- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 14 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there should be a minimum sum payable under the common agricultural policy by way of subsidies to any one farm unit and, if so, what that amount should be.
Answer
We are currently evaluating the Commission's proposals for reform of the CAP, but I am not aware of any suggestion that there should be an automatic minimum payment available to individual farm businesses.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 13 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any estimate of the increase in visitors' spending which may result should the Inverness Highland bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2008 be successful.
Answer
The assessment of economic implications associated with the bid by Inverness Highland to become European Capital of Culture 2008 was obtained by the team developing the bid, and is reproduced in their application document. It estimates that, should the bid be successful, this may result in additional visitor spend for 2008 of over £230 million (at 2000 prices).
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 13 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a new Children's Science Centre should be established within the Highlands and, if so, what work requires to be done in order to investigate the feasibility of such an initiative; whether there will be a feasibility plan and, if so, whether the Highland Council will be responsible for arranging the plan, and what the cost would be and whether the Scottish Executive would fund the cost.
Answer
Questions relating to any proposed new science centre would be an issue for those making the proposal. The Executive has no plans to provide funding for any new science centres.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers have received an estimated total subsidy payment for food produce in excess of ?300,000 at current exchange rates in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
Available and comparable data indicate that the total number of farm businesses receiving over €300,000 in direct CAP subsidies for commodity food production in each year was as follows:
| Year | Number of Farms |
| | |
| 1995 32 | 32 |
| 1996 32 | 32 |
| 1997 42 | 42 |
| 1998 59 | 59 |
| 1999 33 | 33 |
| 2000 34 | 34 |
| 2001 49 | 49 |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the circumstances under which primary schools should lose a teacher following a decrease in the school roll; whether such reductions in teacher complement should not take effect over a period of one year but over a longer period, and what guidance it will give to local authorities on this matter.
Answer
The responsibility for the management of publicly funded schools, including the recruitment and deployment of teachers rests with individual local authorities. Within that responsibility it is a matter for local authorities to determine the most appropriate rate of change in staffing levels when a school roll declines. The Scottish Executive does not intend to issue guidance on this matter.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 12 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any disclosures made by Mr Peter McMahon to media in respect of the former First Minister constitute breaches of confidentiality; if so, which specific disclosures so constitute breaches of confidentiality; what the reasons are for not taking action against any such breaches; whether, had any such breaches been made by a former civil servant rather than by a former special adviser, it would have treated them differently, and, in particular, whether action would have been taken in such a case.
Answer
The articles written by Peter McMahon commenting on events when he was a special adviser did not contain anything which involved a significant breach of his duties in respect of confidential government information. On that basis legal action could not be justified. Civil servants, including special advisers, are bound by a duty of confidentiality and legal action would be considered against any existing or former civil servant, including special advisers, where there was a significant breach of that duty.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 5 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether hostel accommodation for backpackers in Scotland should meet essential minimum standards and, if so, what standards should be met giving full details, and whether the assessment of hostel accommodation in Scotland should be based on premises meeting such essential standards rather than in accordance with a grading scheme allocating them a number of stars from one to five.
Answer
Standards for Hostel Accommodation for backpackers in Scotland are a matter for local authorities. VisitScotland runs a voluntary Quality Assurance scheme for hostel accommodation for backpackers, under which such establishments can choose whether or not to participate.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 2 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has convened the meeting between the forestry industry and COSLA representatives to discuss timber transport and rural roads issues as agreed by the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development on 30 May 2002 (Official Report c 12540) and whether increased investment in rural roads is in the interests of the forestry industry.
Answer
I understand that the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development has written to COSLA regarding a meeting, but no date has been arranged as yet.On investment, the Executive's Scottish Forestry Strategy identifies the development of timber transport infrastructure as a priority for action. However, it remains a matter for councils to determine their priorities on the maintenance of local roads used by timber transport, in terms of all the resources for which they are responsible, and to allocate resources to individual projects accordingly.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 2 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met The Highland Council in connection with a proposal for a feasibility study in respect of a Stromeferry bypass.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 July 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 2 August 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the exercise of powers by local authorities to impose weight restrictions on roads may lead to areas of forest becoming isolated and whether any such action should be the subject of consultation with the Executive before it is taken.
Answer
Decisions on the management of local roads, including the imposition of weight restrictions, are a matter for local authorities. Consultation with the Executive on individual cases would not be appropriate. Wider issues concerning transport infrastructure and access to forest areas are being taken forward by the Timber Transport Forum.The Executive is aware of difficulties which can arise where areas of forest can become isolated or landlocked. In such circumstances, local authorities work closely with the forestry industry to identify alternative haulage routes, wherever possible.
