps it will take.
Answer
My predecessor wrote to Lord Penrose on 11 November 2014 asking if he was yet in a position to provide an update on the publication of his report.
A reply has now been received from Lord Penrose and he has advised that the warning letter process is still on-going but he will be in a position to announce a publication date for his report as soon as it is complete.
As the member will be aware, the Penrose Inquiry is independent of Scottish Ministers and it is for the Chairman, Lord Penrose, to decide on the progress and timetabling of the Inquiry.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 3 December 2014
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22278 by Alex Neil on 19 August 2014, whether it will provide an update on the progress of the publication of the report of the Scottish Public Inquiry into Hepatitis C/HIV.
Answer
My predecessor wrote to Lord Penrose on 11 November 2014, asking if he was yet in a position to provide an update on the publication of his report.
A reply has now been received from Lord Penrose and he has advised that the warning letter process is still on-going but he will be in a position to announce a publication date for his report as soon as it is complete.
As the member will be aware, the Penrose Inquiry is independent of Scottish Ministers and it is for the Chairman, Lord Penrose, to decide on the progress and timetabling of the Inquiry.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2014
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the MV Loch Seaforth to enter commercial service on the Stornoway to Ullapool route.
Answer
The construction of the MV Loch Seaforth has now been completed and was handed over to CalMac Ferries Ltd on 24 October 2014.
The necessary infrastructure works to enable the MV Loch Seaforth to berth at Stornoway have to be completed before the new vessel can enter service on the Ullapool-Stornoway route.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the change in ownership of the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard in Germany had on the completion time of the MV Loch Seaforth.
Answer
Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd took overall control of the MV Loch Seaforth on 10 October 2014. The vessel’s completion date was not impacted by negotiations over the acquisition of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2014
To ask the Scottish Government how overdue the MV Loch Seaforth is in entering (a) sea trials and (b) service.
Answer
The original delivery date of the MV Loch Seaforth was 30 June 2014. Owing to a number of factors, including storm damage to the yard, dry docking of the vessel to resolve a problem with the propeller system and partial sea trials, the delivery date was delayed. The vessel was finally completed and handed over to CalMac Ferries Ltd on 24 October 2014.
The MV Loch Seaforth is currently undergoing further sea trials and following the completion of harbour works at Stornoway she will shortly be entering service on the Ullapool-Stornoway route.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 November 2014
To ask the Scottish Government whether recent negotiations over the ownership of the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard have delayed the final fitting out and preparation of systems on the MV Loch Seaforth.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23020 on 20 November 2014. 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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 November 2014
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with The Highland Council about the A890 Stromeferry bypass.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2014
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2014
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 12 November 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish domestic abuse courts across the country.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 12 November 2014