- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3497 by Mr Jack McConnell on 25 January 2000, whether it will describe, elucidate and specify any instances where Ministerial access has been, or may in future be, granted to papers dated before 1 July 1999, particularly in relation to the Agricultural Business Improvement Schemes, both original and revised, and, if not, why not.
Answer
My answer of 25 January to S1W-3497 outlined the position, and I can, therefore, confirm that pre-1 July 1999 papers relating to the Agricultural Business Improvement Schemes are treated no differently from other pre-1 July papers.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit will conduct an audit of each sector of industry as to existing regulations and issue proposals for simplifying, reducing or removing such regulations and, if not, why not.
Answer
A series of seminars is being arranged to enable businesses to present their concerns about the burden of regulation. In the light of feedback from these seminars and issues raised directly with the IRIS unit, the Scottish Executive will consider what further action is appropriate including whether existing legislation and regulations need to be reviewed to create a more positive attitude to risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 28 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3734 by Henry McLeish on 27 January 2000, what its estimate is of the number of new businesses created as a result of the measures outlined, for the year from 1 July 1999.
Answer
Published figures from Scottish Enterprise/Committee of Scottish Clearing Banks indicate that during the three month period July-September 1999, a total of 4,412 new businesses were created throughout Scotland. The measures referred to in my earlier answer related to improving public sector support to small business generally. No record is kept of their impact on the creation of new businesses.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 31 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will announce details of the funding available under the "Modernising Government" initiative and whether this funding will be available to (a) small businesses (b) the voluntary sector (c) The Family Association for Children with Extra-Special Needs (d) other voluntary bodies and (e) national park areas.
Answer
I announced the establishment of the £25 million Modernising Government Fund during the parliamentary debate on modernising government on 23 February. Applications for funds will be invited from a wide range of public sector bodies, including Scottish Executive departments and agencies, health authorities, non-departmental public bodies and local government authorities. Bids will be accepted from bodies which include a partnership with others whether they are in the public, private or voluntary sectors, where the public sector body is the lead partner.Full details of the bidding criteria will be issued in the next few weeks.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 31 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used in determining the allocation of (a) public funds, whether from Scottish Natural Heritage or other sources and (b) funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Answer
The allocation of public funds to RSPB by Scottish Natural Heritage is made on exactly the same criteria as for any other applicant. Applications for funding are subject to a detailed assessment process, the key criterion of which is that the project for which funds are being sought should contribute to SNH's policy objectives and priorities.
The Scottish Executive gives a grant to RSPB for work connected with the prevention and detection of wildlife crime in addition to several small payments amounting to some £2,620. These small payments are contributions towards work undertaken by the RSPB at the behest of the Executive or one of its working groups established to consider specific policy issues such as the Scottish Biodiversity Group. The main criterion used for any payments made to the RSPB is if the work undertaken is consistent with the policies of the Executive or the relevant working group.With regard to the allocation of funds from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, this is a matter for them.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend to all tenant farmers within the crofting counties the rights available to crofters under (a) the present crofting legislation and (b) crofting legislation under consideration.
Answer
No. As I announced in reply to Mike Watson on 19 November, I have closely examined the pros and cons of various proposals for tenant farmer right to buy and came to the conclusion that none are the right way forward.
Specifically, I am not persuaded that the crofter right to buy and the other benefits of crofting tenure should be extended to all tenant farmers in the crofting counties. The substantial costs of this, and in particular the cost of compensation to landlords, are a major factor in that decision.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken and proposes to take to tackle social exclusion in Kinlochleven, particularly in relation to the incidence of nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
Answer
Measures to tackle neighbour nuisance and anti-social behaviour were introduced under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, including Anti-social Behaviour Orders, new grounds for eviction for anti-social behaviour and additional powers for the police to seize noise-making equipment. Detailed guidance was issued to local authorities. The Executive's discussion paper, Housing and Anti-social Behaviour - The Way Ahead, published in December 1999 sets out the Executive's proposals for legislative and non-legislative action to tackle nuisance and anti-social behaviour. Comments on that paper are currently being analysed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the involvement of United Auctions plc in relation to the continued operation of the Ben Nevis Auctions supported by the local farmers and crofters.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to investigate any such business relationships.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 30 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts have been and will be made to attract employment to Kinlochleven.
Answer
When Alcan announced in 1994 that the aluminium smelter at Kinlochleven would close by 2000, the Kinlochleven Working Group was established (subsequently known as the Kinlochleven Implementation Team). The group comprised all the relevant agencies and the community and produced the strategy for the regeneration of the village.
To implement this strategy the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust (KLDT) was formed in 1995-96. The trust is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status which has taken over lease of the land from Alcan.
To date the KLDT has spent £3.5 million on a number of Phase One regeneration plans for the village. This includes the decontamination of the Bunker Buildings, the establishment of four business pavilions, the undertaking of environmental renewal work and the implementation of the footpath training scheme. Furthermore, approximately thirty full time jobs have been created between the opening of Database Direct's distributed call centre and the new bunkhouse.
The proposals for Phase Two are still at an early stage. KLDT has met on several occasions with Alcan employees and the Community Council to review the Phase Two plans. Market research is being carried out by Lochaber Limited/Highlands and Islands Enterprise for KLDT on the viability of the proposals.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 30 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the proposals or plans of the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust it supports and which it opposes, and what impact the plans will have in providing new employment for those who may be made redundant from British Alcan.
Answer
I refer Mr Ewing to my answer to question S1W-5404. The projects being undertaken by the Kinlochleven Land Development Trust (KLDT) are an operational matter for the Trust, the community and for those agencies which are providing financial support for the regeneration programme, and do not require the approval of the Scottish Executive.
The significant regeneration activity taking place in Kinlochleven by the KLDT is being carried out with a view to creating more jobs for the sake of the future viability of the village.
