- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 8 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage an increase in participation in youth football.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16590 on 8 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 8 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Football Association about how schools and parents can encourage children to become involved in youth football.
Answer
The Youth Football Action Plan implementation steering group, which includes the Scottish Football Association, sportscotland, the Scottish Government, affiliated national football bodies and a representative from local authorities, meet regularly to discuss the progress and direction of the action plan, which was launched in 2004 to increase participation levels in Scottish football. Player pathways, including the encouragement of young people to take up the game, is a core consideration of the group.
The Scottish Football Association, which leads the implementation of the action plan under guidance from partner members of the group, has instigated a series of projects that encourage school pupils to become involved in football. The SFA McDonalds Primary School Football Programme, which focuses on taking coaching into primary schools and creating new boys and girls teams within all participating schools, is a prime example. The Bank of Scotland Soccer One is another programme aimed at increasing participation. The scheme will make regular coaching and competitive matches available to all first year pupils, both girls and boys, across participating secondary schools in Scotland. Details of these and all Youth Football Action Plan projects can be obtained directly from the Scottish Football Association.
The action plan is being delivered with a total investment of £31.1 million, which includes contributions from the Scottish Government, lottery funding, the Scottish Football Association and local authorities.
In addition, the Scottish Government is investing over £2.5 million in the Scottish Football Association through our Cashback for Communities programme. This investment aims to offer school aged children opportunities to take part in football through community and school based activities rather than being involved in antisocial activities.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to open the single farm payment scheme to new entrants and how much it estimates this would cost.
Answer
Helping new entrants to farming is a priority for the Scottish Government and in our consultation
Future Implementation of the Common Agriculture Policy in Scotland we sought views on using the national reserve to give new entrants access to single farm payment. That consultation closed on 5 September 2008 and the responses are currently being analysed. We will take decisions on the future implementation of the single farm payment once the current EU negotiations on the CAP health check have been completed.
The costs of any such scheme would depend on uptake. Under EU rules the costs would be met through reducing single farm payment to other farmers in Scotland.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns that the review of EU Directive 91/414/EEC has implications for food supply and food security issues in this country.
Answer
Yes. We have concerns that the outcome of the review could bring about a reduction in crop yields in future years, by removing many currently available pesticides without securing any meaningful benefit in terms of consumer safety.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government, the European Union and farming representatives about the review of EU Directive 91/414/EEC.
Answer
I have been fully involved with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Ministers in considering the impact of this review. We agreed a common UK line and expressed our concern at the June Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting. The main Scottish farming organisation supports our position.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on concerns that the review of EU Directive 91/414/EEC, which restricts a number of pesticides currently used by farmers, will result in a significant reduction in crop production, especially in crops such as wheat, potatoes and brassica field vegetables.
Answer
We share these concerns, and along with the UK Government will be continuing to make them known when the proposals return to the European Parliament. We will also seek clarification of the precise impact which the current proposals would have if they were to be adopted. We consider that any large-scale withdrawal of currently approved pesticides could have a significant effect on crop production in Scotland.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on proposals, under the review of EU Directive 91/414/EEC, that might prevent the use of fungicides including triazoles, nematacides and the herbicide linuron.
Answer
We consider that, taking into account the best scientific data on the safety of these products, the proposals go beyond what might be reasonably required to mitigate the risks which these substances pose under realistic conditions of use. The loss of triazoles, in particular, would present farmers in Scotland with severe difficulties in controlling barley and wheat diseases.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its estimate of the difference in cost between providing the current combined ferry service on the Gourock to Dunoon route and a passenger only service on this route is £1.6 million, as stated by Councillor Roy Pederson in his submission to the European Commission’s inquiry into state aids and Scottish ferries and, if not, what its estimate is.
Answer
Scottish ministers are currently examining the options that are available for the route. The Scottish Government, Argyll and Bute Council and Inverclyde Council are working together in a tri-partite arrangement to deliver a Gourock to Dunoon service. We understand that there is strong support within the Cowal community for a vehicle and passenger ferry service between Gourock pier and Dunoon town centre.
We remain committed to delivering the best possible outcome for the local communities. We are working hard to identify a solution for the Gourock-Dunoon route that would go as far as possible towards meeting local aspirations, whilst respecting EU law.
Consequently, it would be premature to comment on Councillor Pedersen''s financial analysis of the option he suggests.
An announcement on future plans for the service will be made as soon as possible.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the total Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments was paid to crofters and farmers in the Highlands and Islands in each year for which information is available.
Answer
The percentages are as follows:
2001: 38.75
2002: 37.98
2003: 39.79
2004: 40
2005: 39.98
2006: 40.38
2007: 40.24.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 8 September 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the full 2008 Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments to farmers and crofters will be paid in 2008 or 2009 and on what date.
Answer
The Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate''s intention is to begin making LFASS 2008 payments early in 2009. It is hoped that the majority of eligible applicants will have been paid, in full, by the end of January.
