- Asked by: Alex Fergusson, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 5 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has, in the light of the cut in European Regional Funding for Dumfries and Galloway, to minimise the effect of the shortfall and to improve employment prospects within that region.
Answer
While proposals for the new Assisted Areas to operate from 1 January 2000, announced recently, would reduce the population coverage in Dumfries and Galloway by a little more than half, substantial areas of economic development opportunity, the great majority of which have already benefited from Regional Selective Assistance, are still included. I have no reason to expect these proposals will greatly affect aid available to industry in the region.The population coverage in the UK under Objective 2 of the European Structural Funds will be reduced under the new Regulations. It is important to target carefully the areas to be nominated and identification of these areas is taking longer than had been expected. Every effort is being made to finalise the list as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Alex Fergusson, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 2 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-270 by Ross Finnie on 13 July, what measures at the disposal of the European Commission it intends to encourage the Commission to use to assist the pig farming industry in Scotland.
Answer
We shall continue to press the European Commission to use the main measures - namely export refunds and private storage aids - at its disposal in as cost-effective a way as possible to help deal with over-production in the pigmeat sector.
- Asked by: Alex Fergusson, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to route underground sections of the 28 mile long powerline that is to be constructed through Carrick in order to service the interconnector to Northern Ireland, bearing in mind that (a) The last UK Government agreed that undergrounding of certain sections would do less damage to the environment of that region and (b) the electricity supplied would be more economically produced in Northern Ireland.
Answer
I have no such plans. Consent for the construction of an overhead electricity line through South Ayrshire was granted in 1997, and there is in any event no statutory basis on which it can be revisited.
- Asked by: Alex Fergusson, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 13 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the lack of financial assistance available to Scottish pig farmers what plans does it have to prevent the collapse of the Scottish pig farming industry.
Answer
I sympathise with the current plight of Scottish pig producers, which arises from overproduction at national EU and world levels. The Scottish Executive is precluded by EU rules from providing direct financial assistance to this sector. But we will encourage the European Commission to use other measures at its disposal to help alleviate the situation.
- Asked by: Alex Fergusson, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 13 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prevent composite class si'es rising from their present limit of 25 to 30 as a result of regulations (S.I. 1999/1080) to reduce overall class si'es to 30.
Answer
The Regulations ensure that the commitment to class sizes of 30 or less in P1 to P3 will be delivered by August 2001. Local authorities are being supported with £48.2 million over this and the next 2 years through the Excellence Fund to achieve this.
- Asked by: Alex Fergusson, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 12 July 1999
To ask the Presiding Officer what plans the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has to encourage the use of indigenous materials in the construction of the new Parliament and its surroundings and whether it is aware of the concern of Scottish business in relation to the proposed use of materials from overseas.
Answer
The SPCB is aware of the views of Scottish business and supports the use of indigenous materials in the construction of the new Parliament building. All materials must meet certain requirements in terms of suitability, quality, availability, sustainability and value for money. Procurement procedures must comply with EC Directives and Government purchasing guidelines. No contracts have been awarded involving overseas materials.
