- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the report from the Reporter on the Lingerbay Inquiry was received by the Scottish Office on 29 April 1999; on what date it assumed responsibility for determining the planning application originally submitted on 25 March 1991, and what action was taken at that time.
Answer
The planning application was submitted to the Western Isles Island Council on 25 March 1991. On 27 September 1991 the then Secretary of State issued a Direction requiring the council to notify him should the council be minded to grant planning permission. On 24 June 1993, the council informed the Secretary of State that they were minded to grant planning permission. A Direction was issued on 6 January 1994 calling-in the application for the Secretary of State's determination.
A public local inquiry was held between 1 October 1994 and 6 June 1995. The Reporter submitted her report to the Secretary of State on 29 April 1999. The Scottish Executive assumed responsibility determining the application on 1 July 1999 and has since been considering the Reporter's report.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce by legislation or other means a requirement which sets a time period within which it must reach a decision following receipt of a report by its Inquiry Reporters.
Answer
The Executive aims to issue decisions within three months of a report of a public local inquiry being received. There are no plans to make this a legal requirement.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a time period of 1 July 1999 to the present for making a decision in respect of the Lingerbay Inquiry report is normal in such applications and what response it has given or intends to give to the local communities affected in relation to the delay in making a decision.
Answer
The Executive aims to issue decisions within three months of a report of a public local inquiry being received. The Lingerbay case, however, is exceptional in that it raises a number of very technical and complex issues which require extremely careful consideration. Whilst any delay in dealing with this case is regretted, I am sure that local communities and others would wish to ensure that all relevant matters have been thoroughly examined before a decision is reached.
- 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 Henry McLeish on 30 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how much grant has been paid to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) under section 13 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 in each year since the SQA's establishment.
Answer
The amounts paid to SQA under section 13 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 since it took up its substantive powers on 1 April 1997 are as follows:
1997-98 | £000 |
5-14 programme | 743 |
Accreditation | 1,050 |
National Qualifications Development | 817 |
Total | 2,610 |
1998-99 | £000 |
5-14 programme | 816 |
Accreditation | 1,173 |
National Qualifications Development | 1,843 |
Total | 3,832 |
1999-2000 | £'000 |
5-14 programme | 801 |
Accreditation | 1,320 |
National Qualifications Development | 4,417 |
Total | 6,538 |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 29 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 30 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to meet with Scotia Holdings to discuss any implications for their Breasclete plant, Isle of Lewis, in the light of the US Food and Drug Administration not giving approval to the anti-cancer drug Foscan.
Answer
I met with Scotia Pharmaceuticals Limited on Thursday 28 September 2000 and discussed several business issues relating to the company.
- 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 Jim Wallace on 26 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when there will be a determination as to the application for planning permission for a quarry at Lingerbay, Harris.
Answer
The report of the public local inquiry and the judgement on the petition for judicial review are being considered and every effort is being made to reach an early decision.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 24 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5627 by Susan Deacon on 11 April 2000, when the fact finding exercise into specific aspects of the issue of hepatitis C and other infections contracted from contaminated blood products in Scotland commenced; when it is expected to be concluded; whether it will set up an independent inquiry into this issue and whether all documentation relating to the fact finding exercise will be placed in the public domain or made available to interested parties.
Answer
The report Hepatitis C and the Heat Treatment of Blood Products for Haemophiliacs in the mid-1980s was published today. A copy has been placed in SPICe.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 24 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it estimates the proposed climate change levy will have on the forestry industry.
Answer
The climate change levy aims to encourage energy efficiency by all industries to help meet the UK's target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The direct financial impact of the levy on the forestry industry has not been assessed because information on energy consumption by the industry is not held centrally. However, some sectors of the industry that are classed as energy intensive have either agreed energy efficiency targets which enable them to obtain an 80% discount on the levy, or are still negotiating to agree such targets. All sectors will be eligible to apply for enhanced capital allowances on energy saving investments.
Whilst the UK's priority is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the activities of the forestry industry do, of course, create an important carbon sink through the sequestration of carbon by trees and its storage in wood products.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 20 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the commitment given in the letter of 14 April 2000 by Sarah Boyack to provide a fuller reply to my letter of 19 November 1999 regarding the Scottish Transport Group pension scheme and the handling of surplus funds, when I will get this reply and how the Executive will ensure that this issue is resolved quickly to ensure that people, especially the elderly and the infirm, are able to claim their entitlements.
Answer
My letter of 14 April 2000 promised a further letter when complex processes involved in the wind-up of the STG pension schemes were complete. The matter is under active consideration and I shall write again when I am in a position to make an announcement.
- 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 Sarah Boyack on 20 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8687 by Mr Jack McConnell on 21 August 2000, why the #200,000 from last year's environment budget has been allocated to research and publicity; what research and publicity is to be carried out as a result of this additional funding, specifying the estimated cost and purpose of each project, and whether it considered directing this money towards providing relief from water charges for people on low incomes.
Answer
The Executive conducts research to support its policy development because effective environment policy needs to be founded on sound science. The additional monies have been allocated this financial year to support research into health effects around landfill sites (about £20,000) and public perceptions of the way in which air quality information is conveyed (about £10,000). In addition £50,000 has been allocated to REMADE, a market development programme to demonstrate uses for recycled materials.
The Executive also recognises that raising public awareness of environmental issues, and of what we as individuals can do to help the environment, has an important role to play in influencing people to act in an environmentally sustainable way. That is why additional funding has been specifically allocated this financial year to help support the work of the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (£15,000); specific campaigns on business and biodiversity (£10,000) and wildlife crime (£10,000); the provision of information on genetically modified organisms (£10,000); training for implementing the new system for dealing with contaminated land (£5,000); and raising awareness of the Water Framework Directive (about £20,000). The remaining £50,000 will be used to fund publications and ad-hoc publicity initiatives.
The Executive is currently considering whether it can improve on the assistance provided to many low income households through the link between water and sewerage charges and council tax bands. We plan to publish a consultation paper on this shortly.
