- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include the upgrading to dual track of the remaining single track section of the A830 in its programme for trunk road improvements and, if so, within what timescale this work will commence.
Answer
Highland Council have already been appointed to bring forward preparation work for this scheme. Construction will depend on the success of statutory procedures and the availability of funding, including European Funds from the Highland and Island Transitional Programme. Subject to favourable outcomes, construction could start in 2005.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
-
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.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
-
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
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
-
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
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 May 2003
-
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 .
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any calculation of the cost of providing a mountain rescue service where the existing voluntary provision by mountain rescue teams has been withdrawn and, if so, what its estimate is of the total annual cost of providing such a service.
Answer
The Executive is not aware of any existing voluntary provision by mountain rescue teams having been withdrawn and no estimates have been made of the costs of providing such a service.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to assist the scallop fishing industry.
Answer
The Scottish Scallop Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from the Executive, Food Standards Agency Scotland, Fisheries Research Services (FRS) and the scallop industry, is developing options for research that will inform the science behind the amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) action level. In recognition of the effects of ASP closures on the scallop industry, the Executive is committed to supporting any such research. FRS is currently undertaking a project to review the spatial and seasonal occurrence of harmful algal blooms in Scottish waters and their relationship to shellfish toxicity. In 2003-04, the scallop sector will benefit from funds committed from the Scottish Executive and Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance grant schemes. This will include support for an industry-led project analysing scallop portion sizes.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances Scottish ministers might use their powers of direction in respect of non-departmental public bodies.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4 on 3 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at .
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 10 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of which non-departmental public bodies Scottish ministers have the powers of direction and what these powers relate to.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4 on 3 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at .
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2003
-
Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 6 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet representatives of the Highland Council to discuss the proposed final route of the Sustrans cycle network link between Newtonmore and Kingussie.
Answer
The trunk road cycling officer is meeting representatives of Highland Council on 10 June 2003. Highland Council's proposals for the route of this National Cycle Network link through Kingussie will be discussed as part of the agenda.
