- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 29 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been the economic value of the inshore fishing industry, by sector, to the Scottish economy for the last three years, including any relevant statistics.
Answer
The value of landings in Scotland by Scottish registered vessels by the inshore fleet (defined as vessels under 10m in length, creelers, nephrops trawlers and 10-15m line boats) was £46.1 million in 1998, £46.2 million in 1997 and £45.2 million in 1996. By sector, shellfish contributed 93% of the total and demersal species 7%.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 29 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made or intends to make of the economic impact on Scotland's coastal communities of the bans on scallop fishing introduced as a result of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is assessing the economic impact through analysis of information on landings of scallops, and contacts with the catching and processing industries. We have been involved with Highlands and Islands Enterprise on a recent analysis by consultants which was reported to the Rural Affairs Committee on 21 September. We will continue to monitor the position during the ban.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 24 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has for the management of freshwater fisheries in Scotland and whether it will list the meetings it has had with representatives from the various organisations active in that sector.
Answer
An extensive legislative framework regulates freshwater fisheries in Scotland. The sustainable management and development of these fisheries requires a balance to be struck between conservation and access. On 21 September I met with representatives of 'Angling for Change' which groups together bodies with an interest in freshwater fish and fisheries to discuss these issues.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 21 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-886 by Donald Dewar on 24 August, whether it intends that the Parliament and its committees be given the opportunity to debate each individual draft concordat between Parliament and Her Majesty's Government before final draft concordats are presented to Parliament for endorsement.
Answer
Concordats will be administrative agreements between the Scottish Executive and Whitehall departments. The Scottish Parliament will not be party to any concordats. Concordats will be published only after they have been agreed between administrations.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 8 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer given to question S1W-867 by John Home Robertson on 24 August 1999, who is representing the Scottish Executive and who is representing Her Majesty's Government during discussions relating to the Memorandum of Understanding between Her Majesty's Government and the Scottish Executive; when any discussion so far took place and when further discussions are scheduled; where the venue was for these discussions and what venues are planned for future discussions; whether any minutes were taken and, if so, when these minutes will be published; when a conclusion to these discussions is expected, and when discussions on the subsequent concordats are expected to begin and conclude.
Answer
The Executive is considering carefully the draft Memorandum of Understanding it has received from the UK Government. It will discuss it as necessary with the other parties to it and will then put the agreed documents to the Parliament for endorsement.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 3 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been received for the post of Water Industry Commissioner and who will sit on the interview panel for the post.
Answer
20 applications were received. The members of the interview panel were: Mr John Graham, Secretary and Head, Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department, Mr Stephen Hampson, Head of Environment Group, Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department, and Dr Tom Begg, Independent Adviser, Lecturer in Economics, Faculty of Business and Consumer Studies, Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make available financial assistance to Grampian Police Force to assist towards the estimated additional #300,000 cost of policing the millennium celebrations.
Answer
Police grant-aided expenditure for 1999-2000 was set at a level which assumed full use of Government funds available for expenditure on police services. However, while forces must plan to meet their expenditure from within the resources available to them, the funding position is kept under review and, if additional resources are identified, any police needs would be taken into account in distributing those.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 2 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to initiate research into the current crisis affecting the lamb industry, particularly its pricing structure.
Answer
From discussions I have had with all sectors of the sheep industry, there is a recognition and clear understanding of the sources of current difficulties, including the intricacies of the pricing structure.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 2 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the crisis facing Scotland's lamb industry and whether it intends to offer any assistance to help the industry with marketing and advertising measures.
Answer
I have already convened one meeting of key industry interests to address the present difficulties. This has led to positive action being taken to increase lamb sales on home and export markets. Further meetings are planned so that I can work with the industry to try to help the situation, which I acknowledge is difficult. The Meat and Livestock Commission and SQBLA both have resources available to help promote and market lamb. Recently, I announced that I would provide SQBLA with an extra £150,000 to help find new markets for Scottish beef and lamb.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 2 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has corresponded with Scotland's major supermarkets in order to seek their support for Scotland's lamb industry.
Answer
Recognising the important role played by the major supermarkets in selling meat and meat products, efforts have been and will continue to be made, to encourage them to support home-produced products, including lamb. Special lamb promotions are planned for this autumn to coincide with the period when supplies are heaviest.
