- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14593 by Ross Finnie on 11 April 2001, what progress has been made in establishing a basis for rehefting sheep on farms where hefted flocks have been culled.
Answer
In the first instance it will be for the farmer himself to decide how to restock his farm. I recognise that to re-establish sheep on the hill will take time and may well require additional shepherding and fencing.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive on which farms stock has been slaughtered in Dumfries and Galloway as part of the pre-emptive foot and mouth cull as of 19 April 2001 on the basis that they were contiguous with infected premises.
Answer
By 19 April 2001, stock had been slaughtered on 542 farms in Dumfries and Galloway that were contiguous with infected premises. A further 119 contiguous premises had stock slaughtered between 19 and 24 April.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14523 by Ross Finnie on 10 April 2001, what the ownership arrangements of the burial site at Birkshaw Forest are and who will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the site.
Answer
The ownership agreement for the Birkshaw site is still being finalised. The ongoing maintenance of the site will be a key provision of that agreement.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14523 by Ross Finnie on 10 April 2001, what steps are being taken to deal with odour emanating from the Birkshaw Forest burial site.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has appointed specialist consultants to advise upon the environmental issues raised by the site at Birkshaw. They have identified two principal sources of the odour and measures are now in place to remove these. Essentially, this involves the removal and disposal of large volumes of effluent from the site and the covering of the exposed carcasses. We anticipate that this will greatly reduce any nuisance which odours are creating for surrounding residents.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14523 by Ross Finnie on 10 April 2001, what assessment has been made of the current and future public health impact of the Birkshaw Forest burial site.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is working with health and environmental health officials of Dumfries & Galloway Council as well as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ensure that public and environmental health considerations are taken fully into account in the operation of the site at Birkshaw. Although odours from the site are an undoubted local nuisance at present, no concerns in relation to the health of people living in the vicinity of the site have been identified.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14523 by Ross Finnie on 10 April 2001, what discussions it had with public and environmental health officials prior to the establishment of the burial site at Birkshaw Forest.
Answer
The decision to utilise the site at Birkshaw as a burial site was taken in consultation with senior officials of Dumfries & Galloway Council, which has responsibility for public and environmental health locally, and with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Council officials continue to work closely with the Scottish Executive to ensure that any impact on residents and the local environment is minimised.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what public health impact assessment has been made in respect of the mass carcass burning sites which have been established at Hoddam and Eastriggs as part of the pre-emptive foot-and-mouth disease culling exercise.
Answer
The public health impact of the fires necessary for the disposal of certain culled animals has been considered by government health departments and I would refer the member to the parliamentary announcement made on 25 April. Preliminary assessments in relation to off-farm burn sites in Scotland have ensured that the siting and size of fires as well as the nature of the combustibles used has minimised the impact on the surrounding area.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive on which farms stock has been slaughtered in Dumfries and Galloway as part of the pre-emptive foot and mouth cull as of 19 April 2001 on the basis of dangerous contacts with farms which were infected or suspected to be infected.
Answer
By 24 April 2001, stock had been slaughtered on 160 farms in Dumfries and Galloway which had been classified as "dangerous contacts".
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 9 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to hold meetings with the European Commission to synchronise the goals of Digital Scotland and other e-Government projects with those being pursued at a European level such as e-Europe.
Answer
Senior officials of the Scottish Executive met last year with European Commission officials involved in developing the e-Europe initiative. The recommendations from the Digital Scotland Taskforce took account of aspects of the targets agreed in e-Europe. Further meetings with the Commission may take place later this year.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 9 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedure will be used to fill the current vacancy on the board of visitscotland and what timescale is envisaged for this process.
Answer
The vacancy will be filled in accordance with the guidance issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. An appointment will be made as quickly as possible.
