- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that there is competition in the private bull hire market in the most remote communities.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17650 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) crofters, (b) grazings committees and (c) crofting communities hired a bull in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17632 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which islands received a bull or bulls through the Crofters Commission’s Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.
Answer
The following islands received a bull or bulls in years 2006, 2007 and 2008
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| North Uist | North Uist | North Uist |
| South Uist | South Uist | South Uist |
| Lewis | Lewis | Lewis |
| Harris | Harris | Harris |
| Skye | Skye | Skye |
| Tiree | Tiree | Tiree |
| Orkney | Orkney | Orkney |
| Shetland | Shetland | Shetland |
| Raasay | Raasay | Raasay |
| Jura | Jura | Jura |
| Barra | Barra | Barra |
| Mull | Mull | Mull |
| Isle of Ewe | Isle of Ewe | Isle of Ewe |
| Canna | Canna | Canna |
| Coll | Coll | |
| Iona | | |
| Islay | | |
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bulls the Crofters Commission owns and administers for hire to crofters.
Answer
In 2008, the Crofters Commission maintained a herd of 132 bulls to provide hire services to crofting groups. Details of hires in 2006, 2007, and 2008 are as set out in the table below. As hire groups are usually made up of a mixture of crofters, grazings committees and communities, more detailed breakdowns are not possible. Disclosure of personal details would contravene data protection legislation.
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| 124 hires | 121 hires | 119 hires |
| Townships |
| Abernethy | Achachork | Achachork |
| Achachork | Ahmore | Ahmore |
| Acharacle | Aird | Aird |
| Ahmore | Airds Kirkton | Airds Kirkton |
| Aird | Ardheslaig | Ardheslaig |
| Airds Kirkton | Ardnamonie | Ardnamonie |
| Airor | Arinackaig | Arinackaig |
| Ardheslaig | Back of Keppoch | Back of Keppoch |
| Ardnamonie | Balantrushal | Balantrushal |
| Arinackaig | Balavullin | Balavullin |
| Back of Keppoch | Baleloch | Baleloch |
| Balantrushal | Balemore | Balemore |
| Balavullin | Balephetrish | Balephetrish |
| Baleloch | Balmaqueen | Balmaqueen |
| Balemore | Balranald | Balranald |
| Balephetrish | Barrapol Tiree | Balvraid |
| Balmaqueen | Birichen | Barrapol Tiree |
| Balranald | Borve Barra | Birichen |
| Barrapol Tiree | Borve Berneray | Borve Barra |
| Birichen | Breakish Moss | Borve Berneray |
| Borve Barra | Brogaig and Sartle | Breakish Moss |
| Borve Berneray | Caligarry | Brogaig and Sartle |
| Breakish Moss | Clachan Sands | Caligarry |
| Brogaig and Sartle | Clashmore | Clachan Sands |
| Caligarry | Corpach | Clashmore |
| Callanish | Cullivoe | Corpach |
| Clachan Sands | Diabaig | Cosaig |
| Clashmore | Doll Brora | Cullivoe |
| Corpach | Dorback and Dulnain | Diabaig |
| Cullivoe | Drimsdale | Doll Brora |
| Diabaig | Drumuie | Dorback and Dulnain |
| Doll Brora | Dunans | Drimsdale |
| Dorback and Dulnain | Earlish | Drumuie |
| Drimsdale | East Brora | Dunans |
| Drumuie | Elgol | Earlish |
| Dunans | Eoligarry | East Brora |
| Earlish | Erisort | Elgol |
| East Brora | Erisort | Eoligarry |
| Elgol | Feorlig/Roag | Erisort |
| Eoligarry | Fetlar | Erisort |
| Erisort | Gesto | Feorlig/Roag |
| Erisort | Glaick | Fetlar |
| Feorlig/Roag | Glenelg | Garynahine |
| Fetlar | Glenhinnisdale | Gesto |
| Gesto | Glenmoriston | Glaick |
| Glaick | Grean and Cleat | Glenelg |
| Glenelg | Grenitote | Glenhinnisdale |
| Glenhinnisdale | Halladale | Glenmoriston |
| Glenmoriston | Harroldswick | Grean and Cleat |
| Grean and Cleat | Heaste | Grenitote |
| Grenitote | Hosta | Harroldswick |
| Halladale | Hougharry | Heaste |
| Harroldswick | Illeray | Hilton Of Embo |
| Heaste | Isle Ewe | Hosta |
| Hosta | Keoldale | Hougharry |
| Hougharry | Kilkenneth | Illeray |
| Illeray | Kilphedar | Isle Ewe |
| Isle Ewe | Kingsburgh | Keoldale |
| Keoldale | Kinloid | Kilkenneth |
| Kilkenneth | Knockline | Kilphedar |
| Kilphedar | Knockrome | Kinloid |
| Kingsburgh | Knockvologen | Knockline |
| Kinloid | Laxay | Knockrome |
| Knockintorran | Lee Knockan | Knockvologen |
| Knockline | Linicro | Laxay |
| Knockrome | Lotts | Lee Knockan |
| Knockvologen | Marwick Orkney | Linicro |
| Laxay | Mellon Charles | Lower Barvas |
