- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether they consider the current measures taken by Scottish Natural Heritage to control the wild mink population in the Western Isles are adequate, in particular to prevent depredation of crofters' livestock and, if not, what steps it will take in this matter.
Answer
In general, the responsibility for pest control rests with the owner or occupier of a property.
Scottish Natural Heritage is involved in mink control because of the threat the animals pose to natural heritage interests, particularly to ground nesting birds. It is not responsible for measures to prevent depredation of crofters' livestock, nor am I aware that this is a significant problem.To meet natural heritage objectives, Scottish Natural Heritage is currently, with a number of other organisations, participating in the control of mink through funding and oversight of trapping on South Harris and North Uist. It has also commissioned a field survey to establish the number and distribution of mink on the Uists. The results of this survey are expected in January, and at that stage the situation will be reviewed. In the meantime the measures Scottish Natural Heritage is taking are considered adequate.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 25 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the submission by the Federation for Small Businesses made in September 1999 to the low pay commission on the effect of the national minimum wage on the small business sector in Scotland, it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government that the level of the minimum wage be set for a minimum of three years in advance and that the impact of compliance with new employment legislation be taken into consideration.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government over the range of reserved matters, including those relating to the National Minimum Wage.The independent Low Pay Commission has statutory responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the introduction and impact of the National Minimum Wage and will be considering the submission from the Federation of Small Businesses alongside all others received before reporting to UK Government by the end of this year.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 25 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of the report or review by Deloitte & Touche on the Ossian project commissioned by the Scottish Tourist Board.
Answer
The report by Deloitte & Touche contains information that is commercially sensitive. I will however arrange for a copy of the Executive summary to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list its planned financial contribution to British Waterways in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01, (iii) 2001-02 and (iv) 2002-03; and specifically what resources it plans to make available to British Waterways to repair the existing canal system in those years.
Answer
This information is not available at present. The British Waterways Board (BWB) is specified as a cross-border public authority and discussions are currently taking place between the Scottish Executive, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and BWB about the transfer of relevant functions to the Scottish Ministers and the amount of grant in aid to be advanced to BWB by the Scottish Executive for its operations in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to nominate a Chairman or board members to the Board of British Waterways and whether it will list the present Chairman and board members of British Waterways.
Answer
British Waterways is classified as a cross-border public authority under the Scotland Act 1998. Section 88(2)(a) of that Act has the effect that UK Ministers must consult the Scottish Ministers before making any appointment to the Board. Discussions are currently taking place between the Scottish Executive, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and British Waterways about the most appropriate allocation of functions, including appointments to the Board, between Ministers of the Crown and the Scottish Ministers. The present Chairman and board members of British Waterways are listed below:-Dr George Greener (Chairman)David Yorke (Vice Chair)Campbell ChristieSir Neil CossonsCarolan DobsonJane ElvyPaul KingJanet Lewis-JonesPeter Soulsby
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reform the law relating to standard securities to allow the provisions of section 40 of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, adapted as necessary, to apply in cases where the eviction of a debtor and his family is sought by virtue of security holders' powers under the Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970.
Answer
We have no such intentions at present. However we have already indicated our support for the proposed Members' Bill by Ms Cathie Craigie MSP which seeks to protect those facing repossession in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 12 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road schemes in Scotland are being considered as part of the strategic roads review and whether it will list the schemes.
Answer
Seventeen major road schemes are being considered in the Strategic Roads Review. They are:
A1 Haddington - Dunbar
A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass
A78 Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston Bypass
A8000 Forth Road Bridge to M9
A830 Arisaig - Kinsadel
A876 Kincardine Bridge
A9 Helmsdale to Ord of Caithness
A90 Balmedie - Tipperty
A92 Preston - Balfarg
A96 Fochabers - Mosstodloch Bypass
A96 Keith Bypass
A985 Rosyth Bypass
M74 Northern Extension
M77 Fenwick - Malletsheugh
M8 Baillieston - Newhouse
M8/M6 FastlinkM80 Stepps - Haggs
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 12 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify for each local authority area the total length of single track classified roads.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not collect the information requested for the local road network. However, there are two sections of single track road with passing places on the trunk road network. They are both located within Highland Council, and the total length is approximately 20 kilometres.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 12 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the level of profits made by the following companies which operate in Scotland: Railtrack; rolling stock companies; train operators and freight operators, and if so, what representations it will make.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government, The Office of the Rail Regulator and the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, on issues affecting the operation of the railways in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 12 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1281 by Jack McConnell on 27 September, whether it will place copies of the lease and the sublease of Bute House in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
I am arranging for copies of the lease and the sub lease to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
