- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with relevant stakeholders about any concerns about the impact of the ban on tail docking on tail injuries in undocked dogs.
Answer
Scottish Government officials intend discussing the impact of the tail docking ban with stakeholders once the study into tail injuries in dogs presently being conducted by the Royal Veterinary College and the University of Bristol has concluded. This study is expected to issue its report in April 2009.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns among deer farmers at the delay in achieving a mechanism that would allow them to access support under the single farm payment scheme.
Answer
I understand deer farmers'' concerns and the government is considering the issue. It is imperative that we examine the full implications, including the legal constraints contained in the relevant EU legislation, before taking a decision.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17027 by Richard Lochhead on 23 October 2008, whether it considers that, by including only deer farmers producing deer for the farmed market, it would be possible to devise a mechanism to support deer farmers through the single farm payment scheme that is affordable, fair, sustainable and legally sound.
Answer
Farmers currently farming deer are not excluded from the Single Farm Payment scheme. But, deer farming was not among the activities which gave rise to entitlements under the scheme when it was set up. In considering this issue, the Scottish Government will need to take into account the relevant legal and financial constraints.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with representatives of Argyll and Bute Council and other local stakeholders about the desire of the Luing community to secure a fixed link for the island.
Answer
Responsibility and funding for a new fixed link or an improved ferry service to Luing rests with Argyll and Bute Council. The Scottish Government would welcome progress and has encouraged an early solution through discussions with FLAG, a representative group of islanders, and the council.
The Scottish Government recently commenced a comprehensive review of ferry services in Scotland. This will include policy consideration of alternatives to ferry services such as fixed links where appropriate.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards achieving a fixed link, or other permanent transport solution, for the island of Luing.
Answer
Responsibility and funding for a new fixed link or an improved ferry service to Luing rests with Argyll and Bute Council. The Scottish Government would welcome early progress in taking improvements forward and has already made a £1.6 million funding contribution available.
The Scottish Government recently commenced a comprehensive review of ferry services in Scotland. This will include policy consideration of alternatives to ferry services such as fixed links where appropriate.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 12 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to secure a more balanced gender ratio in the education sector by exposing male pupils to relevant educational role models during their formative years, thus promoting a higher rate of male school leavers entering higher and further education.
Answer
A new teacher recruitment campaign will be launched in the new year which will deliberately target males in an attempt to encourage them to consider primary teaching as a career. The campaign will also continue to promote the teaching profession to pupils and students in schools, colleges and universities.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A83 between Tarbert and Ardrishaig.
Answer
There are currently no plans to upgrade the A83 between Tarbert and Ardrishaig. However, Transport Scotland''s Strategic Transport Projects Review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland''s nationally strategic transport network. This includes consideration of the A83 as part of the transport corridor from Glasgow to Inverclyde and the Islands.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 7 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a more diverse vocational curriculum for male and female students, with a view to higher rates of male and female school leavers entering higher education, further education, employment, voluntary work or training.
Answer
Curriculum for Excellence will offer better outcomes for all young people in Scotland, regardless of their gender, by providing a coherent, more flexible and enriched curriculum from three to 18, which is firmly focused on the needs of the child and young person. Through Curriculum for Excellence every child and young person will be entitled to opportunities to develop skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work across all curriculum areas, including through practical or applied learning. As part of this commitment skills for work qualifications have been developed to encourage young people to develop knowledge and skills within a vocational context.
As part of the wider Curriculum for Excellence programme, 16+ Learning Choices is our new model for ensuring that all young people completing compulsory education have a suitable offer of post-16 learning. As such it will support the planning of a coherent curriculum in the senior phase, with opportunities for young people to continue to develop skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work beyond school.
This focus on improving outcomes for all young people is reflected in our concordat with COSLA, which includes a commitment to providing more school pupils with opportunities to experience vocational learning.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 7 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Argyll and Bute Council and Highland and Islands Enterprise about the MOD's decision to sell its base at Machrihanish in Argyll and the opportunities for future use of the site.
Answer
Officials from the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute Council met with officials from the MOD''s Defence Estates on 27 October 2008 to discuss Defence Estates'' disposal of the Machrihanish base. This officials group will continue to work together over the coming months to explore how Defence Estates can take forward the disposal in a way that balances environmental concerns, maintains lifeline transport links and maximises the economic development contribution the site''s future use might make to the economy of Kintyre.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 7 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Ministry of Defence's decision to sell its base at Machrihanish in Argyll, what input the Scottish Government will have in this process to maximise any benefits to the people and the economy of Campbeltown and Kintyre.
Answer
Officials will work with MOD Defence Estates over the coming months to explore how Defence Estates can take forward the disposal of its Machrihanish base in a way that balances environmental concerns, maintains lifeline transport links and maximises the economic development contribution the site''s future use can make to the Campbeltown community, the economy of Kintyre and Scotland as a whole.
2008