| Lee Knock | Migdale | Marwick Orkney |
| Linicro | Milton | Mellon Charles |
| Lotts | Monkstadt | Middleton and Sandaig |
| Marwick Orkney | North Boisdale | Migdale |
| Mellon Charles | North Harris Group | Milton |
| Middlequarter | North Raasay | Monkstadt |
| Middleton | Ness | North Boisdale |
| Migdale | Newtonferry | North Harris Group |
| Milton | North Roe | North Raasay |
| Monkstadt | Old Corry | Ness |
| North Boisdale | Park Grazings | Newtonferry |
| North Harris Group | South Unst | North Roe |
| North Raasay | Satran | Old Corry |
| Ness | Scaristaveg | Ormiclate |
| Newtonferry | Scullamus | Park Grazings |
| North Roe | Skerray | South Unst( Uyeasound) |
| Old Corry | Sollas | Sanday, Canna |
| Park Grazings | Sorrisdale | Satran |
| South Unst | South Boisdale | Scaristaveg |
| Satran | Stenscholl | Scullamus |
| Scaristaveg | Stoneybridge | Skerray |
| Scullamus | Strathascaig | Sollas |
| Skerray | Strone and Craggan | Sorrisdale |
| Sollas | Tigharry | South Boisdale |
| Sorrisdale | Tomich | Stenscholl |
| South Boisdale | Tomich | Stoneybridge |
| Stenscholl | Torrin | Strathascaig |
| Stoneybridge | Totescore | Strone and Craggan |
| Strathascaig | Ullinish and Balgown | Tigharry |
| Strone and Craggan | Unakillie | Tingwall |
| Stronmilichan | Upper Barvas | Tomich |
| Tigharry | Vatersay | Tomich |
| Tomich | West Gerinish | Torrin |
| Tomich | West Sandwick | Totescore |
| Torrin | | Ullinish and Balgown |
| Totescore | | Unakillie |
| Ullinish and Balgown | | Upper Barvas |
| Unakillie | | Vatersay |
| Upper Barvas | | West Gerinish |
| Vatersay | | West Sandwick |
| West Gerinish | | |
| West Sandwick | | |
| WestEnd Iona | | |
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bulls for hire were sent to (a) crofters, (b) grazings committees and (c) crofting communities in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17632 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the giving away or selling of Crofters Commission bulls at below market rates raises any state aid implications.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications to the Scotland Rural Development Programme that relate to the transport costs of bulls in a private bull hire scheme are guaranteed to be approved.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17655 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how crofters can make an application to obtain financial support to hire bulls from private bull hire enterprises.
Answer
Future arrangements to mitigate transport costs of private hire, as noted in the Scottish Government''s response to the Shucksmith Inquiry, will be put to the European Commission in the first half of 2009. These arrangements will be designed to ensure that hiring in remote areas should be no more costly than on the mainland.
It is proposed that future support should be delivered through the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Consideration is being given to providing such support on a demand-led rather than competitive basis. No guarantee can be given that all applications for Scottish Government support will meet the relevant eligibility criteria and other conditions.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what calculations and assumptions lay behind the cost figures quoted in the statement by Michael Russell on 1 October 2008 (Official Report c. 11309) that referred to changes in the Bull Hire Scheme.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17640 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how long the Bull Hire Scheme operated by the Crofters Commission has been in existence.
Answer
Cattle improvement measures have been available since the end of the 19th century, operated under powers provided by the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act 1897. Records from that time are not readily available, though information may be held in the public archives. The Crofters Commission took over management of the Bull Hire Scheme and stud farm at Inverness on 1 April 1996.
The purpose of the existing scheme has been defined as: Through support for livestock improvement measures, to retain livestock in these remote areas in order to maintain and enhance the environmental benefits associated with undertaking grazing by cattle on natural pastures as well as to promote collaborative working in crofting communities; thereby helping to maintain population in these remote areas.
