- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 June 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 19 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive to what “vast number of alternatives” to the current Edinburgh Airport Rail Link the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth referred on 31 May 2007 (Official Report c. 379).
Answer
A number ofalternative options for a rail link to Edinburgh airport were appraised during the feasibility phase of the EARLproject. In addition to this Transport Scotland and Network Rail are currentlyworking together to consider new options to provide a rail link to the airport.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether producer organisations will be defined as “active fishermen” and “coastal communities” in respect of the allocation of fishing entitlement.
Answer
Under the previousadministration, the management arrangements governing fishing quotas have been underreview for some time as part of a joint UK Quota Management Change Programme (QMCP).
I have asked my officialsas a matter of urgency to review progress and provide advice on the best route forwardto serve Scottish interests, including meeting the needs of active fishermen andfishing communities. The role of producer organisations - an intrinsic aspect offisheries management in Scotland - will also be considered.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how fishing stakeholders will be directly involved in international negotiations and EU Fisheries Councils.
Answer
This government willgive fishing the priority and importance it deserves. This will include the developmentof a closer relationship with stakeholders in the run up to and during negotiations.I am currently exploring with the industry and others how best to achieve this.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the Cod Recovery Plan 2 which the European Commission wishes to introduce in 2009 and whether the Executive supports the reorganisation of the Cod Recovery Plan.
Answer
I believe there isa need to review the cod recovery plan. My aim will be to secure a plan which asfar as possible decouples the management of cod from other stocks, brings greaterstability to the fleet and helps achieve our aim of a sustainable fishery. I shallbe working very closely with the Scottish fishing sector in pursuing this aim.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 18 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been, or will be, paid to Shetland crofters and farmers in the current year and two previous years under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme and the Rural Stewardship Scheme.
Answer
The information isas follows:
| | Actual Expenditure 2005-06 | Actual Expenditure 2006-07 | Estimated Expenditure 2007-08 |
| Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme | £1,985,271 | £1,980,371 | £1,582,942 |
| Rural Stewardship Scheme | £71,109 | £293,391 | £534,096 |
| Totals | £2,056,380 | £2,273,762 | £2,117,038 |
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 May 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy and objectives are in respect of the annual EU/Norway fishing negotiations which take place in advance of the EU Fisheries Council in December.
Answer
The EU/Norway negotiations areof critical importance to the Scottish fishing industry. I shall be developing Scotland’s objectivesfor these negotiations in full consultation with the industry over the next fewmonths.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be announced on what action it proposes to take with regard to the Animal Gatherings (Scotland) Order.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-640 on 14 June 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at
www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 14 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake (a) further consultation with interested parties and (b) a regulatory impact assessment on any follow up proposals to the Animal Gatherings (Scotland) Order.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-640 on 14 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at
www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take on the basis of the responses it received to the consultation on the Animal Gatherings (Scotland) Order.
Answer
I will bring forward arevised draft Order taking account of the responses to the consultation earlierthis year. The draft Order which will be subject to further consultation willbe accompanied by draft guidance and a regulatory impact assessment.
The greatest issue raised inthe November 2006 consultation concerned the holding of agricultural shows andthe land used for these shows to lie vacant for a period of 27 days both beforeand after the event. Whilst the veterinary rationale for this proposal issoundly based, I acknowledge that any new arrangements must be both practicaland flexible enough to accommodate the needs of these rural events. Accordingly,this proposal is to be revised to allow farmers who let their land for suchevents the option, after the show, of either observing this clear period or,alternatively, of restocking the land immediately after the show subject to thereturned livestock complying with a 13 movement day standstill. This proposalhas already been conveyed to the industry.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 June 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the first 5,000 euros of Single Farm Payments are still exempt from modulation.
Answer
The first €5,000 of SingleFarm Payment are exempt from compulsory modulation, but they have never beenexempt from voluntary modulation and this remains the case.
