- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 12 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Scottish Water about the provision of the public water supply for Carrbridge.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:During the weekend of 18 to 21 April 2003, Scottish Water experienced difficulties with a faulty valve which restricted flows to the Carrbridge area and, combined with higher than normal demand for water supplies, the reduced flow rate was not enough water to supply the village. The valve has been repaired and Scottish Water has put in place further preventative and early-warning measures, including booster pump capacity at the water tank so pressure is maintained during times of high demand and a remote monitoring system to ensure any future problems are detected quickly and efficiently. Scottish Water also plans to invest £2.25 million to replace water mains which are supplying the area and over £3.5 million for improvements at the reservoir and treatment works.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 12 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S1F-2580 by Mr Jack McConnell on 13 March 2003, when it will make an announcement on secure funding for mountain rescue teams.
Answer
We are still in discussion with mountain rescue representatives and police forces about this funding stream but intend to make an announcement about revised funding arrangements later this year.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 12 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what records it will keep of the number of visits by ministers to each constituency over the course of this session of the Parliament and whether it will keep records of the number of requests by each MSP for meetings with ministers that are (a) made and (b) granted.
Answer
Ministers recognise that it is important to visit all parts of Scotland in the course of their ministerial duties. Records of ministerial engagements remain accessible during the parliamentary session. These are not collated by constituency visited and there are no plans to do so in future. All requests for meetings by MSPs are considered by ministers, although records are not collated in the format requested.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what stage research planned by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department into the biochemistry of the scallop, to establish the level at which the synergy between the naturally occurring glutamic and aspartic acids and the demonic acid caused by algal blooms becomes toxic, has reached; on what date such research was commissioned; when it is expected to be completed; who is carrying it out; what the estimated total cost is and by whom it will be borne; what response has been received by the Food Standards Agency from DG Sanco with regard to approving such research, and whether all correspondence relating to this matter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
The Scottish Scallop Advisory Committee, which includes Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, Food Standards Agency Scotland, Fisheries Research Services and representatives of the scallop industry in its membership, is presently developing options for research relating to amnesic shellfish poisoning in scallops. I would be happy to write to the member, and to the Rural Development Committee, once research has been commissioned.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the Scallop Association to discuss current issues of concern to the scallop industry, including amnesic shellfish poisoning and technical measures designed to promote conservation.
Answer
My officials, and officials of the Food Standards Agency Scotland, meet regularly with representatives of the Scallop Association to discuss issues of concern to the scallop industry. Most recently, officials met with the Scallop Association on 27 May in Aberdeen, and a further meeting is scheduled for 25 June.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether BEAR Scotland Ltd has complied with the necessary specifications contained in its contract with the Executive in relation to ground maintenance of trunk roads.
Answer
The independent Performance Audit Group has confirmed that BEAR Scotland Ltd has complied with the specifications for ground maintenance.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) support and (b) opposition it has received in respect of draft proposals that there be a weekend ban on the scallop industry and by which individuals or bodies such support or opposition has been expressed.
Answer
Responses to the consultation exercise on technical conservation measures for scallops, which were not marked as confidential, are available from the Scottish Executive Library.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether reducing dredge numbers for larger scallop fishing vessels would result in scallop fishing vessels being forced to work on inshore grounds and thereby apply further pressure to such grounds.
Answer
I indicated to the Rural Development Committee in December 2002 that I would postpone any decision on technical conservation measures for scallops until I had received the ECODREDGE report. I will be reporting to Parliament shortly with my decision.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether (a) an 80 mm scallop dredge belly ring si'e instead of the proposed 75 mm, (b) a days at sea scheme, such as for 240 days a year, (c) robust use of the scallop fishing licence and (d) a legal obligation to provide landing and fishing data to the scientists would promote conservation of stocks in the scallop industry and how likely each of these measures would be to achieve the twin aims of effective conservation and financial viability of the industry.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-530 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a statement from the management and/or owners of Arjo Wiggins paper mill, Corpach, in respect of the impending redundancy of 58 employees; whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government in respect of any grant that Arjo Wiggins sought or received in respect of the retention of jobs at the mill, and whether any proceeds from the fine imposed on Arjo Wiggins Appleton plc by the European Commission will be used to assist any employees who may be made redundant to find alternative employment.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is being kept fully informed of developments at the Arjo Wiggins paper mill in Corpach. Officials from Highlands and Islands Enterprise met the company's senior management to discuss the job loss situation and also what assistance can be offered to those employees affected.The company has been offered a grant under the Department of Trade and Industry's Bio-energy Capital Grant Scheme. The grant offer is based on the installation of a bio-energy plant and the DTI is monitoring the situation with Arjo Wiggins. In respect of their dealings with the EU, this is a separate matter of Competition Policy, which is reserved to the UK Government.
