- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 December 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether future Scotland Rural Development Programme mechanisms under the Common Agricultural Programme after 2013 will provide incentives for food producers who produce food for the local market, use native breeds and integrated farming systems
Answer
It is too early to say what specific measures will be available in the next programming period for the Scotland Rural Development Programme for the period 2014-20. The European Commission has only just embarked on the process to determine the content of the next Rural Development programmes with the publication of its Communication on the Common Agricultural Policy towards 2020 on 18 November 2010. The Commission is expected to make legislative proposals by summer 2011 after which negotiations over the final content will begin. Once the appropriate regulations from the Europe are known to the Scottish Government “ most likely later in 2012 - it will be possible to determine what support may be offered.
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how and when it will respond to the findings of the Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture and Rural Development by Brian Pack.
Answer
The inquiry was asked to advise on how the Scottish Government''s vision for agriculture could be put into practice in a future farm support system. I would like to pay tribute to Brian Pack and his committee for their excellent work on the inquiry.
The Scottish Government gave an initial response when the inquiry report was published on 3 November 2010. Considerable follow-up work will be needed and I will announce details shortly.
As Brian Pack himself said, the development of a new farm support system will be a long process, involving lengthy European negotiations. At this stage, it is important to establish the principles underlying a new system. While we are still studying the report in detail, I can already endorse the main principles it sets out.
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 May 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 5 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits will be for employment as a result of the announcement of a £3.2 million new freight facilities grant to Montrose Port Authority.
Answer
Decisions on award of Freight Facilities Grant are based on evidence of the environmental benefits which will be generated and the additional costs which will be incurred when transferring freight from road to rail or water. Although this development will undoubtedly also lead to an increase in employment opportunities in the Montrose area, we do not hold detailed figures on the likely level of increase.
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 January 2010
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects supporting the environment and rural economy of Angus there have been since 2007; how much was invested in them, and what the employment benefit has been.
Answer
Under the Scotland Rural Development Programme around 360 projects have been approved to date in the Tayside Region (which includes Angus) under the Rural Priorities and LEADER delivery mechanisms. It is not always possible to break this information down for specific areas such as Angus. This means that around £23 million of additional funding is entering the local economy.
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 19 November 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 19 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how it considers the return of the east coast main line to public ownership will affect the Scottish economy.
Answer
There should be no effect on the Scottish economy as a result of this change. We have been assured by the Secretary of State for Transport that there will be no impact on passenger services operating within Scotland.
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 October 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 8 October 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote alcohol awareness week.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-01.htm
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 May 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 21 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to its European counterparts in relation to the Scottish Government’s culture policy, particularly regarding Homecoming Scotland and the promotion of the Year of Homecoming across the European Union.
Answer
I have regular bilateral contact with representatives of European nations. On 11 May 2009, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning hosted a successful cultural reception in Brussels which promoted the Year of Homecoming. On 12 May 2009, I led the UK delegation at a meeting of the Education, Youth and Culture Council in Brussels, which had a particular resonance because of its focus on the creative industries.
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 April 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to extend the teaching of Chinese culture, history and language.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 January 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 22 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to seek out innovative methods for reducing crime levels locally and nationally.
Answer
Making Scotland safer and stronger will require us all to work together more effectively. The Scottish Government encourages innovation through our sponsorship of national bodies such as the Scottish Business Crime Centre and the Violence Reduction Unit. These centres of excellence in turn support local agencies in developing innovative approaches to crime reduction.
A local initiative that I believe shows the kind of simple but innovative thinking we need are Street Pastors, who already operate in Aberdeen, Dunfermline, Perth, and Inverness. Popular with the police, local authorities and communities, providing practical support to vulnerable people “ handing out blankets, flip-flops to replace high heels and arranging taxis to get people home safely.
- Asked by: Andrew Welsh, MSP for Angus, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 January 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 15 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the recommendations made in the First Annual Report of the Scottish Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.
Answer
The Scottish Government''s response to the recommendations contained in the First Annual Report of the Scottish Council of Economic Advisers will be published today. Copies of the document have been lodged with Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47314) and the response is due to be debated in Parliament on 22 January 2009.
