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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-20672

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2001
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 28 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations and individuals were consulted before it submitted to the European Commission its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation and which of these were given the opportunity to see and comment on the full scientific documentation on which the proposal is based.

Formal consultation documents were sent to all owners and occupiers and other interested parties in September 2000.The covering letter included in the consultation package offered further details to all consultees if they wished, and a copy of the full scientific justification was issued to any consultees who requested it, including the Shetland Islands Council.Sullom Voe Candidate Special Area of ConservationList of Consultees

Consultee

A. Owners and Occupiers

Mr Peter Brown

Ms Jeanette Spall

Ms Ruby Brown

Ms Ingrid Laurenson

Mr Allan Ridland

Mr Charlie Laurenson

Mr Alex JB Williamson

Mr AL Ratter

Mr Roy Dickens

Mr John Robertson

Mr Peter Ratter

Mr Bob Jamieson

Mr Gerry Ramsay

Mr John Scollay

Mr Bruce Stephen

Mr Ian Peterson

Mr AT & KP Doull

Mr M Ernie Peterson

Mr Billy Johnson

Ms Mabel Rendall

Ms Angela Mowat

Mr Stuart Balfour

Mr James Hall

Mr Frank Anderson

Mr WD Williamson

Mr & Mrs J&J Manson

Ms Mira Irvine

Mrs Ina O'Neil

Mr Chris Laurenson

Messrs Adam & Derek Hunter

Ms Elma Manson

Mr Brydan Nicolson

Mr A Hawick

Mr Bertie Johnson

Mr J Manson

Dianne & Mark Bryant

Mr R Johnson

Mr RC Hawick

Mr G Robertson

Mr WH Manson

Mr W Brown

Mr ATH Tulloch

Mrs Elizabeth Hileman

Ms Hazel Leask

Mr Bobby Nicolson

Mrs Elaine Williamson

Gordon Grant, Terminal Manager, BP Exploration Operating Co. Sullom Voe Terminal

Gordon Grant, BP, Scatsta Airport

Willie Inkster, Serco, Scatsta Airport

Malcolm Stevens, Brent System Manager, Shell Exploration & Production

B. Local Authorities other competent authorities

Shetland Islands Council:

Mr Morgan Goodlad, Chief Executive,

Mr Graham Spall, Exec Dir Infrastructure Services

Capt. George Sutherland, Dir. Of Marine Operations, Shetland Islands Council

Mr Alvin Bashforth, Dir of Economic Development

Exec Dir Community Services

Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

C. Utilities & others

Mr Malcolm Miller, NoSWA

Mr J.Moncrieff, Shetland Amenity Trust

Mr M.Mullay, Shetland Islands Tourism

Mr A Miller, Secretary, Shetland Anglers Association

Ms Janis Smith, Secretary, Shetland Field Studies Group

Wendy Dickson, General Secretary, Shetland Bird Club

Mr P.M.Ellis, Shetland Officer, RSPB

Shetland Enterprise Co. Ltd., Toll Clock Shopping Centre

Kenny Hughson, Shetland Towage

Linda Kingham, SOTEAG

Mrs Vera Clerk, Delting Community Council

Mrs Williamson, Northmavine Community council

D. Marine Interested Parties

Mr John Goodlad, Shetland Fishermens' Association

Mr Gibbie Johnson, Shetland Salmon Farmers' Association

Mr John Morrison, Shetland Sub-aqua Club

E. Unsolicited views

Letter to Sarah Boyack MSP hand delivered to SNH office from Mr DF Hawkins

Mr C Gallagher

Question reference: S1W-20670

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2001
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 28 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what social and economic consequences of its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation it considered before deciding to submit the proposal to the European Commission.

European Court of Justice rulings have determined that socio-economic factors cannot be taken into account when considering the designation of Natura sites. Once a site has been submitted to the European Commission, socio-economic factors can be and are taken into account in the management of these areas. Social and economic issues which were raised during the consultation will be taken into account in further discussions on management of the site.

Question reference: S1W-20669

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2001
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 28 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the social and economic consequences of its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation as included in its submission to the European Commission on this proposal.

Question reference: S1W-20673

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 December 2001
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 28 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it made its submission to the European Commission on its proposal to designate Sullom Voe as a marine Special Area of Conservation.

