- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 October 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will appoint a representative of the recreational sea angling sector to the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group.
Answer
The Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries in Scotland introduces significant changes to the management, organisation and development of inshore fisheries. Implementation of the framework is on-going and progressing well. Part of this process will involve review of the structure and function of the ScottishInshore Fisheries Advisory Group. That review is scheduled to take place in spring 2006 and applications for membership will be considered then.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 October 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive why the recreational sea angling sector is not represented on the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group.
Answer
The Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group (SIFAG) deals primarily with matters relating to the commercial fishing sector. A key part of the group’s current work is the on-going implementation of the Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries in Scotland. The framework introduces a number of changes to inshore fisheries management, including significantly increased opportunities for all relevant stakeholders to play a greater role in the development and management of inshore fisheries. Reflecting these changes, a review of the structure and function of SIFAG is scheduled to take place in spring 2006. Applications for membership will be considered then.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 25 October 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive to what transport projects funding has been committed using funding which was to have been used for the delayed M74 extension.
Answer
Following the Court of Session challenge to the M74 Completion, arrangements are being made to seek tenders for the A876 Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine, the A68 Dalkeith Bypass, the A830 Arisaig to Loch Nan Uamh improvement and 3 Route Action Plan improvements on the A75.
The Scottish Executive is also supporting the construction of the A8000 by the City of Edinburgh Council.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 30 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it received in favour of the proposal for an islands regional transport partnership, announced in its news release 105820 on 21 July 2005.
Answer
One.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 30 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward its proposals for the boundaries of the regional transport partnerships under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer
Proposals for boundaries of the regional transport partnerships were included in the draft Regional Transport Partnership (Establishment and Constitution) (Scotland) Order 2005 that was circulated to local authorities and SPT on 21 July 2005. I am currently considering all comments received on those proposals and will be lodging the final Order before Parliament soon.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 30 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the boundaries of the regional transport partnerships under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 will accord with those referred to in its news release 105820 on 21 July 2005.
Answer
A draft Regional Transport Partnership (Establishment and Constitution) (Scotland) Order 2005 was circulated to local authorities and SPT on 21 July 2005. This included proposals for the boundaries of the regional transport partnerships. I am carefully considering all comments received, on boundaries and other matters, before lodging the final Order in Parliament.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 30 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether full access to all accounting and other relevant information will be given to NHS Highland in respect of the proposed re-drawing of boundaries between NHS Argyll and Clyde, NHS Highland and NHS Greater Glasgow.
Answer
Yes, I can confirm that NHS Highland, and indeed NHS Greater Glasgow, will be given full access to all accounting and other relevant information in respect of the proposed re-drawing of boundaries between NHS Argyll and Clyde and the two boards.
NHS Argyll and Clyde have been and will continue to work closely with NHS Highland, NHS Greater Glasgow and the Health Department on the forthcoming dissolution of the board.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 30 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any request for information from NHS Highland regarding the cost of services within the NHS Argyll and Clyde area transferring to it and, in particular, the (a) resource allocation that this area will attract, (b) share of any in-year deficit that remains outstanding and (c) contribution which NHS Highland will be required to make in respect of NHS Argyll and Clyde's recovery proposals and, if so, whether it has provided, or will provide, the information.
Answer
I am not aware of any formal requests from NHS Highland regarding the cost of services within the NHS Argyll and Clyde area transferring to it under the proposals for the dissolution of the board. However, the Health Department is currently analysing the impact on the Arbuthnott-based resource allocation and on patient movements for NHS Highland and NHS Greater Glasgow, under each of the options identified in the consultation document. The department will share the results of these analyses with each of the three boards once they are available.
NHS Argyll and Clyde has been and will continue to work closely with NHS Highland, NHS Greater Glasgow and the Health Department as we move towards the dissolution and integration of the board and is addressing items (b) and (c) above.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 29 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated (a) in total and (b) broken down by scheme to the Track Access Grant and Freight Facilities Grant schemes (i) in each year since inception and (ii) for the next two years.
Answer
Budget allocated to the Freight Facilities Grant and Track Access Grant schemes by the Scottish Executive:
| Financial Year | Freight Facilities Grant Scheme (£) | Track Access Grant Scheme (£) |
| 1999-2000 | 6,100,000 | Nil (*) |
| 2000-01 | 7,100,000 | 750,000 |
| 2001-02 | 9,803,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 2002-03 | 12,121,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 2003-04 | 14,438,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 2004-05 | 14,638,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 2005-06 | 15,400,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 2006-07 | 12,900,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 2007-08 | 12,900,000 | 1,000,000 |
Note: *Powers to award Track Access Grants were transferred to Scottish Ministers during financial year 2000-01 from DfT.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 September 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 29 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it regards the Track Access Grant and Freight Facilities Grant schemes as successful; what monitoring is carried out of compliance with the conditions of grant; whether it considers that such monitoring has been sufficient; whether an audit of each of the schemes has been undertaken and, if so, whether the audit included a check of the transference of freight from road to rail, and whether it considers that any audit arrangements have been adequate.
Answer
These freight grant schemes are successful, having removed at least 60 million lorry miles from Scotland’s roads since 1999. The Freight Facilities Grant scheme has had a significant and positive impact on the freight infrastructure of Scotland as a catalyst to the building of over £70 million of new rail and water freight facilities across the country.
A fully effective monitoring and audit system for freight grants is in place. Each Freight Facilities Grant project is monitored annually to track the actual level of freight transferred from road to rail and water and the corresponding environmental benefits which have been generated. Track Access Grants are paid in arrears based on actual freight carried by rail; these claims are audited by independent accountants annually. All Scottish Executive freight grant schemes are audited both internally and by Audit Scotland.
