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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 MSPs 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-04565

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 3 March 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include traditional Scottish music in the niche marketing of Scottish tourism and, if so, whether it will consult with Celtic Connections and other relevant bodies

The Scottish Tourist Board and relevant Area Tourist Boards promote traditional music both in print and on their websites.The STB, the Scottish Arts Council and the traditional music sector are working in partnership to raise the profile of traditional music events in Scottish tourism. As part of this initiative, pilot schemes have taken place throughout the country looking at ways of making traditional music more accessible to visitors.

Question reference: S1W-04478

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 March 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) plays in relation to the designation of land as a Special Protection Area and whether, in carrying out that role, SNH must observe and fulfil the duties imposed upon it by section 3 of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991, in particular the duty to have regard to the needs of agriculture, fisheries and forestry and social and economic development in Scotland or any part thereof.

In its role as adviser to Scottish Ministers on natural heritage matters, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) advises on the scientific case for classifying Special Protection Areas (SPA). SNH staff carry out consultations on behalf of the Scottish Executive with relevant stakeholders in proposed SPAs, and report on the outcome.Case law in the European Court of Justice has established that member states cannot take account of socio-economic considerations in identifying SPAs and in defining their boundaries.

Question reference: S1W-04132

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to question S1W-1282 lodged on 1 September 1999 about the specialisms of its special advisers, when it will provide an explanation for the delay in providing a substantive answer and whether the answer will include details of those special advisers who, since the lodging of the question, have left its employment.

Question reference: S1W-02328

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 November 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in view of the estimate of 16-18 million of the number of corncrakes globally, Scottish National Heritage have funded or are to fund any projects involving corncrakes and, if so, whether it will provide full details of the funding provided or to be provided.

There is no evidence to support the quoted figure of 16-18 million corncrakes. The internationally accepted method of calculating the corncrake population is by numbers of singing males. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently indicates a global corncrake population which fluctuates annually between 1.6 and 3 million singing males.Funding from Scottish Natural Heritage to encourage farmers and crofters to manage land in a manner that meets the needs of the corncrake is shown below.

SNH Programme	Year	Expenditure	Comment
Corncrake Management Scheme(operational from 1998)	1998-1999	£7,728	For payment to farmers within corncrake SPAs
	1999-2000	£58,000*

Corncrake Initiative(operational from 1992)			Payments made to farmers within corncrake areas in conjunction with Scottish Crofters Union and RSPB
	1992-93	£7,746
	1993-94	£19,283
	1994-95	£25,630
	1995-96	£21,377
	1996-97	£62,231
	1997-98	£57,000
	1998-99	£47,000
	1999-2000	£57,000*
		*anticipated

Question reference: S1W-04172

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 24 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to obtain information regarding the policies pursued in Denmark to promote renewable energy and in particular those which encourage the use of renewable energy amongst consumers, and whether it will make such information available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

The proposals of the Scottish Executive on the promotion of renewable energy were outlined in my answer to S1W-4084 dated 1 February. These proposals are part of the framework established by the UK Government to pursue the target of meeting 10% of GB electricity demand from renewable energy by 2010. This followed an extensive consultation procedure in which many Scottish companies and organisations participated.I am always very keen to learn from the experience of others and have met representatives of other countries' governments and overseas companies to discuss these matters.

Question reference: S1W-02794

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 November 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out any consultation to determine the impact of an aggregates tax on jobs, roads and the environment in Scotland and, in particular, whether it will consult local authorities as to cost implications of any additional traffic and road maintenance costs arising from rural quarry closures.

Question reference: S1W-04288

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to prevent the North of Scotland Water Authority from holding public meetings in order to explain why water charges must increase or whether it will welcome public consultation of this nature.

In my statement to the Scottish Parliament of 26 January, I set out how the Executive accepted the Water Industry Commissioner's advice that substantial increases in water and sewerage charges are needed to fund essential investment programmes although I moderated the levels recommended by him.It is a matter for each authority how it discusses with its customers the need for investment to meet improved health and environment standards. NoSWA already carries out, and will continue, consultations with a diverse range of its customers and their elected representatives on this issue and I welcome this.

Question reference: S1W-04290

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reduce the increase in water charges for the year 2000-01 within the North of Scotland Water Authority area to the average level of increase in the rest of Scotland.

In accordance with the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1999, I announced on 26 January the Executive's decisions on the framework for water and sewerage charges in the light of the Water Industry Commissioner's advice, received in December 1999. The level of increase for each Water Authority reflects the individual investment needs and circumstances faced by that authority. The Act provides that it is now for the Water Authorities to agree their detailed schemes of charges directly with the Commissioner, failing which the scheme is referred to Ministers for decisions.

Question reference: S1W-04287

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of its rejection of the water commissioner's advice on the level of water charges for the next two years, what necessary function it considers that the office of the Water Commissioner serves.

Question reference: S1W-04292

Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will disclose what level of increase in water charges was sought or proposed by the water commissioner for the year 2002-03 for each of the three water authorities in Scotland.