Question reference: S1W-20787

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 07 December 2001
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 21 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with oil companies over targets set for energy production involving renewable energy; which oil companies have been involved in any such discussions, and when any such discussions took place.

The Executive's published objective is that by 2010 renewable energy will account for 18% of Scottish electricity supply. This will be delivered by the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) which is already stimulating demand for renewable energy development, and some manufacturing opportunities. The PILOT taskforce on which the Executive is represented has conducted a Diversification/New Business Study into renewable energy diversification opportunities open to oil companies. The Executive and Scottish Enterprise, along with DTI, are now promoting these opportunities to a range of companies including the oil and gas sector. Discussions between the Executive and oil companies about individual renewable projects are subject to commercial confidentiality.

Question reference: S1W-20788

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 07 December 2001
Current Status: Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 21 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what its working arrangements are for responding to MSPs seeking factual and policy information directly from officials in its departments and when these arrangements were instituted.

From 23 April 2001, the Scottish Executive business directory has been available electronically to MSPs, their assistants and Parliament staff. Guidance on usage is available on the front page of the directory which links into more detailed guidance for both MSPs and Executive staff. MSPs and their staff are asked to use the directory to identify the appropriate member of the Executive's staff to contact direct for factual information, but are asked to do so only after alternative available sources have been explored. Inquiries about policy matters should continue to be directed to the relevant minister.

Question reference: S1W-20462

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19427 by Rhona Brankin on 9 November 2001, of the fishing vessels fishing for shellfish within the six-mile limit which were (a) boarded by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and (b) reported for prosecution, how many were (i) boarded when at sea, (ii) boarded when alongside a pier, and (iii) lying at a mooring and what fishing methods was used by each boat in each category including (1) diving, (2) fishing with nets, (3) fishing with creels and (4) fishing with dredges in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

I have asked Mr Paul Du Vivier, Chief Executive of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency to respond. His response is as follows:All 1,390 boardings referred to in my previous answer were carried out at sea. The table provides details of the fishing methods used on a year by year basis.

Year	Method	Boardings	Prosecutions
1997	Diving	nil
	Nets	239
	Creels	72
	Dredges	59
1998	Diving	9
	Nets	219
	Creels	107
	Dredges	77
1999	Diving	3	1
	Nets	149
	Creels	38
	Dredges	27
2000	Diving	7
	Nets	126	3
	Creels	65
	Dredges	47
	Other	3
2001	Diving	2
	Nets	100
	Creels	14
	Dredges	27	1

Question reference: S1W-20229

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 6 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the potential market opportunities for firms stemming from the forthcoming Renewables Obligation (Scotland).

Question reference: S1W-20224

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Wendy Alexander on 6 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive for which commercial and industrial sectors (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise have planned, or are planning, to develop strategies and what level of resources has been allocated to each such sector strategy.

The Enterprise Network's activities in the commercial and industrial sectors stem directly from the Executive's strategy A Smart, Successful Scotland, whose key themes are Growing Businesses, Learning and Skills, and Global Connections. In addition, Highlands and Islands Enterprise discharges its responsibility for social development through the strategic theme of Strengthening Communities.Resource allocations made by the networks in response to this strategic framework are not normally specific to individual sectors. They relate to the opportunities and need for activities such as training, product development, marketing, business start-up, property provision and business development finance across a wide range of sectors.However, Scottish Enterprise currently has in place specific strategies for the following industrial sectors:

	Total Spend (£ million)	Over Period of
Announced in 1999
Biotechnology	38	5 years
Semi-Conductors	46	5 years
Food and Drink	27	5 years
Announced in 2000
Optoelectronics	31	5 years
Creative Industries	25	5 years
Forest Industries	15	3 years
Announced in 2001
Tourism	11 per annum	-

Question reference: S1W-20228

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 6 December 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that firms involved in the design, development and manufacture of renewable technology benefit from any increased demand created by the forthcoming Renewables Obligation (Scotland).

We have been working with Scottish Enterprise to encourage Scottish companies to diversify into the manufacturing opportunities which are arising from development of renewable energy sources under the Executive's proposed Renewables Obligation (Scotland). A roadshow on the subject was well attended by companies, and several of them are now pursuing opportunities for new business. We will continue to promote the renewables industry, to attract investment to Scotland and to help Scottish companies take advantage of this new business opportunity.