- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 20 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2636 by Henry McLeish on 2 December 1999, whether it will seek from Scottish Enterprise the details relating to the points raised in that question and, if not, why not and whether it will state by what mechanism members should seek such information given its general responsibility for Scottish Enterprise.
Answer
As the funding and performance monitoring of Scotland the Brand is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, I have asked the Chairman to write to the Member providing the information requested in his earlier question (S1W-2636). A copy of that reply will be placed in the Library. In terms of future requests for information pertaining to the enterprise networks, Ministers are happy to take questions. However, where these relate to operational matters it is more appropriate for the detailed information to be provided directly by Scottish Enterprise and/or Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 20 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the measures presently being taken or which it intends to take to tackle levels of unemployment in the Local Enterprise Council areas of Inverness and Nairn, Ross and Cromarty and Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey are sufficient and, if not, what additional steps or measures it plans to take, and whether it will make a ministerial statement on this matter.
Answer
A comprehensive set of response measures is being put in place to place redundant employees in new jobs and assist with skills development, following the recently announced reduction in the workforce employed by Barmac.
On-site information centres are being opened at both Ardersier and Nigg to provide easy-access, first-stop advice on employment, skills development and other issues for employees. A comprehensive information pack, giving advice, contact numbers etc, is being provided for on-site workers and for all those who have already left employment.Highlands and Islands Enterprise are setting up a database (HIE-OPS) of people affected by the rundown of the oil fabrication industry in the HIE area and are working with local labour placement specialists based in the Highlands and Islands to place as many individuals from the list as is practicable.HIE are also working with Barmac management to help identify opportunities for activity in the yards when confidence returns to the market, and are actively engaged in efforts to encourage new inward investment and employment to the area, and to diversify further the Highlands economy so that it can continue to compete vigorously in future markets.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 20 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an estimate of the total local job losses in the Highlands and Islands both direct and indirect resulting from the downturn and redundancies in the fabrication yards at Nigg, Ardersier and Lewis Offshore.
Answer
On 4 October 1999, an audit of staff, commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, at Barmac's Nigg and Ardersier yards showed that there were 4,254 staff on site of whom approximately 2,400 were employed by sub-contractors. Employment at Lewis Offshore has averaged about 250 over the last three years.Barmac has announced that it plans to retain around 400 staff for the time being. Lewis Offshore, which is currently in receivership, will be operated on a care and maintenance basis with a small number of staff. The audit estimates that these reductions will lead to the loss of approximately 770 jobs in supply businesses.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 20 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its decision to abandon the common poundage across the UK in respect of non-domestic rates as from 1 April 2000.
Answer
I announced on 8 December 1999 a provisional Scottish Unified Business Rate of 45.8p for 2000-01. I published the calculations underlying that rate on 17 January. I will announce a final decision in February.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a study into the economic and social impact which Her Majesty's Government's proposals regarding the payment of benefits will have on rural sub post offices and consequently on rural areas generally.
Answer
The UK Government has indicated its commitment to maintaining a network of post offices which can meet its customer requirements throughout the country. The Scottish Executive will continue to ensure that the UK Government is aware of the particular needs of communities in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister last visited and will next visit the Highlands and Islands; whether he will meet Highland Council; whether he has received written representations from the Council as to the measures and steps which the council wishes to take to tackle the loss of jobs in the Highlands, and what response he will make.
Answer
The First Minister last visited the Highlands and Islands on 17 September, when he attended an engagement on Iona. His next scheduled official visit to the Highlands and Islands will take place in March when he is due to visit Orkney.The Highland Council has made representations to Scottish Executive Ministers on a number of issues related to employment matters in the Highlands and Islands in the wake of the Barmac redundancies. Our response has indicated the desire of the Executive and its agencies to work closely with the Council, including through the Oil Industry Response Team, in framing measures which respond effectively to the job losses. Ministers last met the Convener of the Council on Thursday 9 December during their joint visit to the Barmac facility at Ardersier, and will consider sympathetically any further request by the Council for a meeting.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 18 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister last visited Barmac fabrication yards at Nigg and Ardersier.
Answer
The fabrication yards at Nigg and Ardersier were visited by Alasdair Morrison and myself, along with Brian Wilson of The Scotland Office, on Thursday 9 December, in recognition of the concern of the whole Executive about the difficulties currently facing the fabrication sector, and which are being faced by Barmac in particular. The First Minister takes a close interest in issues affecting the sector and, while he has yet to visit the Barmac yards, I have briefed him fully on developments there.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending the protection of security of tenure to the Carbeth Hutters and whether it will include in its proposed Land Reform Bill provisions which would prevent further eviction of the Hutters at Carbeth.
Answer
The Land Reform Action Plan published in August 1999 explained that decisions on the need for legislation to give greater protection for those who own property built on leased land would be taken in the light of further research. That research has been completed and is currently being evaluated.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the burden of business rates falls disproportionately on smaller businesses in Scotland and, if so, what measures it is considering to tackle this issue.
Answer
The issue of rate relief for small businesses was covered in my Statement to Parliament on 8 December.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will obtain from the assessors and local authorities information that may be necessary in order to produce a scheme to provide relief from the burden of business rates for small businesses for the period 2000-05.
Answer
Yes. The issue of rate relief for small businesses was covered in my statement to Parliament on 8 December.
