Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)

Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Question reference: S1W-00267

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 June 1999
Current Status: Answered by John Home Robertson on 15 July 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the need for a new coast fisheries boundary line between Scotland and England and on why it should differ significantly from any line describing the limits of other offshore activities.

The Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 was necessary to define for the first time the Scottish Zone of British Fisheries Limits, within which Scottish Ministers would have competence to regulate and legislate on sea fisheries matters. The line for oil and gas in the Civil Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987 has no relevance to fisheries. In addition, matters relating to oil and gas are reserved to the UK Government.

Question reference: S1W-00264

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 June 1999
Current Status: Answered by John Home Robertson on 9 July 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the Infectious Salmon Anaemia crisis, when it intends to implement the commitments made by HM Government on 8 February 1999 to the many Highlands and Islands communities reliant on salmon farming to restore job security and investor confidence in the industry.

The Minister for Rural Affairs and I met the industry on 11 June. The commitment given by HM Government on 8 February envisaged support totalling £3 million per annum for 3 years subject to matching funding from the industry. A subsequent report by Pricewaterhouse Coopers suggested that the required funding from the industry was unlikely to be forthcoming and proposed that the Government funds should be channelled through Highlands & Islands Enterprise. The industry has subsequently proposed that the Government should offer insurance against the disease. My officials are now in discussion with industry representatives about the options for addressing this problem.

Chamber and committees