- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 21 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government and the Bank of England regarding the impact on the tourist industry in Scotland of (a) Her Majesty's Government's macro-economic policies and (b) the Bank of England's policies on the value of the pound sterling against (i) the Euro, (ii) the US dollar, (iii) the Japanese Yen and (iv) other currencies; whether it will place copies of such representations in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and, if not, why not.
Answer
The Scottish Executive liaises closely with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including economic conditions in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 21 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider holding public debates on the model of the recent "Business in the Chamber" event on topics such as health, education, older people and social and economic development in the Highlands and Islands, whether it will ensure that the participants in such debates are from a wide cross-section of interested parties as well as special interest groups, and whether it will investigate the possibility of using the Parliament chamber for such events.
Answer
The Executive already has a range of consultative mechanisms in place but is willing to consider suitable mechanisms by which consultation processes can be supplemented or improved to generate the widest debate possible, involving a cross-section of interested parties. Subject to the approval of the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, this could include the use of the Scottish Parliament chamber if considered appropriate.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed National Parks will require to rely on loans, in whole or in part, for their finance and, if so, by what means the National Parks will raise revenue.
Answer
National Park authorities will receive their core funding from central Government. The draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill provides for the possibility of National Park authorities seeking loans, if necessary. National Park authorities will be able to raise additional money through other sources such as Lottery Funds, European Union funding and commercial activity.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has explained to the residents of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and the Cairngorms the "Sandford Principle", as referred to in section 8 of the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill; whether conservation will take precedence over the social and economic needs of those residents where there is a conflict; whether there has been any reference or explanation of this matter in any of its press releases on National Parks and how many press releases it has issued on National Parks since 2 July 1999.
Answer
The Sandford Principle is explained in the explanatory notes printed opposite the draft bill. Section 8(5) of the draft bill provides that where a National Park Authority considers there is a conflict between the first aim and the others, the first aim (conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage of the area) should be given greater weight. There have been two press releases on National Parks from the Scottish Executive since 2 July. They do not explicitly cover the Sandford Principle.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed National Parks will be funded by grants and, if so, what its estimate is of the annual grant (in current cash terms) for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms in the first five years of operation.
Answer
National Parks will be funded by grants from central Government.Scottish Natural Heritage's advice to government on National Parks, published in 1999, contained estimates of costs (in current terms) of national parks in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms. We will consider the levels of grant necessary in the context of the Executive's spending plans for the period in question.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the cost of (a) holding a local referendum and (b) holding a local inquiry in (i) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and (ii) the Cairngorms and whether a local inquiry is more or less democratic than a referendum.
Answer
The cost of (a) and (b) would depend on the nature and extent of the referendum or inquiry. The purposes of each would be different: the draft National Parks (Scotland) Bill does not provide for the holding of a referendum.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 20 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total amount of public funding is currently spent annually on education courses for prospective teachers of Gaelic.
Answer
There are currently a total of 35 Gaelic-speaking students on Initial Teacher Training courses. Of these, 14, including nine post-graduate students, graduate this year. This represents a cost of approximately 拢290,000.
In addition, in 1999 the Scottish Executive funded a Gaelic Medium Subject Specialist Teachers Course for secondary teachers. This was run by Sabhal Mor Ostaig at a total cost of 拢66,000. This year and next similar GMST courses will be run. Their costs will be in the same region but the precise amounts will depend on teacher numbers.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a copy of the letter written by its Chief Agricultural Officer to administrators of the Crofters Building Grants and Loan Scheme as referred to in The Herald of Wednesday 1 March 2000, whether there will be any job redundancies of those administrators as a result of any changes to the scheme; whether it remains committed to providing the scheme and, if so, why it has reduced the financial benefits available under it and whether it will publish the rates for grant and loans for building a house (a) at 1990 levels and (b) at current levels, in real terms.
Answer
I am arranging for a copy of the Chief Agricultural Officer's letter to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Efficiency savings in administering the Crofters Etc. Building Grants and Loan Scheme (CBGLS) mean that workloads throughout the nine Area Offices in the Highlands and Islands may reduce in total by the equivalent of five to seven posts. We aim to avoid compulsory redundancies and will explore ways of achieving this e.g. by redeployment of staff to other work.
The Executive recognises that CBGLS plays a significant role in retaining population levels in the crofting areas. The overall financial benefits available under CBGLS have not been reduced. Rather, the recent adjustments have allowed them to be extended more widely.
The rates for grant/loan in 1990 and at present for new houses are:
| | Grant | Loan |
Up to 15 May 1990 | 50% of the cost of eligible work up to a maximum of 拢8,700 | Up to a maximum of 拢13,500 |
From 16 May 1990 | 50% of the cost of eligible work up to a maximum of 拢11,500 | Up to a maximum of 拢17,500 |
From 1 January 2000 | 拢11,500 | Up to a maximum of 拢17,500 |
Using the GDP deflator the current maximum assistance of 拢29,000 would be worth 拢22,230 at 1990-91 prices.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the levels of financial assistance available to crofters for house improvements under the Crofters Building Grants and Loan Scheme.
Answer
In the course of the current spending review I will examine all aspects of Rural Affairs Department expenditure including the Crofters Etc. Building Grants and Loan Scheme.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the reduction in financial support under the Crofters Building Grants and Loan Scheme will have upon levels of population in the Western Isles and in each of the crofting counties.
Answer
There has been no reduction in financial support under the Crofters Etc. Building Grants and Loans Scheme. The changes to the scheme which I made recently will widen access to assistance and therefore make it possible for more people in crofting areas to provide affordable housing for their families.
