- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 15 November 2001
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive has confidence in the ability of BEAR Scotland Ltd to fulfil its obligations in maintaining and keeping clear roads in the north of Scotland.
Answer
All the private sector companies responsible for trunk road maintenance need to demonstrate that their arrangements meet the detailed and exacting requirements set out in their contracts.Contractors' performance is reviewed and monitored continuously by the Performance Audit Group who report to the Scottish Executive. If the contractors fail to perform there are a range of sanctions that the Scottish Executive could take.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 13 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of the survey and research work carried out in relation to Rum by, or on behalf of, Scottish Natural Heritage from April 1992 to date.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19505.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 13 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy on community ownership extends to property owned by Scottish Natural Heritage and, in particular, to the communities on Rum.
Answer
The Scottish Executive's proposals, contained in the draft Land Reform Bill which provides for a community right to buy, extend to the whole of rural Scotland, including property owned by Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 13 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has cost Scottish Natural Heritage to manage Rum in each year since April 1992.
Answer
This is a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 13 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16955 by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001, how many residential units have been built on the Isle of Rum in each year from 1957 compared with the total annual population of the island in each year from 1957 for which figures are available.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19505.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 13 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from Mallaig Community Council supporting the appointment of a Minister for Tourism.
Answer
Yes.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to Her Majesty's Government in relation to the introduction of the Aggregates Tax from April 2002 at a flat rate levy of #1.60 per ton in Scotland, in particular on whether the European Commission has advised whether the #1.60 per ton flat rate levy in Scotland would constitute a breach of European law and, specifically, constitute a discriminatory barrier against free trade and a breach of competition law.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the Aggregates Tax. Responsibility for dealing with the European Commission on UK taxation matters lies with HM Treasury.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 12 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform the law in relation to rights of servitude and whether the power of feudal superiors and landowners in relation to the law of servitude and, in particular, on denial of rights of access should be reformed.
Answer
The Executive has no plans to introduce a fundamental reform of the law relating to servitude rights, but the proposed Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill contains a number of consequential changes to the law on servitudes as a result of the reform of the law on real burdens. As drafted, the Bill will prevent the future creation of negative servitudes (which are usually restrictions on building for the protection of light or prospect), and will convert the few existing negative servitudes into real burdens. Servitudes which are expressly created by title deeds will have to be registered against both the burdened and the benefited properties. These servitudes which are constituted by registration will also no longer be restricted in type to the list of servitudes currently set out in a rule of law. The Bill will also make it clear that it is possible for a right to lead a pipe, cable or wire over land to be constituted as a positive servitude.The use of servitudes is not directly linked to feudal superiorities since a servitude is created for the benefit of a proprietor of land to exercise certain rights on or over adjoining land: it is not possible for a bare superiority to be the dominant tenement, or benefited property, in respect of a servitude. After the appointed day for feudal abolition, servitudes will remain an obligation enjoyed by one property in respect of another.Servitudes are separate from public rights of way. The law of servitudes is used to create rights for limited purposes, for example rights of access, not to deny rights of access.The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill will provide a right of responsible access to land and inland water for recreation and passage. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides guidance on the rights and responsibilities of public access. It is intended that the Bill will be introduced in Parliament shortly.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 12 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in the construction industry in each of the last four years and how many people it estimates will be employed in each of the four years following the introduction of the Aggregates Tax in 2002.
Answer
The Labour Force Survey, run by the Office of National Statistics, shows that the number of people employed in the construction industry in Scotland (including employees, self-employed, and government trainees), is approximately 180,000. Forecasts compiled by independent sources estimate that construction employment in Scotland could grow by up to 10% over the next few years.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the European Commission in respect of the impact on the Scottish economy of the introduction of the Aggregates Tax at a flat rate levy of #1.60 per ton, given the lower rate levied in some other European Countries.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19492.
