Questions and answers

Question reference: S3W-19700

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the consultation process that took place on National Planning Framework for Scotland 2: Discussion Draft.

The consultation that has taken place has been within the context of the National Planning Framework Participation Statement, as required by the Planning Act and which is the first of its kind in Scotland.

The government considers that it has conformed with its participation aims and objectives in the preparation of the framework and has learned some valuable lessons which can be used to inform the preparation of NPF3 and similar exercises of this nature.

The government''s actions in seeking to fulfil its participation objectives in the preparation of the NPF2 can be found in the NPF2: Participation Statement Interim Conformity Report as posted on the Scottish Government''s NPF website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/themes/npf/NPF-PS.

Question reference: S3W-19418

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Saturday, 05 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected traffic growth forecasts are for the A82 through Inverness for the period up to 2020.

Question reference: S3W-19417

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Saturday, 05 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 26 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the existing A82 trunk road through Inverness and connecting to the A9 is adequate for current circumstances and for projected traffic growth up to 2020.

The recently published Strategic Transport Projects Review has recommended 29 nationally strategic transport interventions over the next 20 years that will let us plan for the delivery of an efficient, integrated transport network fit for the 21st century.

Transport Scotland continually monitors the trunk road network to ensure that it is operating effectively at a local level. However, as with other parts of the network, during week day peak periods congestion can occur between the A82 and A9.

Analysis within the STPR demonstrates that the A96 corridor currently carries up to 17,300 vehicles per day, whereas the A82 is only up to some 6,900 vehicles per day.

Peak-time congestion is experienced on the A9, A96 and A82 routes into Inverness. During the summer, tourist traffic also results in increases in congestion.

In addition to the higher levels of existing traffic, the recommended link between the A9 and A96 within the STPR recognises the significant expansion proposals to the east of the city.

Question reference: S3W-19841

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Russian Government having lifted its restriction on the importation of Scottish fish, what level of exports to Russia can be expected by Scottish fish processors.

Question reference: S3W-19843

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings it had with the Russian Government ahead of the lifting of its restriction on the importation of Scottish fish.

Question reference: S3W-19844

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive which minister led discussions with the Russian Government ahead of the lifting of its restriction on the importation of Scottish fish.

Question reference: S3W-19842

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with the Russian Government ahead of the lifting of its restriction on the importation of Scottish fish.

There were numerous discussions with the Russian Government from April 2008 to lift the restriction. The First Minister met the Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom on a number of occasions and discussed the ban. The Minister for the Environment met the Russian Deputy Ambassador to the European Union in April 2008. Scottish Government and Scottish Development International officials have been in direct and constant contact with the Russian Consul General in Edinburgh and directly with the Russian Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Service in Moscow.

Question reference: S3W-20153

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2009
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect will be of the withdrawal of direct payments in the Orkney and Argyll and Bute council areas.

Question reference: S3W-19669

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18811 by Liam McArthur on 8 January 2009, which recommendations in A review of the European Union Agricultural Subsidy Appeals Procedure in Scotland it has not accepted and what the reasons were.

I accepted 16 of the 17 recommendations contained in the Report, A review of the European Union Agricultural Subsidy Appeals Procedure in Scotland.

The one recommendation I was not persuaded by was the creation of a farm liaison team made up of government and industry representatives.

I accepted the principle behind the recommendation but rather than incur additional expense by setting up a new team I have agreed that the current procedures for assisting farmers should be enhanced. I shall put a number of measures in place, including increased attendance by officials at local shows, to help the agricultural community deal with the potential difficulties they face.

Question reference: S3W-19574

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 09 January 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 January 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms of reference are for its review of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

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