Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for ��˿�� to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-23532

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 February 2002
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 12 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it has made in fish farming since May 1999 in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 and whether it will give a breakdown of how the investment was spent in each case.

The Executive routinely makes direct investment in aquaculture through research and development work, in support of its statutory responsibilities for disease control and improving understanding of impacts on the marine environment; and through FIFG Structural Funds, where the priorities of the aquaculture scheme remain the efficient and hygienic production of quality fish and shellfish. In recent years, there has also been exceptional expenditure through the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) Re-Start Scheme, to facilitate the sustainability of employment and business activity in fish and shellfish farming businesses in the Highlands and Islands, which had been adversely affected by ISA, as well as the payment of formation grant to a producer organisation. This is detailed in the following table:

Item	1999-2000 (£ million)	2000-01 (£ million)	2001-02 (£ million)
Research and development - costs incurred	1.4	1.1	1.3
FIFG Structural Funds - awards approved in aquaculture scheme	N/A	N/A	2.1
Formation grant to Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation	N/A	0.1	N/A
Highlands & Islands Enterprise ISA Re-Start Scheme - funds approved	N/A	3.0	0.8
Totals	1.4	4.2	4.2

For both FIFG and the ISA Re-Start Scheme, although awards may be approved in a particular financial year, funds may not necessarily be drawn down by the recipient in that same year.

Question reference: S1W-22954

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 February 2002
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that BEAR Scotland Ltd meets representatives of the community in Mallaig in relation to the complaints from Mallaig Community Council in regard to the condition of the A830, and whether it will require BEAR Scotland Ltd to produce an action plan for the community of Mallaig to deal with pot holes and repairs to the A830 trunk road.

BEAR Scotland Ltd. met with representatives of Mallaig Community Council on 20 February 2002 to discuss their concerns regarding the condition of the A830, in particular the section of the road east of Arisaig.To address those concerns, a structural maintenance scheme has been identified for implementation this autumn. An interim strategy to undertake urgent repairs and increase the frequency of safety inspections, has also been formulated to ensure road safety is maintained.

Question reference: S1W-23474

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 February 2002
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any research entitled "The Conflicting Government 1959 and 1967 Statements on Trespass" from Alan Blackshaw, OBE, VRD of Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, and what its position is on this research and Mr Blackshaw's conclusions and, in particular, on whether there is a law of trespass in Scotland.

I am aware of the research conducted by Mr Blackshaw relating to the current legal position in respect of access by the public to land. The conflicting evidence on this subject to the Justice 2 Committee from Mr Blackshaw and others, including the Law Society of Scotland, reinforces our view of the need for legislation to establish clear rights of responsible access as set out in Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Question reference: S1W-22903

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 08 February 2002
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 7 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 27 December 2001, to the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning in respect of the Scottish Transport Group.

Question reference: S1W-23591

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 February 2002
Current Status: Answered by Elaine Murray on 7 March 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on its commitment to promote an annual award for the best publicly-funded building; who is being asked to put forward nominations; when the first award will be made; what the award will be; whether buildings built under Public/Private Partnership schemes will be eligible; what consultation there has been as to the award and the process to be followed in relation to it, and whether the award will be judged by it or by an independent body or person and, if the latter, who that person or body will be.

Question reference: S1W-19876

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 6 March 2002

To ask the Presiding Officer whether a copy of the contract with Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Question reference: S1W-20304

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 6 March 2002

To ask the Presiding Officer who the receiver for Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd is and whether that receiver has also been appointed as receiver in respect of the parent company of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd; what contact the Parliament or principal contractor for the Holyrood Project has had with the receiver for Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd; when any such contact was made, and whether copies of any correspondence relating to any such contact will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

The Parliament has received legal advice that the documents requested should not be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre while the SPCB's rights and entitlements are still being evaluated, as they may form part of the productions in any litigation which may follow. The appointed receiver for Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd. is D. J. Manning. The appointment is only in respect of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd and not the parent company, which was still trading as at 1 March 2002. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that the Holyrood Project Team and the Project Construction Managers, Bovis Lend Lease Scotland Ltd, were in contact with the appointed receiver to exchange relevant information, immediately following the demise of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd.

Question reference: S1W-19886

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 6 March 2002

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the tender document submitted by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Question reference: S1W-21037

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 December 2001
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 6 March 2002

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-20306 on 7 December 2001, whether copies of the invoices in respect of each of the five payments will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Question reference: S1W-20310

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 5 March 2002

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-19252 on 14 November 2001, what assurances were provided, by whom and on what dates; whether the documentation regarding these assurances will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre; whether the "recovery programmes" and the "sample delivery dates" will be published, and what work commenced on site in June 2001.

The Convenor of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that Flour City Architectural Metals (FCAM) (UK) Ltd's Project Manager provided assurances over design information dates to our Construction Manager, on 17 May 2001. FCAM (UK) Ltd also presented a recovery programme, which anticipated delivery of a window sample on 22 June 2001. FCAM (UK) Ltd started work on site in June 2001 that mainly involved design work, surveys, initiating the procurement of materials and assembled units, and issuing installation method statements. The Parliament has received legal advice that related documentation should not be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre while the SPCB's rights and entitlements are still being evaluated, as it may form part of the productions in any litigation which may follow.