- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the conditions of consent granted for the planting of genetically modified oilseed rape at Roskill Farm, Munlochy, Ross-shire included any requirement that the genetically modified proportion of the crop be a quarter of the si'e of the control crop; what the reasons are for the position on this matter, and whether any such requirement has any impact on the efficiency of food production.
Answer
The crop of genetically modified oilseed rape comprises just under 15 hectares of the 40 hectare field with the conventional control crop growing in the remainder of the field. The consent which applies to releases of this particular genetically modified crop does not permit more than 15 hectares to be released on an individual site. Identical sampling methods and equal numbers of control points are used in both parts of the field. The farm scale evaluation programme is not concerned with the efficiency of food production. The programme is designed to assess the impact on biodiversity of the agricultural practices associated with growing genetically modified crops.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 7 December 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the sum of #854,000 paid to Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd in respect of the work undertaken on design and specialist cladding services was paid in one or more payments, and on what date or dates the payments were made.
Answer
The amount paid to Flour City Architectural Metals involved five separate payments. The dates and amounts (excl. VAT) are given below.
12 March 01 | 194,000 |
23 April 01 | 68,366 |
01 June 01 | 139,671 |
14 June 01 | 252,185 |
16 July 01 | 199,845 |
Total | 854,067 |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 7 December 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-19252 on 14 November 2001, what concerns were expressed and by whom, and in particular what matter the Design Team expressed concern about in May 2001.
Answer
Concerns were expressed by EMBT/RMJM in May 2001 that receipt of certain technical information from Flour City was "considerably overdue".
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 7 December 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer whether an independent inquiry will be carried out into the appointment of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd.
Answer
I am aware of no grounds for, or plans to carry out, an independent inquiry into the appointment of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 7 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the range of locations currently covered by the definition of tourist attractions for the purposes of the Trunk Road and Motorway Tourist Signposting Policy; whether it has any plans to review this matter; in particular, why golf courses are not considered to be tourist attractions under the terms of that definition, and whether the lack of tourist signposting for golf courses has any impact on the Executive's strategy for the promotion of golf to visitors.
Answer
A tourist attraction/facility is broadly defined, for signing purposes, as being a permanently established destination or facility that attracts or is used by visitors to an area and which is open to the public without prior booking during its normal working hours. Examples of the types of tourist attractions/facilities eligible for signing under this definition are historic buildings, gardens, leisure complexes, beaches, ancient monuments, historic churches, zoos, picnic sites etc. The importance of golf as a major tourist attraction in Scotland is recognised. However, golf clubs must, through the local tourist board, take appropriate steps to develop a marketing strategy and inform the public of the golf course through advertising material. As the majority of golf courses are used mainly by their members and require pre-booking for any visitors they are not normally considered suitable for tourist signposting.The Trunk Road and Motorway Tourist Signposting Policy was introduced in 1998 following wide consultation with interested parties, including the Scottish Tourist Board, to ensure a consistent approach across the trunk road network. There are no proposals to review this policy.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 7 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of the former Scottish Bus Group pension schemes was at 31 March 2001.
Answer
During the debate on motion S1M-2486 on 29 November 2001, I announced that the sum receivable by Scottish Bus Group Limited in respect of pension scheme surpluses at 31 March 2001, after deduction of tax at 35%, is estimated at £168 million.The Scottish Transport Group Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2001 will be laid before the Scottish Parliament shortly.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the North of Scotland Water Authority has complied with Annex B, Flood Risk Assessment: A Generic Format and Standard, in particular paragraphs 2, 3, 5 and 10, of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's document Planning Authority Protocol Development at Risk of Flooding: Advice and Consultation in respect of its flood risk assessment of possible locations for wastewater treatment works at Aviemore.
Answer
In the first instance, this is a matter for the North of Scotland Water Authority (NoSWA) to resolve with the planning authorities and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as part of the planning process. I understand that you have written to NoSWA's Chief Executive requesting this information and she will respond to you directly in due course.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, where planning permission for the erection of residential property is granted and there is a privately-owned existing road or pathway, there should be a presumption in favour of a right of pedestrian and vehicular access and whether the law of servitude should be reformed accordingly.
Answer
Planning applications for developments taking access from a trunk road must be assessed on their individual merits. Such proposals are likely to lead to an increase in the amount of traffic entering and leaving the trunk road. Road safety issues are extremely important and I do not accept that a blanket presumption in favour of a right of access in these circumstances would be appropriate. Development proposals that seek to take access from local roads are for planning authorities to consider.Regarding the law of servitude, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19442 on 12 November 2001.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes have been implemented for the improvement of maternity services, including the upgrading of maternity units; how much has been spent on the improvement of maternity services in the Highland Health Board area over each of the last five years, and what the breakdown of this expenditure was for each year.
Answer
The Executive attaches a high priority to ensuring that the NHS offers high quality maternity services in all parts of Scotland. Among the comprehensive principles identified in the Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland, published in February this year, were safety, choice, quality and access. Within the guidelines set out in the framework, it is for the NHS locally, working with service users and planning partners, to determine what initiatives and investment are necessary to develop services in their areas. Information about the cost of service developments is not held centrally.Highland NHS Board carried out a review of maternity services throughout the Highlands earlier this year. The review was informed by wide public consultation with local communities. The review report, published in August, made 41 recommendations for developing Highland maternity services in line with the Scottish framework. NHS Highland has started to implement these recommendations, in consultation with service users and planning partners.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether VisitScotland has made any agreement to make payment of any sum to Mr Rod Lynch; if so (a) what the amount of the sum is, (b) what such money would otherwise have been spent on, (c) with whom the responsibility for any such payment lies and (d) whether there are any precedents of payments being made to an individual appointee to a post in a non-departmental public body or other executive agency who did not go on to take up post.
Answer
VisitScotland has made no agreement to any payment. The other questions do not therefore apply.
