- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to increase funding to local authorities for the purpose of diversion from prosecution services for drug using offenders.
Answer
The Justice Department of the Scottish Executive is funding 18 pilot diversion schemes to 31 March 2000. Many of the schemes offer support to drug dependent offenders. A report on the evaluation of the pilots has been received and will be considered carefully before any decision is made on future policy and funding. We have announced that an additional £600,000 per annum is to be made available to local authorities for drug and addiction projects, including a major project in Aberdeenshire and Moray.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Donald Dewar on 13 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister next intends to visit the City of Aberdeen and with whom he intends to meet.
Answer
I have no fixed plans to visit Aberdeen but expect my Ministerial duties to take me there in the near future.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 11 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give statistics relating to absenteeism caused by stress related illnesses among teaching staff in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools by local authority area for each of the last five years.
Answer
Absenteeism amongst teachers is a matter for Local Authorities as employers and the information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to consider and respond to the findings of Deprivation amongst affluence: social exclusion in the City of Aberdeen by Professor Thomas Lange of the Centre of Public Policy and Management at the Robert Gordon University.
Answer
I have received a copy of Deprivation amongst affluence: social exclusion in the City of Aberdeen. The Scottish Executive recognises the disadvantage that exists in areas of Aberdeen. The Great Northern Partnership in the city has been designated as a Social Inclusion Partnership and is receiving funding of £819,000 in the current year. In November 1999 the Executive published our targets and milestones for tackling poverty in Scotland, and in spring 2000 we will publish our Action Plan setting out how we intend to deliver these milestones.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide statistics relating to awards granted to organisations based in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow for the purposes of tackling poverty expressed on a per capita basis for each of the last five years.
Answer
This information is not available.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 16 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those fisheries measures that will cease or be subject to budget reductions following the reduction in overall fisheries expenditure outlined in its recent spending plans.
Answer
There is no reduction in fisheries expenditure. I refer Mr Lochhead to the answer I gave to his question number S1W-1888.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 14 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding reform of the severe weather allowance for pensioners in Scotland.
Answer
No. This is a matter for the Secretary of State for Social Security, not for the Executive.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 13 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what length of notice was given to prawn fishermen in the under 10m fleet before the recent prohibition was introduced in nephrops fisheries on 12 October.
Answer
Variations to licences to prohibit fishing for North Sea nephrops as of 12 October were issued by fisheries officers by post to owners of 10 metres and under fishing vessels from 6 October. In addition a press notice announcing the prohibition was issued by the Scottish Executive on 7 October. We are very pleased that the Executive was able to reopen the fishery subject to appropriate conditions on 25 October.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 7 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all existing and proposed regulations relating to capacity penalties, engine power, quotas and licences, and related matters, in respect of the sea fisheries sector.
Answer
A list of extant European legislation, including that relating to fisheries, can be found in the Directory of Community Legislation in Force, published by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. There is also a Commission database of Regulations (EUR-Lex) available on the internet.
A list of the main domestic fisheries acts and orders is set out in the annual report and accounts of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. The most recent version was published and laid before the Scottish Parliament, and copies were sent to Members of the Scottish Parliament, in July this year. Various aspects of fisheries are also subject to administrative rules and arrangements.Regulations are proposed to give effect in Scotland to obligations arising out of recent Community legislation on fisheries control arrangements, satellite monitoring and technical conservation measures; and for fish conservation and quota management purposes. These will be subject to appropriate Parliamentary procedure.
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 7 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the forms, record sheets and any other paperwork, by fisheries sector, issued by its Rural Affairs Department and its predecessor departments which owners of fishing vessels are required to complete in order to comply with legislation and what plans it has to review any "red tape" in the Fisheries industry.
Answer
Documentation which the Rural Affairs Department may require fishing vessel owners to complete relates primarily to the licensing of fishing vessels, control and quota management. Most require to be completed only in specified circumstances. Owners are routinely required to complete an application for a fishing vessel licence (form AFL2), annually in the case of vessels over 10 metres in length and biennially in the case of vessels of 10 metres or under.We will continue to try to ensure a balance between the aim of minimising the bureaucratic burdens on the industry whilst securing an appropriate level of regulation in the interests of sustainable fisheries.
