- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 7 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2532 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 November 1999, whether the creation of ten new permanent Shrieval posts will be sufficient to secure the proper discharge of administration of justice; in which courts they will be deployed, and whether it believes any delays resultant are consistent with the interests of justice.
Answer
The holders of the ten new permanent Shrieval posts have Commissions as floating Sheriffs which means that they can serve where required throughout Scotland. My Department are in consultation with the Sheriffs Principal about the means of deploying the floating Sheriffs to best effect. I am discussing with Ministerial colleagues what additional steps may be needed as a result of the High Court judgement affecting the use of temporary Sheriffs and I shall keep Parliament informed of developments.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 4 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if the Highlands and Islands Convention is to be reconvened without including any MSPs, MPs or MEPs representing the Highlands and Islands, it will explain in detail the reasons why.
Answer
I refer the Member to the First Minister's answer to S1F-79 of Thursday 3 February.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 4 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in favour of elected representatives of the Highlands and Islands working together on any reconvened Highlands and Islands Convention and, if not, why not.
Answer
I refer the Member to the First Minister's answer to S1F-79 of Thursday 3 February.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 4 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted any form of consultation process on the reconvening of the Highlands and Islands Convention and upon the composition of its membership; if so to provide details and, if not, whether it will now conduct a consultation process with the public and relevant bodies.
Answer
In reaching our decision we have taken into account the views of Convention members. We expect our proposals to be widely welcomed.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 4 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2484 by Jackie Ballie on 3 December 1999, whether that answer is an endorsement of the statement made by the Minister of State at the Scotland Office (House of Commons Official Report 9 November 1999, col-868) that "there is no particular shortage of money for voluntary and community organisations".
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to developing a strategic approach to the funding of the voluntary sector. Last year our funding of the voluntary sector amounted to some £283 million, of which £23 million was in direct grants and £260 million was indirect funding through agencies and non departmental public bodies. We shall keep under review the support we make available to the voluntary sector.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 3 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there has been any maladministration in relation to the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme and, if so, what steps it will take to ensure that applicants to the scheme do not suffer financially as a result.
Answer
I am not aware of maladministration having taken place in the handling of the scheme. The financial allocation for the scheme has been fully committed. In addition, on 16 November, I announced that an extra £1 million is being made available. This followed consultation with the industry about the prioritisation system to deal with the very late surge in scheme applications which regrettably will result in a number of applications not being funded.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 2 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the ending of the Right to Buy Scheme for anti-social tenants would in any way act as a deterrent of such behaviour and, if so, for what reasons.
Answer
Yes. There is evidence of tenants desire to exercise the right to buy and denying this right to anti-social tenants, as part of a package of measures, will act as a deterrent of such behaviour.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 2 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to Her Majesty's Government in relation to any proposed pesticide tax, in particular regarding what implications such as a tax might have on Scottish agricultural jobs and what evidence, if any, exists to show that some pesticides currently used by farmers have improved the quality of grain.
Answer
The UK Government asked the agrochemical industry and others to offer proposals to reduce the environmental impact of pesticide use. Proposals now brought forward by the British Agrochemicals Association will form the basis of discussions between the UK Government, industry and other interested parties over what form a partnership approach might take. It has been announced by HM Treasury that subject to further detailed discussions, the Chancellor will not proceed with the introduction of a pesticides tax in the Budget. The Scottish Executive will keep in close touch with developments on this.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to appoint permanent Sheriffs in order to reduce the amount of time spent by police officers waiting to appear as witnesses in Scottish criminal trials.
Answer
Very significant reductions in police waiting time at Court have been achieved through the introduction of first and mandatory intermediate diets. There is nevertheless a continuing need to improve procedures to ensure that waiting time for all witnesses, including police officers, is kept to a minimum. Availability of Shrieval resources is not the most critical issue here, but I intend to keep the matter under review.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it consulted with any representatives or representative bodies of the business community regarding its decision to fix a business rate poundage of 10.1% higher than in England prior to its ministerial statement on local government finance of 8 December 1999.
Answer
I had a number of meetings with business representative bodies to discuss rating and valuation issues. I will continue to do so up to, and following, the revaluation in line with the policy of openness and transparency. In addition, I have since published the detailed calculations which prove that the total revenue raised through business rates will simply be maintained in 2000-01.
