- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what effects national parks are expected to have on social and economic conditions of residents within park boundaries and whether any measures are in place to ensure that any effects of such designation are not detrimental to the social and economic conditions of the residents.
Answer
One of the aims of National Parks will be to promote economic and social development. They will be expected to integrate rural development with the proper protection of the natural and cultural heritage. Contributions by local residents to the National Park Authority, its committees, advisory groups, and preparation of the National Park Plan will all help to ensure the interests of local communities are recognised. National Park Authorities will be required to publish an annual report.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the financial accounts for Inverness College for the year ended March 1999 were due to have been published, and when they will be published.
Answer
The financial accounts of Inverness College for the year ended March 1999 should have been lodged with Companies House by 31 January 2000. I understand that the accounts are still the subject of discussion between the College and its auditors.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what sale price was achieved for Dalneigh Halls of Residence at Inverness College and whether a professional valuation of the estimated sale price of this heritable property was obtained and, if so, whether it will place a copy of the survey in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
Dalneigh Halls of Residence were disposed of by Inverness College in 1998 on the open market, for £275,000. The college had first obtained a professional valuation of the property. The Scottish Executive does not have a copy of the valuation report.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 12 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring forward an amending order to the draft Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (Adaptation of Functions etc) Order 2000 providing that any person whose appointment as a member of the National Heritage Memorial Fund is on the ground of a connection with Scotland must demonstrate either a residence connection with Scotland or special knowledge of Scotland and that such a member of the National Heritage Memorial Fund may not be appointed without the consent of the Parliament, and only following consultation with the Parliament.
Answer
The Scottish Executive and the United Kingdom Government have no plans to bring forward any such amending order.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce a rebate or relief scheme this year for those on low incomes who are liable for water charges.
Answer
The arrangements linking water and sewerage charges to council tax bands already provide substantial assistance to many less well-off households. The Executive is considering whether it is possible to improve on the protection provided by these arrangements. Any new measures would be introduced in 2001-02.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the case for European transitional funding to be used to upgrade the Drynie Hill section of the A861 from Kinlochmoidart to Carnoch and whether it will make a statement explaining its position.
Answer
The improvement of this section of the A861 is entirely a matter for Highland Council as the local roads authority. As regards the use of European transitional funding, the special programme for the Highlands and Islands is currently being considered by the European Commission. Whilst support for infrastructure is envisaged, projects will require to demonstrate that they relieve significant constraints to economic development and that they feature amongst priorities established by the Highlands & Islands Partnership Programme.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 6 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the powers to allow Initiative At the Edge funding to be used to effect the improvements and upgrading required to the Drynie Hill Section of the A861 from Kinlochmoidart to Carnoch.
Answer
The maintenance and improvement of local roads such as the Drynie Hill section of the A861 from Kinlochmoidart to Carnoch is the responsibility of Highland Council as the local roads authority. The Council is a key partner in the Initiative at the Edge and there is a general expectation on all the partners that they will attach additional priority to areas which are covered by the Initiative. Final decisions on the allocation of funding however remain a matter for individual partners.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate was contained in the Puma Edinburgh Marathon Race Director's Report of the "growth potential", showing this for each of the years 1999 to 2002 and setting out the number of entrants estimated as participating in each year, the expenditure generated by the runners and their supporters, and the impact in terms of full-time equivalent jobs in each year.
Answer
While the economic evaluation of the 1999 event does demonstrate potential for growth, this is dependent on significant increases in the number of competitors and supporters. At the time the decision not to hold the event in 2000 was taken, there had been fewer than half the number of applications as at the equivalent date last year.
The detailed growth potential, as outlined in the economic impact assessment of the 1999 event, is illustrated in the table below, but again it must be stressed that achieving the designated target of runners is the main determinant in realising these figures.
Year | Number of Runners | Gross Expenditure | Net Expenditure | Full-Time Equivalent Jobs |
1999 | 3,725 | £587,290 | £553,023 | 16 |
2000 | 10,000 | £1,573,937 | £1,482,101 | 42.3 |
2001 | 15,000 | £2,365,017 | £2,227,022 | 63.6 |
2002 | 20,000 | £3,135,747 | £3,004,523 | 86 |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will, as a matter of urgency, consult with all the partnership bodies involved in the Puma Edinburgh Marathon 1999 in order to seek to reverse the decision taken to cancel this year's race.
Answer
No. This is a matter for the organisers and sponsors concerned.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 5 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has submitted or intends to submit a response to the consultation document issued by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFFGEM) on future electricity wholesale trading arrangements in Scotland and whether any such response indicated or will indicate support or opposition to the OFFGEM proposals, including the implications for Scotland of the proposals that (a) supply and generation be separated from distribution and transmission, (b) there should be created a single system operation for Scotland, (c) there should be cuts in price for transporting electricity, (d) there should be wider access to the interconductor between Scotland and England and (e) there should be cuts in the regulated Scottish price for wholesale electricity.
Answer
Although electricity regulation is a reserved matter, the Executive has always kept in close touch with electricity suppliers in Scotland and with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) as the structure of the energy market responds to changes in the business and regulatory environment.
