- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many countryside ranger posts there were in May 2007.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21999 on 25 March 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities employ fewer countryside rangers than they did two years ago.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21999 on 25 March 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 25 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prepare a detailed supply chain analysis for the marine renewables industry.
Answer
The need for a detailed supply chain analysis has been raised by the marine renewables industry within the FREDS (Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland) Marine Energy Group (MEG). The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are working closely with the marine renewables industry to consider the most effective way of taking forward this analysis.
When completed the findings of this analysis will guide the future actions of MEG and will also feed into the Scottish Government''s on-going work around the Renewables Action Plan to be published in June.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 25 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will task Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise with preparing a detailed supply chain analysis for, and in close collaboration with, the marine renewables industry.
Answer
The Scottish Government and the marine renewables industry are working closely with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to consider how we collectively take forward a detailed supply chain analysis of marine renewables in the very near future. The need for this analysis has been identified as a short-term action point by the FREDS (Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland) Marine Energy Group (MEG).
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 25 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the marine renewables industry about the need for a detailed supply chain analysis.
Answer
The need for a detailed supply chain analysis has been raised by the marine renewables industry within the FREDS (Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland) Marine Energy Group (MEG). As a short-term action from MEG, the Scottish Government and the marine renewables industry are working closely with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in taking forward this analysis for both the marine renewables and offshore wind industries.
When completed, the findings of this analysis will guide the future actions of MEG and feed into the Scottish Government''s on-going work around the Renewables Action Plan to be published in June.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish Countryside Rangers’ Association.
Answer
The then Minister for Environment, Michael Russell MSP, met with the Scottish Countryside Rangers'' Association on Monday 10 November 2008.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will accede to the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation’s request for a joint legal opinion to be given by the Scottish and UK law officers on the legality of the Scottish Executive’s proposals on fishing quotas and licences.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not disclose either that Law Officers'' advice has been sought or what that advice was. As a result of the devolution settlement and the fact that Scotland now has a devolved administration, it would be highly unusual for the Scottish Government to require to seek a joint Opinion with the Westminster Government from the Law Officers.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the legality of its proposals on fishing quotas and licences with Her Majesty’s Government; whether a joint position was agreed, and, if so, what that joint position is.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not discuss legal issues publicly. The Westminster Government is familiar with the proposals and the consultation that we are undertaking.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has obtained on the legality of its proposals on fishing quotas and licences and whether it will make that advice public.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not discuss legal advice publicly. We are confident what is proposed is within devolved competence of Scottish ministers.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 12 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20102 by Shona Robison on 4 February 2009, whether it considers there to be a contradiction between the statement that there is no intention to withdraw existing direct payments in Orkney and the number of recipients of direct payments in Orkney between 2007 and 2008 dropping by 33% while the number rose in most other council areas and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer
The decline in numbers of direct payments recipients in Orkney between financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 equates to a drop in service user numbers of 15. Orkney Council have explained the drop citing a number of reasons, including four deaths, changes in levels of need and one person moving from the area. Orkney Council have said that no direct payments have been withdrawn from individuals in receipt who wished to carry on with their packages. The budget allocated to direct payments by the council remains constant and has not been reduced. Work continues locally within the council to review the use and funding of direct payments.
There are early indications that the number of clients in receipt of direct payments will increase from financial year 2007-08 to 2008-09.
Ultimately, self-directed support is a matter of choice for individuals. However, we are developing a strategy with a reference group and funding a number of pieces of work, including three local authority test sites, to improve the uptake of self-directed support across Scotland.
Scottish Government officials are about to undertake visits to each local authority over the next year to fully understand the local circumstances affecting uptake with a view to informing the self-directed support strategy and, if necessary, legislation.
