- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 14 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the formula was for calculating the recent enterprise in education grants to local authorities.
Answer
We are distributing fundingon the basis of pupil population with an adjustment for rurality.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 13 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2135 by Ross Finnie on 3 September 2003, how many dairy cows were recorded in (a) Kintyre, (b) Isle of Gigha and (c) Isle of Islay in 2003 to date.
Answer
In 2003 there are 4,573dairy cows in Kintyre, 293 on the Isle of Gigha and 248 on the Isle of Islay.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 13 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2135 by Ross Finnie on 3 September 2003, how many dairy herds were recorded in (a) Kintyre, (b) Isle of Gigha and (c) Isle of Islay in 2003 to date.
Answer
Data are not collected onthe basis of the number of herds but are on the basis of holdings with dairycattle. In 2003 there are 52 holdings of dairy cattle in Kintrye, five on theIsle of Gigha and nine on the Isle of Islay.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial provision it is making for future years to ensure that the implications of the European Court of Justice's ruling on the Altmark Trans bus company case allow it to ensure the preservation of lifeline routes in the Highlands and Islands, including the Gourock to Dunoon public service obligation.
Answer
The Executive is committedto the maintenance of affordable air and sea links to Scotland’sisland and remote communities. There would not be, so far as the Executive isaware, any additional financial implications arising from the ruling.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the European Court of Justice's ruling on the Altmark Trans bus company case will enable the Scottish Executive to adhere to EC state aid rules without putting the Caledonian MacBrayne network out to competitive tender.
Answer
The consequences of the Altmark case for ferry services are far from clear. The European Court ofJustice’s decision in the Altmark case deals with the interaction between theTreaty and the relevant state aid regulations for bus services. We arecurrently examining the full implications of the judgement in relation to theseparate but similar EC maritime regulations and guidelines. As a matter ofurgency, we will seek clarification of the legal position and raise the issuewith the European Commission to determine the implications for tendering Calmacferry services.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought any independent legal opinion regarding the European Court of Justice's ruling on the Altmark Trans bus company case and its impact on the Gourock to Dunoon public service obligation and, if so, whether it will publish that opinion.
Answer
We are currently examiningthe full implications of the judgement in relation to EC rules regardingmaritime state aids and shall urgently seek to discuss the matter with theEuropean Commission. The Executive hassignificant legal advice at its disposal. This advice is covered by the code ofpractice on access to Scottish Executive information at sections 2 and 4.
It is a matter for the courtsto interpret the law.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government or the European Commission with regard to the European Court of Justice's ruling on the Altmark on the Trans bus company case and what its position is on any such discussions and the implications of the judgement with regard to (a) overall transport policy, (b) lifeline transport routes in the Highlands and Islands and (c) the tendering process for Caledonian MacBrayne routes.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including European matters which may affect Scotland.
The consequences of theAltmark judgement are far from clear. The European Court of Justice’s decisiondeals with the interaction between the treaty and the relevant state aidregulations for bus services. We are currently examining the full implicationsof the judgement. As a matter of urgency, we will seek clarification of thelegal position and raise the issue with the European Commission to determinethe implications for tendering Caledonian MacBrayne’s ferry services.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 August 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current financial position is of the Skye Bridge, detailing what the original cost of the bridge was less the public funding that was made available, how much has been received in tolls since the bridge opened, discounted in line with the terms of the financing contract, and what the outstanding balance is on the repayment of the cost of the bridge.
Answer
The total cost of the Skye Bridgeproject was £39 million (at 1991 prices) of which some £15 million was publiclyfunded. The remaining £23.64 million is the agreed cost to be recovered throughtolling by the concessionaire.
Tolls collected to June 2003amounted to £27.2 million in cash terms. Further details of the terms of the Skye Bridgecontract and the financial position of the project are now the subject ofcommercially confidential negotiations with Skye Bridge Limited.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 4 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the European Court of Justice's ruling on the Altmark Trans bus company case and what discussions it has had with Caledonian MacBrayne and other transport providers regarding the judgement.
Answer
We have received somerepresentations from interested parties regarding the recent Altmark judgement.We will ensure that we discuss the matter with Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd beforewe approach the commission in relation to Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 September 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 3 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specify the cost and the installation timeframe for achieving installation of broadband in all Scottish exchanges.
Answer
This would be a commercialmatter for BT. We are, of course, committed to extending broadband connectivityacross Scotland and our approach is subject to state aid regulations. Achievingpervasive, affordable broadband coverage is likely to involve a mix of technologiesand hence our broadband strategy is technology and supplier neutral.
