- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy is that the Parliament should assume greater powers over nature conservation beyond 12 nautical miles and whether the devolution of further powers should be contingent on receiving specific funding from the UK Government to carry out these duties.
Answer
I previouslyindicated to the Parliament my support for the Advisory Group on Marine andCoastal Strategy recommendation on extending the Parliament’s powers over themarine environment. Additionally,
Choosing Scotland’s Future – A NationalConversation, published in August, notes that acquisition by the Scottish Parliament of responsibility for planning and nature conservation in the marinearea between 12 to 200 nautical miles would make possible a coherent approachto the management of the seas around Scotland.
I am currentlyconsidering the Departmentfor Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) proposals for a UK Marine Bill, and theimplications for Scotland. Officials are also actively discussing the proposalswith Defra, including thepotential for further devolution of powers in the marine environment and theterms on which that could be achieved.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place with the UK Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since May 2007 regarding the further devolution of nature conservation duties beyond 12 nautical miles.
Answer
There is regulardialogue between the Scottish Government and the UK Government’s Department ofEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs in relation to marine issues. The ScottishGovernment are considering the Departmentfor Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ proposals for a UK Marine Bill and officials areactively discussing the issues, including the potential for furtherdevolution.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that Highlands and Islands Enterprise should continue to operate a different, more broad-based model for economic development in its region than that operated by Scottish Enterprise.
Answer
Consideration of thereform and refocus the Enterprise Networks is now underway and this will take intoaccount the particular economic, geographical and social circumstances within theHighlands and Islands area.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any guidance to Scottish Enterprise on the future of the Business Gateway centres.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has regular contacts withScottish Enterprise on a range of matters, including the Business Gateway, in respectof which it is in the process of awarding new contracts for local delivery of gatewayservices. The future operation of the Business Gateway will be considered in thecontext of wider decisions as to reform of the Enterprise Networks, on which decisionswill be taken over the coming months. There has been no specific guidance issuedto Scottish Enterprise in relation to Business Gateway centres.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Business Gateway centres are in operation, broken down by local enterprise company area.
Answer
This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask it’s Chief Executive to write to youin response to this question.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Business Gateway centres are likely to close as part of its plans to reduce the size of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer
This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you inresponse to this question.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Business Gateway centres are scheduled for closure, broken down by local enterprise company area.
Answer
This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you inresponse to this question.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of the Business Gateway in providing support to businesses.
Answer
This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you inresponse to this question.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to restructure Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer
Our prime objectiveis to increase the rate of Scottish economic growth and to ensure that this is sustainable.As a component part of this we want to improve the efficiency and effectivenessof the delivery of economic development activity and we are looking at how the enterprisenetworks, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise, can contribute to that. The results of this work once completed will beannounced in due course.
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 July 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is proposing to cut the funding of (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and, if so, what impact it estimates that this will have on the Business Gateway service.
Answer
Funding to the EnterpriseNetworks for 2008-11 will be determined after the spending review this autumn. Thereafterthe allocation of funds within the Enterprise Networks will remain an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
