- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether teachers who work as education advisors will, under the McCrone agreement, receive salary increases at least equivalent to those already agreed for other local authority teachers and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
A short-life working group has been set up under the auspices of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers to review the pay and conditions of service for educational advisers.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps sportscotland is planning to take to promote the Cairngorm National Park as a sport and recreation centre of international excellence.
Answer
The National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 provides for the establishment of a National Park Authority and the promotion of the park will be a matter for the authority. However, sportscotland intends to work closely with the authority to develop a Park Plan that will ensure that the aim of "promoting understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public" is met.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether fluoridation of the water supply would have any implications for the future development of organic farming and horticulture.
Answer
Fluoride is a natural mineral present in many soils. It is also present in fresh water and sea water. It is not added to any Scottish drinking water at present but occurs naturally in some.There is no evidence that the addition of fluoride at the optimum (1 ppm) level for dental health would have any implications for organic farming or for horticulture.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage the Scottish Tourist Board to conduct specific marketing of the West Highland Way in specialised publications and maga'ines in Germany, Holland and any other countries which constitute significant markets for the West Highland Way.
Answer
I understand that visitscotland wrote to you recently, detailing their marketing activity promoting walking holidays in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice Scottish Natural Heritage has given on whether Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross should be chosen as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines.
Answer
Scottish Natural Heritage has not been asked for advice on whether Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross should be chosen as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines. Mellon Charles lies within the Wester Ross National Scenic Area and, consequently, should a planning application be submitted, then SNH would be consulted as required by the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the marketing of Badenoch and Strathspey as "Monarch Country" and whether it will urge visitscotland to investigate the feasibility of purchasing brief television advert slots at the end of episodes of "Monarch of the Glen" which are shown in other countries.
Answer
This is an operational matter for visitscotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what difficulties the 20-day standstill rule following the movement of cattle and sheep could cause farmers, especially those in peripheral areas, and whether it has any plans to modify the rule in the light of any difficulties experienced.
Answer
No decisions have yet been taken on the 20-day standstill rule. The consultation period on the proposal has just ended and the responses, along with comments from meetings with key industry sectors, are being carefully considered.I am of course well aware of the far-reaching implications that such a standstill would have for Scottish farming. I am also aware, however, that we must do all we can to prevent any repetition of the rapid and unchecked spread of foot-and-mouth disease which has had such devastating effects on almost everyone in rural areas.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 27 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the Ministry of Defence on the environmental or other implications of the Interim Storage of Laid-up Submarines Project and whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre any documents and communications in respect of such consultation.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on a wide range of issues including the Interim Storage of Laid-Up Submarines Study.I understand that at this stage no sites have been selected as the MOD have not concluded how the submarines would be stored on land.The information requested meets the requirements of commercial exemption in Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 27 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives of BP to discuss ways in which the work connected with the development of the Clair field for which contracts will shortly be issued can contribute to the Scottish economy, in particular with regard to employment opportunities.
Answer
We are in regular contact with BP about a range of issues including those concerning the development of the Clair field and the role of Scottish industry in this work.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 27 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what position it took on the choice of Mellon Charles near Aultbea in Wester Ross as the location for a repository of nuclear waste material from decommissioned nuclear submarines in any consultation with the Ministry of Defence on the environmental and other implications of the proposed location.
Answer
I understand that no sites have been selected.
