- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 27 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what links presently exist between its special advisers and a Labour party research unit; whether it plans to improve any such links and, if so, what improvements will be made and at what cost, and whether any such links will involve people who are working for the civil service.
Answer
Special Advisers are appointed to advise the First Minister in the development of Scottish Executive policy and its effective presentation.
The arrangements governing the relationship between Special Advisers and party, including party research departments are detailed in their contract, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 27 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding for training and guidance for general practitioners to assess and diagnose ill health caused by exposure to organophosphates.
Answer
General practitioners, like other professionals, are encouraged to look at their own personal learning needs and the health needs of their patients and to seek training in specific areas. Guidance and assistance is available from the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (SCPMDE) via the Postgraduate Directors of General Practice Education. Each GP already receives an annual Postgraduate Education Allowance to support an agreed amount of training.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 23 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the appointment of Reporters in planning inquiries; whether it will detail any plans to review the method of appointment, and whether such appointments should in future be made independent of it.
Answer
As with other Scottish Executive civil servants, full-time Reporters are selected on merit through fair and open recruitment competition and appointed by the Scottish Executive Directorate of Personnel and Pay following the successful completion of a probationary period.
When the workload so demands, the Chief Reporter makes appointments to inquiries from the Part-time Reporters Panel, who are not employees but act in a consultant capacity, on a case-by-case basis.
There are no plans at present to alter these arrangements.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 23 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications have been called in by Scottish Ministers and a Reporter appointed and how many were called in where Historic Scotland opposed the proposed development, in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The information required is only available from 1993, and is as follows:
Year | Total applications called-in | Total called-in because of Historic Scotland objection |
1993 | 24 | 1 |
1994 | 14 | 0 |
1995 | 24 | 0 |
1996 | 28 | 0 |
1997 | 37 | 1 |
1998 | 24 | 4 |
1999 | 45 | 0 |
2000 (to date) | 30 | 0 |
Totals | 226 | 6 |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 23 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a Biodiversity Action Plan corncrake seminar in 2000 and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
It is for the Steering Group of the UK Corncrake Biodiversity Action Plan to decide whether a corncrake seminar is required as part of its work programme. I understand that they do not intend to hold a Biodiversity Action Plan seminar in 2000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 23 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many planning applications for listed building consent, which have not yet been determined and concluded, has a decision been made by Scottish Ministers to call in the application and to appoint a Reporter where the opposition to the application has been maintained by Historic Scotland, in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:-
The number of applications for listed building and conservation area consent called-in by Scottish Ministers (or previously the Secretary of State) under the appropriate legislation has been as follows:
Year | Applications Called-in |
1989 | 6 |
1990 | 9 |
1991 | 7 |
1992 | 2 |
1993 | 4 |
1994 | 5 |
1995 | 3 |
1996 | 8 |
1997 | 2 |
1998 | 5 |
1999 | 8 |
With the exception of one application calling in during 1999, all applications called in between 1989 and 1999 have been determined and concluded.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been and will be taken to ensure that the planning appeals system is compliant with Article 6(1) of the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-6799 on 30 May 2000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates its Cabinet has discussed a small business rates relief scheme.
Answer
The Cabinet regularly discusses issues relating to the financing of local government of which matters relating to business rates forms part.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 8 December 1999 it has met representatives of the Assessors to discuss a small business rates relief scheme and when it will next meet such representatives.
Answer
The Executive meets regularly with the Scottish Assessors to discuss a number of non-domestic rating matters, including assistance for small businesses.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 22 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Federation of Small Businesses' proposal for a small business rates relief scheme has been discussed at any meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee and, if so, on what dates.
Answer
The Joint Ministerial Committee has not discussed this matter.
