- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 20 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the possible introduction of a tiered system of scallop testing would require a new enforcement regime and, if so, (a) whether such a regime would be more stringent in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK, (b) what measures such a regime might include, (c) whether it would be necessary to introduce such a regime via a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI) and (d) whether it will bring forward as soon as possible any such draft SSIs or guidelines for consideration in order to have any new regime in place for the opening of the 2001 scallop season.
Answer
The Food Standards Agency has advised me that the possible introduction of a tiered system of scallop testing and processing is likely to require a very robust enforcement regime in order to continue to ensure public safety. Enforcement controls, whilst being flexible enough to take account of local circumstances, will continue to be comparable across the UK. Advice is being taken on the suitability of existing statutory provisions for any tiered system. Should a new Scottish Statutory Instrument be necessary, the Food Standards Agency will ensure that there will be full and timely consultation.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 20 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will submit a full report to Her Majesty's Government on how another year's cessation of fishing for scallops would impact on the fishing communities and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to raise at the next Council of Ministers the importance of establishing a tiered system of testing scallops.
Answer
I announced to the Rural Affairs Committee on 31 October that I would commission a full economic analysis of the nature and location of the impact of the closures. I said that this work would also focus on maximising the industry's potential and its scope to adjust to new circumstances including possible changes to the testing regime.
The issue of establishing a tiered system for testing scallops is a public health matter and not appropriate business for the Fisheries Council.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding how the army might complement the contingency plans of the police relating to any future protests on the impact of fuel taxation and whether such plans will be made public.
Answer
The Executive, through its membership of the Ministerial Fuel Task Force and the Civil Contingencies Committee, has been involved in discussions about how the military might assist the response to any future protests. While there are no plans for the army to support the police, there are contingency plans in place for the military to assist oil companies with the delivery of fuel should this be required and this has been widely reported in the press.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 17 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statement made in Mr Jack McConnell's letter to me of 23 February 2000 that the "total tax income in Scotland raised from non-domestic rates will remain unchanged in real terms following the revaluation" is still accurate or whether, in the light of information about the anticipated income from non-domestic rates which has subsequently become available, this is no longer the case.
Answer
It is accurate. The replies given to questions S1W-5176 and S1W-7769 by Jack McConnell about distributable amounts refer.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 17 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals have been initiated against the 2000 rate revaluation assessments.
Answer
81,379 appeals in respect of 75,666 property subjects have been lodged with the Assessors following the 2000 Revaluation of non-domestic rates.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 17 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10202 by Sarah Boyack on 20 October 2000, whether the information relating to the number of applications for the use of emamectin ben'oate is held by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and, if so, whether it or SEPA will provide details of the number of applications which have been (a) received and (b) granted this year.
Answer
The information sought on the number of applications for the use of emamectin benzoate received and granted may be obtained from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 17 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what was (a) the total number of hereditaments on the valuation roll, (b) the number of appeals timeously intimated and (c) the information for (b) as a proportion of (a) in respect of the 2000 rates revaluation.
Answer
The total number of subjects on the valuation roll as at 1 April 2000 was 217,000. 81,379 appeals have been lodged with the Assessors in respect of 75,666 property subjects, which represents 35% of subjects on the valuation roll as at 1 April 2000.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 15 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when each member of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) was appointed and which members have attended each board meeting since the establishment of the SQA.
Answer
The number of meetings attended by members of the SQA Board of Management is given below:
Name | Appointed | Appointment Ended/Ends | 1997 (5 Meetings) | 1998 (4 Meetings) | 1999 (4 Meetings) | 2000 (4 Meetings) |
| D Miller (Chairman) | 18.9.96 | 31.3.02 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Mrs P Cairns | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| M Leech | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Mrs P Lowrie | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| I McMillan | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| B Minto | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Dr C Munn | 20.1.97 | 31.1.01 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Dr M Green1 | 20.1.97 | 28.2.03 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| I Hay1 | 20.1.97 | 28.2.03 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| I Muir1 | 20.1.97 | 28.2.03 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Ms M Allan | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Mrs A Hill | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Dr J McClure | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 3 | 4 |
| Prof I Marrian | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 3 | 3 |
| Mrs S Rae | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 2 | 3 |
| J Ramsay | 16.3.99 | 28.2.03 | - | - | 3 | 2 |
| Mrs L McKay2 | 17.2.97 | 31.1.01 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Mrs M Nicol2 | 5.3.97 | 31.1.01 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Dr P Thomson3 | 17.2.97 | 31.1.03 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Mrs L McTavish | 16.3.99 | 31.1.03 | - | - | 4 | 3 |
Notes:
1. Originally appointed by Mr Forsyth in 1997 and re-appointed by Mr Dewar on 16 March 1999.
2. Originally appointed by SQA in 1997 and re-appointed on 25 March 1999.
3. Originally appointed by SQA in 1997 and re-appointed on 25 March 1999.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 15 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to develop an informal communication channel or formal concordat or other form of direct relationship with the UK telecoms regulator (OFTEL) in order to ensure that its policy reflects conditions in Scotland, including its substantial information communications technology industry and sparse population distant from economic centres in the north.
Answer
Telecommunications regulation is reserved. The Scottish Executive holds discussions with UK Departments and other organisations, including OFTEL, as necessary.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 15 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the report in the Scottish Daily Express of 19 September 2000 that Scottish pupils who wish to study at Oxford or Cambridge or to study medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine courses in 2001 require to have their applications completed by 15 October 2000, whether such a deadline will be complied with, whether it will use its powers under section 9 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 to ensure that, for such students, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) will have discharged its functions by 15 October 2000, or whether it has received sufficient assurances from the SQA that such a deadline will be met.
Answer
The Scottish Qualifications Authority put arrangements in place to process appeals for those candidates affected in time for the 15 October deadline. I am told by the SQA that the timetable was achieved in all cases.
