- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent report in the Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press, what support, training and advice will be offered to Stena Line employees in Stranraer facing redundancy.
Answer
The local PACE response team has already offered support to Stena Line employees in Stranraer who may be facing redundancy.
The type of support will be tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances but will include: access to a new national helpline and improved website; Jobcentre Plus services; one-to-one counselling; comprehensive information packs; access to high quality training; seminars on skills such as CV writing and starting up a business, and access to IT facilities.
In light of the current economic climate, we have recently introduced a number of enhancements to the existing Partnership Action for Continuing Employment PACE initiative, including dedicating 80 Skills Development Scotland staff to deliver improved support to individuals facing redundancy.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 29 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting economic growth in the south of Scotland.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0129-01.htm
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 20 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances forestry commissioners might exercise the powers relating to formation of a body corporate, investment, provision of loans and establishing trusts, contained in section 47 (3) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
The powers proposed in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill are intended to allow Forestry Commission Scotland to play a greater role in tackling climate change. Subject to the outcome of current consultation on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate, they would be used to take forward proposals relating to renewable energy development on the national forest estate, and to releasing capital from the national forest estate for investment in forest-related climate change mitigation measures.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 20 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposals on amending the forestry commissioners’ functions set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill alter the commissioners’ duty under section 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and what action the Scottish Executive will take to ensure that this duty is complied with in relation to any land that may be leased or otherwise transferred from direct management by the commissioners.
Answer
The proposals do not alter the forestry commissioners'' duty under section 1 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 to further the conservation of biodiversity. This duty would be maintained on leased land by including relevant conditions in any leases.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when Forestry Commission Scotland’s Climate Change Action Plan is to be published.
Answer
Forestry Commission Scotland intends to publish its Climate Change Action Plan in January 2009.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances new powers proposed in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill might be exercised and override the statutory duties and functions of Forestry Commission Scotland.
Answer
The new powers proposed in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill would allow modification by order of the functions of the Forestry Commissioners to enable Forestry Commission Scotland to play a greater role in tackling climate change. Subject to the outcome of current consultation on Climate Change and the National Forest Estate, they would be used to take forward proposals relating to renewable energy development on the national forest estate, and to releasing capital from the national forest estate for investment in forest-related climate change mitigation measures.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty, flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest when exercising new forestry powers proposed in the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
The consultation exercise and options review currently being carried out will help inform Forestry Commission Scotland''s deliberations on the range and nature of the safeguards that need to be introduced to ensure the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty, flora, fauna and geological or physiographical features of special interest.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide new funds for agriculture in the future.
Answer
The Scottish Government''s budgetary plans for agriculture for 2008-09 to 2010-11 were contained in the Spending Review 2007 published in November 2007. The document is available at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/13092240/1.
Future funding decisions will be taken in the light of the future budget situation and the Scottish Government''s priorities.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy is to transfer Scotland Rural Development Programme funds from the south of Scotland to Argyll and the west of Scotland.
Answer
The Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) is designed to support all those who engage in agricultural activity in Scotland. There are no regional budgets within the Programme and hence transfers do not occur between regions of Scotland. Support to land managers is mainly delivered by the SRDP through Land Managers'' Options (LMOs) and Rural Priorities (RPs). LMOs is non-competitive and payable to all those who are eligible and apply for support. Rural Priorities is competitive and support will be offered to those who are eligible and best able to deliver Scottish Government outcomes.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy is to transfer Scotland Rural Development Programme funds from productive farming areas to support people in less productive areas.
Answer
The Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) does not involve transfers between productive farming areas. Disadvantaged areas of Scotland are eligible to receive Less Favoured Area Support through the programme. Other support through the SRDP available to land managers is mainly delivered through Land Managers'' Options (LMOs) and Rural Priorities (RPs). LMOs is non-competitive and payable to all those who are eligible and apply for support. RPs is competitive and support will be offered to those who are eligible and best able to deliver Scottish Government outcomes.
