- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the group set up to examine the wider impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak intends to examine the effect of the outbreak on the dairy industry in the south west of Scotland.
Answer
The Impact Assessment Group has been established to assess the impact of foot-and-mouth disease across all sectors and areas. As such the group will pick up on the wider effects the outbreak is having on a wide range of sectors including dairying. Regionally specific analysis from the Dumfries and Galloway local Impact Assessment Group is feeding into the national assessment.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 26 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the Economic Recovery Plan submitted to the First Minister by Dumfries and Galloway Council and partner organisations on 18 April 2001.
Answer
The Executive is giving urgent consideration to the Dumfries and Galloway Economic Recovery Plan which was presented to the First Minister on 18 April. The Executive will wish to ensure that the action taken in Dumfries and Galloway is consistent with the wider plans for the recovery of the Scottish economy from the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 25 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is investigating the possibility of council tax relief for businesses run from home affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Answer
There is a comprehensive council tax rebate system available to everyone who might have difficulty in meeting their council tax liability. Overall responsibility for the scheme lies with the Department of Social Security and is a reserved matter.Businesses which are run from home and are liable for non-domestic rates may apply for relief from rates providing it can be demonstrated that the business is suffering hardship.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Dumfries and Galloway will affect the introduction of (a) the fibre optic cabling for the area or (b) the cross-country gas line from Beattock to Brighouse bay, and what restrictions will be placed on contractors during this work.
Answer
Services, such as gas, electricity and water can gain access to the countryside where repair/maintenance work is deemed essential. Prior to entering an area where there are restrictions such services are required to give advance notice of their visit. Vehicles' wheels and visitors' footwear require to be disinfected when entering and leaving an infected area.With the line of the fibre optic cabling and the cross-country gas line running through infected areas it is unlikely that work could proceed in these parts of Dumfries and Galloway.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when farmers who have lost stock because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak will receive compensation.
Answer
The target for paying farmers compensation for stock which have been compulsorily slaughtered is 21 days.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review its decision on the use of modulation in order to make available assistance for early retirement schemes for farmers, particularly tenant farmers.
Answer
I will be considering a range of options, in liaison with the agricultural industry, to assist with its recovery from the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in areas where stock has been lost as a result of foot-and-mouth disease, swapping of quotas between sheep and cattle when restocking is under consideration.
Answer
While I will bear this suggestion in mind I should point out that this would require changes to be made to EU legislation which in turn would require the approval of the EU Council of Ministers.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government and local authorities regarding the suspension of business rates for businesses which have been forced to suspend their activities due to the current outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
Answer
Details of the Executive's package of assistance were announced in response to question S1W-14552 on 28 March 2001.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what responses it has received from Scottish banks and financial institutions regarding assistance with overdrafts and leasing agreements for agricultural, tourist and other businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Answer
Rhona Brankin and I met with the agricultural representatives of the Clearing Banks on 19 March. Following that meeting, on 21 March, the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Gaelic discussed the impact of the foot and mouth outbreak on business with the Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers and representatives from the four main Clearing Banks in Scotland. (The UK Government have had similar discussions with the major Clearing Banks). I understand that the Clearing Banks are constructively seeking to help businesses affected by the foot and mouth outbreak on a case-by-case basis. I would encourage any such troubled businesses to make contact with their local branch.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is provided regarding the transport of unaffected animals to slaughterhouses through foot-and-mouth disease infected areas and whether the use of cattle floats with open side flaps is permitted.
Answer
Animals can only be moved under licence direct from farm to slaughterhouse. Journeys through an Infected Area are permitted by trunk road, motorway or railway and may come within 3km of an infected premise. Animals going to slaughter are checked for any signs of foot-and-mouth disease before leaving the farms and hence are most unlikely to be excreting any FMD virus. Closing vents is unnecessary and could give rise to welfare problems in transit.
