- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 August 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 October 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive why Orkney Ferries, servicing the smaller islands, receives no tariff rebate subsidy (TRS), given that those who ship with Northlink do benefit from TRS.
Answer
Parliament approved, earlier this year, an Undertaking allowing the payment of Tariff Rebate Subsidy to NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Limited for the transport of livestock between the Northern Isles and the Scottish mainland. This complements the arrangements which the Executive has in place to subsidise the carriage of passengers and accompanied cars over the same routes. Responsibility for Orkney Ferries, which provides services within the Orkney archipelago, and for any subsidies applied to these services rests with Orkney Islands Council.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 August 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 11 September 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 will apply to the transfer of employees from P&O Scottish Ferries to Northlink Ferries on 1 October 2002.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28319 on 6 September 2002.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 June 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 11 July 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it presented, or specific representations it made, to the National Audit Office during the compilation of their report, Dealing With Pollution From Ships, and what subsequent representations it has made to the Department of Transport to ensure the protection of the inshore waters from Cape Wrath to the Mull of Kintyre, certain areas of Orkney and Shetland and the Inner Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth given that these areas are not protected by the Merchant Shipping Prevention of Oil Pollution Regulations 1996.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no locus in the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General to the UK Parliament on the pollution contingency planning and response responsibilities of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which is an executive agency of the Department for Transport.However, the Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including marine pollution affecting waters adjacent to Scotland.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 June 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 13 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure an equitable system of rating of gear stores for the aquaculture and fishing industries.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to change the current system for the rating of gear stores for the aquaculture and fishing industries.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 29 April 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 21 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an itemised breakdown of the total transport subsidy to Shetland in each of the past five years.
Answer
Shetland has received the following amounts in direct support for transport related purposes from the Scottish Executive over the last five years
| Rural Transport Fund (£) |
| 1997-98 | Nil |
| 1998-99 | 143,000 |
| 1999-2000 | 164,000 |
| 2000-01 | 141,000 |
| 2001-02 | 169,000 |
| Piers and Harbour Grants (£) |
| 1997-98 | Nil |
| 1998-99 | Nil |
| 1999-2000 | Nil |
| 2000-01 | 193,000 |
| 2001-02 | 239,000 |
Tariff Rebate Subsidy (TRS) Livestock Transfer Payments (these figures are for complete contracts that benefit both Shetland and Orkney). The information necessary to break them down is not held centrally.
| 1997-98 | £541,760.26 |
| 1998-99 | £439,269.94 |
| 1999-2000 | £695,627 |
| 2000-01 | £516,463 |
| 2001-02 | £674,244 |
TRS Bulk Freight Payments (these figures are for complete contracts that benefit both Shetland and Orkney). The information necessary to break them down is not held centrally.
| 1997-98 | £182,997.13 |
| 1998-99 | £162,169.98 |
| 1999-2000 | £173,911 |
| 2000-01 | £183,000 |
| 2001-02 | £191,320 |
Details of support for air transport on Shetland is given in the Annual Reports for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The Bib. numbers are as follows
| 1997-98 | 20023 |
| 1998-99 | 3976 |
| 1999-2000 | 7211 |
| 2000-01 | 15017 |
Figures for 2001-02 have not yet been published.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 May 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 20 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how much is being spent on consultation fees in respect of the Inverness and the Highlands bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008.
Answer
The Executive has contributed £50,000 last year and this year towards the total cost of the bid. The question of expenditure on consultation fees should be addressed to the bid company, invernesshighland2008, as it is their responsibility.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 April 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 2 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any drop in tourism numbers in areas where wind farms are prevalent, for example in Denmark and Wales.
Answer
None, but VisitScotland is to undertake research later this year into visitors' perceptions of the effect of wind farms on tourism.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 April 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 18 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the hotel and bed and breakfast sector is being robustly marketed.
Answer
This is an operational matter for VisitScotland. However, all accommodation providers who are members of an Area Tourist Board will benefit from both brochure and internet based publicity. They will also be featured in VisitScotland promotional activity.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 March 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 18 April 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of consultations set out in the green paper Scotland's freshwater fish and fisheries: Securing their future will be published.
Answer
I am currently considering the outcome of the recent consultation exercise with my officials. My decisions will be published once that consideration is complete.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 February 2002
-
Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 19 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive to what animal welfare specifications any cassettes used for the transport of livestock between Orkney, Shetland and the mainland have to be built and when and with whom any such specifications were agreed.
Answer
Such use would have to comply with the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 which states that:animals must be provided with adequate space for standing in their natural position;air must be able to circulate freely;there must be sufficient space to feed and water the animals.The design specifications have still to be finalised.
