- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when farmers can expect to receive their arable aid, oilseeds support and set-aside payments for 1999-2000 and 2000-01.
Answer
Payments under the Arable Area Payments Scheme (AAPS) 1999 in respect of oilseeds commenced on 1 September 1999 and in respect of cereals, linseed, protein crops and set-aside commenced on 18 October. The vast majority of payments were made within a short period after payment start date. Payment of the second instalment of agri-monetary compensation to AAPS 1999 claimants is scheduled to commence in October 2000. Under the AAPS 2000 Scheme the intention is to start payments from mid November 2000.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by John Home Robertson on 28 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the changes to the Common Fisheries Policy envisaged in the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations' proposals for 'onal management submitted to it could be achieved within the existing Treaty provisions.
Answer
Some of the proposals set out in the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations report on zonal management could not be accommodated within the existing Treaty provisions.
For example, their proposal that the power to set Total Allowable Catches (TACs) should be transferred from the Council of Ministers to the each Zonal Management Committee would require fundamental changes to the Treaties.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 28 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the use of fixed and mobile magnetic resonance imaging machines in hospitals.
Answer
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are vital tools in aiding the diagnosis of cancer and other conditions. The Scottish Executive recently provided an additional £13.2 million of capital to health boards for the provision of new or replacement equipment in hospitals, of which £5 million was specifically for MRI scanners in the five main cancer centres in Scotland.
It is open to health boards and Trusts to decide whether to purchase or lease fixed MRI scanners, or to rent or lease mobile scanners.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 19 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake research to evaluate any costs to business of litigation generally and to examine any specific areas in which litigation is occurring and trends in litigation affecting business.
Answer
I refer to my reply of today to question S1W-9664.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 19 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the setting up of a national legal advice hotline for Scottish business.
Answer
The cost to business of litigation and possible need for a national legal advice hotline for Scottish business have not been raised with me in consultations I have held recently with business across Scotland but if the member wishes to provide me with information on these matters I will give it consideration.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 19 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to exempt small business from any current or future legislation.
Answer
The exemption of small businesses from regulation has been raised with me at meetings with business across Scotland and I am considering this with other matters raised.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 19 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many new business regulations it has introduced and (b) how many regulations it has removed in the year from 1 July 1999 and what the cost has been to business of these changes.
Answer
10 regulations, with Regulatory Impact Assessments covering the impact on business, have been introduced since 1 July 1999. No RIA's have been prepared with respect to the removal of regulations. A meaningful assessment of the cost to business is not available since in many instances information about specific cost implications has not proven possible to obtain. I have in mind to introduce measures to overcome this difficulty.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 19 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding any disproportionate burden placed on small Scottish businesses by the movement of welfare support administration from the Department of Social Security to payroll departments.
Answer
Concern about the burden of welfare support administration upon business payroll departments has been highlighted in a series of meetings held with business across Scotland and I will ensure that the concerns of Scottish business on this issue are communicated the UK Government.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 13 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how much central provision for subsidised school transport was made available in 1999-2000 and what the projected support is for the next three financial years, all figures broken down by education authority.
Answer
Scottish Executive financial support for local authority expenditure is not allocated for particular services. It is for each local authority to determine what provision is necessary for school transport and other services from the general resources available to them.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 13 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of provision was for free school transport at the beginning of September 2000, broken down by education authority.
Answer
Scottish Executive financial support for local authority expenditure is not allocated for particular services. It is for each local authority to determine what provision is necessary for school transport and other services from the general resources available to them.
