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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-18860

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 1 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive, for each Environment and Rural Affairs Department office area, how many applications have been made to date under the Rural Stewardship Scheme, broken down into (a) applications not exceeding #1,000, (b) applications over #1,000 but not exceeding #10,000, (c) applications over #10,000 but not exceeding #50,000, (d) applications over #50,000 but not exceeding #100,000 and (e) applications over #100,000.

Details of the applications made to date under the Rural Stewardship Scheme (2001) for each area office are given in the table.

Area Office	Not exceeding £1,000	Over £1,000 but not exceeding £10,000	Over £10,000 but not exceeding £50,000	Over £50,000 but not exceeding £100,000	Over £100,000
Ayr	-	-	21	10	10
Benbecula	-	2	-	-	-
Dumfries	-	1	18	10	2
Dundee	-	-	9	6	-
Galashiels	-	1	20	20	28
Grampian	-	1	54	27	17
Hamilton	-	1	3	4	1
Inverness	1	13	34	13	8
Kirkwall	-	1	15	3	3
Lairg	-	-	-	1	-
Lerwick	-	-	1	1	-
Oban	-	-	6	14	3
Perth	-	1	7	6	5
Portree	-	5	6	-	-
Stirling	1	-	14	10	5
Stornoway	-	3	6	-	-
Thurso	1	1	10	6	6
Total	3	30	224	131	88

Question reference: S1W-18854

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the bodies and individuals with a statutory entitlement to object on scientific grounds to the designation of (a) Sites of Special Scientific Interest, (b) Special Protection Areas and (c) Special Areas of Conservation.

Question reference: S1W-18858

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a statutory obligation on Scottish Natural Heritage to undertake consultations with local people when proposing to designate areas of land and sea as (a) Sites of Special Scientific Interests, (b) Special Protection Areas and (c) Special Areas of Conservation.

Question reference: S1W-18857

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 1 November 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a right of appeal, or right to resubmit applications, in respect of vessels on behalf of which bids are submitted to the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001.

Question reference: S1W-18745

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 October 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill will have a positive impact on water charges for island communities in the North of Scotland Water area, as stated in the Bill's Policy Memorandum, and what it estimates this impact will be.

The main element of the Water Industry (Scotland) Bill is the creation of Scottish Water as a single all-Scotland water and sewerage authority, with the key objective of providing services to customers across Scotland more efficiently than can be done by the existing three water authorities separately. Customers in the island communities currently served by North of Scotland Water (NSW) will benefit from this in the same way as other customers. In addition, and in common with other NSW customers, future increases in water charges will be lower than would have been the case as a result of the charge harmonisation across Scotland that will follow the creation of Scottish Water.

Question reference: S1W-18856

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 26 October 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17911 by Rhona Brankin on 18 September 2001, which of the 19 projects undertaken by the Fisheries Research Services involved the use of the fisheries research vessel Scotia.

None of the 19 projects referred to in the answer to question S1W-17911, undertaken by the Fisheries Research Services (FRS), involved the use of the fisheries research vessel Scotia. The costs of Scotia have not been, and will not be, charged to the £1 million Partnership funds I announced earlier in the year. However, any appropriate data gathered by Scotia during routine FRS studies will be amalgamated with any relevant extra information obtained during the charter surveys undertaken under the aegis of the partnership board.

Question reference: S1W-18855

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 October 2001
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 26 October 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what the operating costs of the fisheries research vessel Scotia, operated by the Fisheries Research Services were in each of the last three years for which records are available.

Question reference: S1W-18599

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 September 2001
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 24 October 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by its fundamental review of aquaculture regulation and whether it will detail the organisations carrying out the review, the bodies consulted, or to be consulted, during the progress of the review, the expected date for the completion of the review and the estimated cost of the review.

The bodies consulted on the proposals I published on 29 June are listed in the table. My officials are currently considering their responses. I expect to receive their recommendations around the turn of the year. Work on the review is being discharged from within existing resources and no separate estimate of its cost has been made.

Aquaculture Trade Associations

Scottish Quality Salmon, Orkney Fish Farmers Association, Shetland Shellfish Growers Association, Shetland Salmon Farmers Association, Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers, British Marine Finfish Association, British Trout Association

Wild Salmonid Organisations

Association of Salmon Fishery Boards, Scottish Anglers National Association, Salmon and Trout Association, Atlantic Salmon Conservation Trust (Scotland), Atlantic Salmon Trust, Institute of Fisheries Management - Scottish Branch, North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation, Association of West Coast Fisheries Trusts, River Tweed Commissioners, Association of Scottish Stillwater Fisheries, Federation of Highland Angling Clubs and Associations, Orkney Fisheries Association, Orkney Trout Fishing Association, Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland

Public bodies

Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Marine Coastguard Agency, Crown Estate Commissioners, Highland & Islands Enterprise

Local authorities

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, The Highland Council, Argyll & Bute Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Shetland Islands Council, Orkney Islands Council, Comhairle nan Eilan Siar, North Ayrshire Council

Non-governmental Organisations

WWF Scotland, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Wildlife & Countryside Link, Marine Conservation Society

Other Organisations

Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland, Firth of Clyde Forum, Scottish Coastal Forum, Shetland Seafood Quality Control Ltd, Scottish Landowners Federation, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland, Sea Fish Industry Authority, Bidwells Property Consultants, Highland & Islands Aquaculture Forum, The Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Stirling University (Institute of Aquaculture), Rural Forum (Scotland), Skye Environment Centre.

Four individuals.

Question reference: S1W-18598

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 September 2001
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 24 October 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions relevant to the development of sustainable aquaculture in Scottish waters have been reached as a result of the work of the Continuous Plankton Recording project.

The Continuous Plankton Recorder project (CPR), maintained by the Sir Alister Hardy Foundation, provides important information on the composition and abundance of algae present in the north east Atlantic. The data generated by this project are utilised as part of many assessments of the marine environment. Their particular relevance to the assessment of the environmental effects of aquaculture is in the observation of changes in coastal plankton and the influence of fluctuating oceanic currents on this process. A report using CPR data is being prepared on this question with regard to the issue of eutrophication in UK coastal waters. It is expected to be available in mid-2002.

Question reference: S1W-18600

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 September 2001
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 24 October 2001

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on the development of a specification for an independent scientific review of any link between fin fish farming and shellfish poisoning syndrome events, whether any experts have been appointed to undertake the work, and, if so, what the estimated cost and completion date are of the review.

A specification for the review has been prepared and independent experts who may be prepared to carry out the review identified. Contracts have yet to be finalised but study specifications and background reports and other materials have been sent to these experts. It is expected that the reviewers will report in spring 2002. The estimated cost of these contracts is in the range of £10,000-£20,000.