- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 29 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to submit a response to Her Majesty's Government's consultation paper, Energy Policy - Key Issues for Consultation, in respect of the impact of future energy policy on enterprise.
Answer
We have no plans to submit a formal response to this paper. The Executive is, however, fully engaged with the inter-departmental process which is taking forward the UK Energy Review.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 24 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to remake the Direction to Scottish Water on action to be taken in the interests of national security or in a civil emergency.
Answer
The Secretary of State for Scotland laid the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Directions in the Interests of National Security) Order 2002 on 8 May 2002. This order will come into force on 31 May 2002 and following the consultation set out in the order, I expect to make a Security and Emergency Measures Direction to Scottish Water in June 2002. Copies of the draft Order (SI 1264 (S4)) have been lodged in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 21338).
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 14 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the current annual pay bill and amount paid in employers' National Insurance contributions are for (a) VisitScotland, (b) Scottish Enterprise, (c) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (d) each area tourist board and what the estimated annual amount of employers' National Insurance contributions will be for each organisation in 2003-04 following the changes in National Insurance contributions announced in the UK Budget 2002 assuming (i) no change to the total pay bill from the current year, (ii) a 2% pay increase for all employees, (iii) a 3% pay increase for all employees and (iv) a 4% pay increase for all employees.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25291.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 14 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the current annual pay bill and amount paid in employers' National Insurance contributions are for each higher education institution and what the estimated annual amount of employers National Insurance contributions will be for each institution in 2003-04 following the changes to National Insurance contributions announced in the UK Budget 2002 assuming (a) no change to the total pay bill from the current year, (b) a 2% increase for all employees, (c) a 3% pay increase for all employees and (d) a 4% pay increase for all employees.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25291.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 14 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the current annual pay bill and annual amount paid in employers' National Insurance contributions are for further education institutions and what the estimated annual amount of employers' National Insurance contributions will be for each institution in 2003-04 following the changes in National Insurance contributions announced in the UK Budget 2002 assuming (a) no change to the total pay bill from the current year, (b) a 2% pay increase for all employees, (c) a 3% pay increase for all employees and (d) a 4% pay increase for all employees.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25291.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 1 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the forthcoming report on marine stewardship will be published.
Answer
The first Marine Stewardship Report -
Safeguarding Our Seas: A Strategy for the Conversation and Sustainable Development of our Marine Environment was published today in London by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.The Scottish Executive was closely involved in the preparation of the report, which sets out a joint vision for the marine environment - clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas with a commitment to an ecosystem-based management approach. This is underpinned by the principles of sustainable development, integrated management, the conservation of biological diversity, robust science and the precautionary principle. There is also a commitment on the greater involvement of stakeholders. An electronic version of the report can be found on the DEFRA website at:
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the maximum time between the receipt of a valid application for the payment of grant aid under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance scheme and the issue of grant aid and what percentage of applications were paid within that time in the last year for which the information is available.
Answer
The aim is for an initial check on payment claims to be carried out within 30 working days of receipt. If all the requisite documentation is in place 75% of the claimed amount is paid. The balance is paid as soon as a satisfactory physical inspection/survey of the project has been carried out by an Executive surveyor. That payment is normally made within 10 working days of receipt of a satisfactory inspection report. The vast majority of payments have been made in line with these targets. At this stage, a definitive analysis of the data, however, could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to recipients of grants under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance scheme on the maximum time between the receipt of a valid application for a grant and the issue of grant and whether the interest charges accrued during this time can be claimed by recipients of grants in circumstances where payment is late.
Answer
Claimants are advised that an initial claim check will be undertaken within 30 working days of receipt by the department. No deadline is set for payments, which inevitably depend on auditing claim forms and supporting documentation and, in most cases, a physical inspection of the project involved. The need to arrange the inspection programme cost-effectively means that there can be some delay in inspection visits, particularly in remote areas. The Executive, therefore, pays 75% of an eligible claim as soon as it is satisfied with the claim and supporting documentation. The balance of the claim is paid within 10 working days of receipt of a satisfactory inspection report. The relevant EC Regulations preclude reimbursement for any financial charges accrued pending payment.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 17 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the application from Shetland Seafood Auctions Ltd for grant aid under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance scheme for the development of an electronic auction in Lerwick was received; when the company was notified that its application had been successful; when the application for the payment of the grant accompanied by the necessary proof of payment receipts was received, and when the grant was paid.
Answer
An application from Shetland Seafood Auctions Ltd. for grant aid under FIFG was received by the Executive on 21 February 2001, in advance of the closing date for applications of 31 March. Rhona Brankin announced the outcome of bids on 24 July and the company was formally offered grant by letter dated 10 August 2001. A first, interim claim for payment of grant was submitted to the Executive on 28 November 2001 and supporting documentation, requested by the department, was received on 7 February 2002. Grant was paid in to instalments - 75% on 19 March and, following a satisfactory physical inspection of the project by a Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department surveyor, the balance on 16 April 2002.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 March 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 27 March 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 108 fishing vessel owners offered grants to decommission their vessels in December 2001 have completed the decommissioning work and claimed their grant; how many have notified their intention to complete decommissioning before the end of April 2002, and how many have notified their intention to proceed with decommissioning, broken down by category and the total value of the grants offered.
Answer
As a result of withdrawals from the scheme, and their replacement by vessels from the reserve list, there are now 100 offers of grant to fishing vessel owners. Of these, 82 have notified their intention to proceed with decommissioning. The aggregate level of grant involved for the 82 vessels concerned is £19.9 million. As at 15 March, decommissioning had been completed and grant claims submitted in respect of 18 vessels.
