Chamber and committees

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: S3W-17643

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that bulls should be kept indoors in the winter.

There is no specific requirement to keep bulls indoors in the winter. However, the Welfare of Farm Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2000 state that animals not kept in buildings must, where necessary and possible, be given protection from adverse weather conditions, predators and risks to their health and, at all times, have access to a well-drained lying area. This applies to all farmed animals. Groups planning to acquire a bull will need to consider these regulations before proceeding.

The building of wintering facilities is an eligible operation within the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme. Only crofters, and others of like economic status, are eligible for the scheme and, although part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme, the application process for the scheme is non-competitive. Grants will be made subject to eligibility and other conditions of the scheme.

Future arrangements for providing assistance to mitigate the transport costs of bulls to and from remote areas are expected to extend to the costs associated with the overwintering of crofter-owned bulls on the mainland.

Question reference: S3W-17654

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Michael Russell on 1 October 2008 (Official Report c. 11309), what proportion of bull hire costs will be met by the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

Question reference: S3W-17642

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the special care requirements of bulls as opposed to other cattle.

Question reference: S3W-17646

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with buyers of calves about the proposal to end the Bull Hire Scheme.

Question reference: S3W-17470

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment was carried out of the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of reduced exports, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme.

The choice between a compulsory or voluntary vaccination scheme has no impact on export potential. The potential trade impact arises from being part of a bluetongue protection zone and vaccination and subsequent development of immunity will allow live animal movements to bluetongue 8 free areas. Animals are also allowed to move to slaughter in bluetongue 8 free areas at the discretion of the receiving country.

The potential loss of some live exports was fully discussed with stakeholders and trade of live animals was considered in the impact assessment work which concluded that a mass vaccination campaign was proportionate to the level of risk and potential impact of a bluetongue 8 outbreak in Scotland.

Question reference: S3W-17474

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment was carried out of the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of the vaccination, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme should the rest of the United Kingdom not undertake compulsory vaccination.

Question reference: S3W-17477

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme while the rest of the United Kingdom is not doing so.

Question reference: S3W-17478

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was carried out with the farming industry to assess the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of the vaccination, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme.

Question reference: S3W-17472

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008

Question reference: S3W-17475

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what the result was of any assessment of the potential impact on Scottish farmers, in terms of cost of the vaccination, of undertaking a compulsory bluetongue vaccination scheme should the rest of the United Kingdom not undertake compulsory vaccination.