- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 April 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 17 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have received the special islands needs allowance in each year since 1999.
Answer
The three Island authorities (Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland) have received special islands needs allowance (SINA) in each year since 1999. With effect from 2001-02 and following a review, a further three councils with island communities, Argyll and Bute, Highland and North Ayrshire have also benefited from SINA.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 15 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties have benefited from the Rural Empty Properties Grant scheme since its inception, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
The following table details how many properties have benefited from the Rural Empty Properties Grant (REPG) scheme since its inception, broken down by local authority area.
REPG Approvals from Start of Scheme
| Year of Approval | Council Area | Units Approved |
| 1998-99 | Highland | 7 |
| 1999-00 | Aberdeenshire | 3 |
| Highland | 3 |
| Shetland | 1 |
| 2000-01 | Angus | 3 |
| Fife | 2 |
| Highland | 2 |
| Perth and Kinross | 1 |
| Shetland | 2 |
| 2001-02 | Highland | 4 |
| Perth and Kinross | 1 |
| Western Isles | 6 |
| 2002-03 | Aberdeenshire | 1 |
| Highland | 2 |
| Moray | 1 |
| Perth and Kinross | 1 |
| 2003-04 | Argyll and Bute | 1 |
| Angus | 2 |
| 2004-05 | Highland | 1 |
| 2005-06 | Orkney | 1 |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 |
| 2006-07 | Aberdeenshire | 2 |
| Angus | 9 |
| Argyll and Bute | 18 |
| Highland | 4 |
| Perth and Kinross | 1 |
| 2007-08 | Angus | 16 |
| Argyll and Bute | 4 |
| Highland | 1 |
| | Total | 101 |
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 31 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 10 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns in the fishing industry about the impact, especially in remote areas, of the rise in marine fuel prices.
Answer
My officials and I are engaged in on-going discussions with the Scottish industry and the commission regarding our concerns about the impact of the high price of fuel on the fishing industry.
I have commissioned a report on the trends in fuel prices and the implications this has for our fleets, material which I will share with the industry as I review the potential options available to mitigate the increased cost. Once we have a better understanding of these potential options, I have agreed with Commissioner Borg that our officials will meet to evaluate them against state aid rules.
In the meantime, I am encouraged that across the nephrops and whitefish fleets, elements of the Scottish conservation credits scheme provide opportunities for skippers to gain some immediate relief. The ability of these fleets to operate under hours at sea rather than days should allow them to save fuel by steaming more slowly to and from their fishing grounds. By doing so, fuel consumption while steaming can be reduced by up to 50%, according to a recent seafish report. The simplification of the twin-rig gear rules should also encourage vessels to use lighter, fuel efficient single twine gear.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises that island local authorities, such as Orkney Islands Council, have particular difficulties in delivering services across numerous islands.
Answer
Local authorities with island communities receive additional provision through the Special Islands Needs Allowance (SINA) within the local government funding distribution formula. Orkney Islands Council will receive an additional £5.8 million through SINA in each of the three years of the financial settlement for 2008-11.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with (a) Orkney Islands Council and (b) COSLA regarding concerns about underfunding of Orkney Islands Council.
Answer
I met a delegation from Orkney Islands Council on 28 February 2008. Among the matters discussed was the additional £1 million in funding which we have now included as part of the council''s overall grant, to support the costs of internal ferry services.
Orkney Islands Council will receive over £230 million in funding from the Scottish Government over the next three years. The core revenue funding to the Council for 2008-09 will increase by 7 per cent, the second-highest increase in Scotland. Local authorities, including Orkney Islands Council, are receiving record levels of investment from the Scottish Government along with more freedom and flexibility than ever before.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 7 April 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers Orkney Islands Council to be underfunded in comparison with other local authorities.
Answer
The distribution of funding to local authorities is through a needs-based formula, which is agreed with COSLA. This formula takes into account Orkney Islands Council''s need to provide services to its island communities which is recognised through the inclusion of the Special Islands Needs Allowance within the distribution formula.
Orkney Islands Council will receive a 7 per cent increase in core revenue funding in 2008-09, which is the second highest increase to any council in Scotland.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 25 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £16 million of improvement schemes identified in the A82 Tarbet to Fort William Route Action Plan of February 2006, namely Pulpit Rock, the Crianlarich bypass and the online improvements at Inveruglas and south of Inverarnan, are still on schedule to be constructed by 2012.
Answer
Transport Scotland is progressing with the improvement work at Pulpit Rock and a bypass of Crianlarich which subject to the completion of statutory procedures, remain on course to be delivered within the current programme to 2012.
Feasibility studies for schemes at Inveruglas and south of Inverarnan are currently being investigated. Depending on the outcome of this preliminary work, and value for money being demonstrated, we are aiming to take the development of the schemes forward to preliminary assessment and detailed design, publication of statutory procedures and completion of the design within a four-year timescale. Construction thereafter will depend on the availability of finance at the time.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 25 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether the European Commission considers that the road equivalent tariff pilot scheme conforms to all the regulations contained in the European state aid and maritime cabotage legislation.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10914 on 25 March 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: Wednesday, 12 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 25 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the additional subsidy payments specifically associated with road equivalent tariff discounts are payable to other ferry operators if they operate in competition with CalMac’s routes.
Answer
The road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot study focuses on routes subsidised by the Scottish Government. In developing proposals for the possible roll out of RET across the Clyde and Hebrides and Northern Isles networks consideration will be given to ferry services provided by operators other than CalMac Ferries Limited.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 25 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission about the road equivalent tariff pilot scheme.
Answer
To date the Scottish Government has had no discussions with the European Commission about the road equivalent tariff (RET) study. However, we will provide the European Commission with information on the pilot study once details have been finalised.
