- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 23 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct Transport Scotland to extend the concessionary travel scheme to rail travel on rail routes where there is no overcrowding problem and thus no consequent need for additional rolling stock.
Answer
We have no plans to extend thenational concessionary travel scheme in the way suggested.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 June 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 19 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed the operation of the concessionary travel scheme and, in particular, whether it will extend the scheme so that people who must visit family in the islands of Scotland, but who are resident on the mainland, and who are involved in helping to provide care for their family living in the islands, can be entitled to free travel.
Answer
The introduction on 1 April 2006 of theScotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People meets the PartnershipAgreement commitment to a national free off-peak bus scheme for older people andpeople with disabilities. In addition, two free return ferry journeys annually arebeing offered to all eligible islands residents. Although we are closely monitoringthe operation of the scheme, we do not have plans to extend the ferry concessionelement.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 June 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 16 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any instances where two separate discount cards for the discount air fares scheme have been issued to individuals and, if so, how this situation could have arisen.
Answer
The Scottish Executive isaware that, in a limited number of cases, two separate discount cards have beensent to the same individual. This can happen when individual applicants havesubmitted more than one application form and when the information contained onthe form differs. For example first and middle names can be transposed; only supplyinginitials in one case; incorrect or transposed date of birth and the use ofshortened or alternative versions of first or middle names. The Executive isworking hard to prevent this wherever possible.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 6 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister will visit Mallaig to explain what the impact may be on Mallaig, on the surrounding area and businesses involved in fishing of being part of a coastal marine national park.
Answer
Details of ministers’ forwarddiary commitments could be subject to change and are not normally released.
We will be seeking views on theimpact of a Coastal and Marine National Park on the surrounding area and businesses in the ScottishExecutive consultation which will take place during the summer.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 6 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister has plans to visit Mallaig and, if so, on what date.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-26171 on 6 June 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the annual cost of running a coastal and marine national park for the first three years of operation.
Answer
Scottish Natural Heritage’s(SNH) advice stated that it is difficult to quantify the likely running costs ofa Coastal and Marine National Park as this will depend on the area chosen, the specificpowers and functions of the park authority and its governance arrangements. I havemade clear that no decisions have been taken on the area or in relation to powersand functions of the park authority. Views on these issues will be sought in theExecutive’s consultation during the summer.
Section 3 of SNH’s advice coveringrunning costs can be viewed at:
http://www.snh.org.uk/strategy/CMNP/sr-adnp01.asp.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would establish a coastal and marine national park in circumstances where the majority of the people in a referendum, who are qualified to vote by being on the electoral register on the areas within the boundaries of the proposed park, rejected the proposal.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-26163 on 5 June 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any advice from Scottish Natural Heritage in relation to the meeting which took place, and the content of the discussions at the meeting, on 4 May 2006 at the Astley Hall, Arisaig and whether it will place copies of all such advice and documents in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
The Scottish Executive receivedby email a report from SNH on the local meeting that was held at Arisaig on 4 May 2006 on Coastaland Marine National Parks. The documents have been placed in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (Bib. number 39771).
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any coastal and marine national park could prevent tankers from using the Minch.
Answer
The location of Scotland’s firstCoastal and Marine National Park has not yet been decided and will be one of a numberof issues on which the Executive will seek the views of the public through a consultationexercise during the summer.
Rights of navigation under internationallaw are a matter for Her Majesty’s Government.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 June 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, before any coastal and marine national park is established, there will be a referendum seeking the approval of those who are on the electoral roll in the area covered by the proposed park.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has nocurrent plans to hold a referendum on Coastal and Marine National Parksbut the public and other interested stakeholders will have an opportunity to submitviews during the consultation on this topic that will take place during the summer.
