- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 10 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether two fishing nets joined together by whatever means, be it shackle, length of rope or piece of netting, still constitute two nets and must therefore be rigged with 100mm mesh si'e, or whether two nets thus joined become a single net and may therefore be rigged with 70mm mesh si'e and, if the latter, whether such a practice is in line with conservation guidelines.
Answer
The Executive is currently working to develop a suitable definition that will clarify whether a trawl shall be considered to be a single trawl or a multiple trawl so that fishermen know which size of mesh must be used in the cod end of the net. The Executive will issue this definition as soon as practicable, either as formal guidance or in forthcoming legislation. It is the intention of the Executive that any definition so issued should assist the aims of conservation.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 10 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been made of the Water Commissioner's performance to date, with particular regard to value for money.
Answer
The Commissioner has been in post since 1 November 1999. His main activity has been the strategic review of charges, my response to which has been published. The Commissioner's budget for 2000-01 reflects the resources needed for the Commissioner to carry out his role effectively, which will mean improved value for money for water customers. The Commissioner's corporate plan will include performance indicators, providing a means to monitor his future performance.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 9 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers applied for early retirement in each of the last ten years.
Answer
This information is not available in the form requested. Teachers must apply initially to their employer before their application is passed to the Scottish Public Pension Agency. The records held centrally do not distinguish between primary and secondary teachers, nor do they cover all applications made to local authorities. The information that is available centrally is summarised in the table below.
Number of Scottish teachers whose applications for early retirement* have been received by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency. |
Year | Number |
1990-91 | 867 |
1991-92 | 885 |
1992-93 | 1,243 |
1993-94 | 1,130 |
1994-95 | 1,157 |
1995-96 | 1,544 |
1996-97 | 1,701 |
1997-98 | 2,618 |
1998-99 | 831 |
1999-2000 | 787 (provisional) |
Includes ill health and premature retirement.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 9 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop the freshwater fisheries sector and to assess its contribution to the economy.
Answer
On 25 April I issued for public comment a review entitled Protecting and Promoting Scotland's Freshwater Fish and Fisheries. The review addresses a range of issues covering freshwater fish and fisheries including exploitation and I look forward to reflecting on the comments received on the matter in due course.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans any additional measures to assist Grampian Police to deliver an improved service.
Answer
In Making It Work Together: A Programme for Government the Executive sets out a number of initiatives that will help all police forces in Scotland to deliver an improved service.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 27 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the split, in terms of the total amount collected via water charges, between domestic and non-domestic water charge payers will be in the next two years and what the equivalent figures were in each of the last four years.
Answer
The figures requested are detailed below for each year since the water authorities were established. Forecast figures for 2001-02 will not be available until the charges schemes for that year are agreed. On average, domestic customers in Scotland account for around 56% of water volume supplied, and 65% of the volume of waste water treated:
Water and Sewerage Charge revenues, Scotland (£ million)
| | Actual 1996-97 | Actual 1997-98 | Actual 1998-99 | Forecast 1999-2000 | Forecast 2000-01 |
Domestic | 242.4 | 260.8 | 295.3 | 326.9 | 413.7 |
Non Domestic | 249.6 | 251.6 | 267 | 285.1 | 332.4 |
| | 492 | 512.4 | 562.3 | 612 | 746.1 |
Other | 25.2 | 27.9 | 26.8 | 26.9 | 28.5 |
Total | 517.2 | 540.3 | 589.1 | 638.9 | 774.6 |
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 27 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the water authorities are permitted to undertake joint initiatives, projects or expenditure.
Answer
The powers of the Scottish water authorities to engage in activities subsidiary to the discharge of their statutory functions are granted under section 89 of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994. In particular, section 89(3) grants the power "to do anything (whether in Scotland or elsewhere) which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of their functions."
The Scottish water authorities are therefore empowered to pursue jointly any initiative, project or expenditure insofar as such activities meet the provisions of the Act.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 27 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to prevent the closure of public toilets throughout Aberdeenshire.
Answer
It is a matter for Aberdeenshire Council itself to determine its expenditure priorities and allocate the necessary resources accordingly. Aberdeenshire's guideline and grant have increased in the last two years.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to make the manufacturing industry aware of the opportunities for production of the necessary plant and equipment offered by the renewable energy sector.
Answer
Scottish Enterprise has carried out research into the business opportunities offered by renewable energy, and has presented the results to Scottish companies using a series of roadshows. These events have attracted interest from a variety of companies and, as a direct result, several of these companies are already pursuing opportunities for new business.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 19 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans any measures to increase voters' awareness of the fact that it is not necessary to take along their polling cards when going to vote in local elections.
Answer
The polling card itself informs voters that it is not necessary to take the card to their polling station in order to be able to vote. We do not plan any further publicity at present but the matter will be kept under review.
