Questions and answers

Question reference: S2W-14715

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 10 March 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce legislation to give local authorities the power to cut high hedges.

Question reference: S2W-14579

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 February 2005
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 28 February 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to announce its replacement of the Livestock Improvement Scheme.

Question reference: S2O-05448

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 February 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will help Highland Council to complete the Inverness Southern Distributor Road by providing a canal and river crossing.

Question reference: S2W-12790

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 21 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will end Skye Bridge tolls.

Question reference: S2W-12542

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 8 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill, for example by publishing an English to Gaelic dictionary, initiating a Gaelic translation course or offering “golden hellos” to Gaelic teachers.The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:A’ dh’ fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba, dè na ceumannan pragtaigeach a tha e a’ gabhail, mar eisimpleir, le bhith foillseachadh faclair Beurla gu Gàidhlig, cùrsa eadar-theangachaidh Gàidhlig a thòiseachadh; no a bhith a’ tairgse fàiltean òra do thidsearan Gàidhlig, gus taic a thoirt do dh’ obrachadh Bile na Gàidhlig (Alba).

The Executive is committed tosupporting key areas of development as implementation of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Billis taken forward. Bòrd na Gàidhlig now has responsibility for the distribution andprioritisation of Gaelic language development funding. This funding supports a rangeof groups and activities and allows Bòrd na Gàidhlig to direct funding towards priorityinitiatives which may include Gaelic dictionaries and translation courses . Bòrdna Gàidhlig development funding amounts to £1.959 million in 2004-05 and this willrise to £2.35 million in 2005-06. An additional £1.4 million funding has been allocatedto Bòrd na Gàidhlig in 2006-07 to assist with the implementation of the bill.

The bill will require the developmentof a national Gaelic language plan by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and the development of individuallanguage plans by appropriate public authorities. As ministers’ principal adviserson Gaelic language matters Bòrd na Gàidhlig will have a key role in determiningwhich priority areas of Gaelic development should be taken forward.

TheExecutive also provides specific grant for Gaelic-medium education. This supportspriority projects identified at a local level by 21 local authorities and currentlyamounts to £3.114 million in 2004-05. Local authorities with Gaelic education aredeveloping a Gaelic teacher recruitment strategy.The Executive will consider suggestions and respond in due course.

The Executive has provided the following Gaelictranslation:

Tha an Riaghaltas a' gealltainntaic a thoirt do prìomh roinnean leasachaidh mar a bhios buileachadh Bile na Gàidhlig(Alba) air a thoirt air adhart. ’S ann air Bòrd na Gàidhlig a tha uallach a-nisairson maoineachadh leasachadh na Gàidhlig a chur an òrdugh tàbhachd agus a riarachadh.Tha am maoineachadh seo a' toirt taic do dhiofar bhuidhnean agus ghnìomhan agusa' leigeil do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig maoineachadh a stiùireadh a dh'ionnsaigh prìomhiomairtean, a dh'fhaodadh a bhith a' gabhail a-staigh faclairean agus cùrsaicheaneadar-theangachaidh Gàidhlig. Tha maoineachadh leasachaidh Bòrd na Gàidhlig a' tighinngu £1.96m ann an 2004-05 agus thèid seo suas gu £2.35m ann an 2005-06. Tha maoineachadh£1.4m a bharrachd air a thoirt do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig ann an 2006-07 gus cuideachadhleis a' Bhile a thoirt gu buil.

Iarraidh am Bile leasachadh plana-cànainGàidhlig nàiseanta le Bòrd na Gàidhlig, agus leasachadh planaichean-cànain fa lethle ùghdarrasan poblach iomchaidh. Mar phrìomh luchd-comhairleachaidh nan Ministearanair cùisean na Gàidhlig, bidh àite cudromach aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig ann an co-dhùnadhdè na roinnean de leasachadh Gàidhlig a bu chòir a bhith a' faighinn àite air thoiseach.Tha an Riaghaltas a' toirt seachad tabhartas sònraichte cuideachd airson foghlamtro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Tha seo a' toirt taic do phròiseactan a tha air an comharrachadhaig ìre ionadail le 21 ùghdarrasan ionadail agus a' tighinn gu £3.114m ann an 2004-05.Tha ùghdarrasan ionadail aig a bheil foghlam Gàidhlig a' leasachadh ro-innleachdfastaidh thidsearan Gàidhlig. Bidh an Riaghaltasa' beachdachadh air molaidhean agus a' toirt freagairt tro thìde.

Question reference: S2W-12423

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 8 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to publish a second edition of Faclair na Pàrlamaid, the Gaelic Parliamentary Dictionary.*The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:A’ dh’ fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba, dè tha e a’ dèanamh gus darna clò-bhualadh de dh’Fhaclair na Pàrlamaid, am faclair pàrlamaideach Gàidhlig, fhoillseachadh.*

Faclair na Pàrlamaid has provento be a popular and useful publication and copies of the first edition continueto be issued on demand. Faclair na Pàrlamaid is supplemented by an interactive onlineservice which enables users to submit new words or terms for translation.

Gaelicdevelopment funding is now the responsibility of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and I expect theBòrd, in partnership with those responsible for the upkeep of the Faclair to determinewhen a second edition of Faclair na Pàrlamaid is required.

The Executive has providedthe following Gaelic translation:

Thathar air sealltainn gu bheilFaclair na Pàrlamaid na leabhar feumail is taitneach agus tha a’ chiad Chlo-bhualadhfhathast ga thoirt seachad a-reir iarraidh. Tha Faclair na Pàrlamaid air a leasachadhle seirbhis cho-obrachaidh air an eadar-lìn a bhios a’ toirt cothrom do luchd-cleachdaidhfaclan no abairtean ùra a chur a-steach airson eadar-theangachadh.

Tha uallach airson maoineachadhleasachaidh Ghàidhlig le Bòrd na Gàidhlig a-nis agus tha mi an duil gum bi Am Bòrd,an comunn le na aig a bheil uallach airson an Fhaclair a ghleidheadh, a’ tighinngu co-dhunadh ma tha feum ann airson darna chlo-bhualadh de dh’Fhaclair na Pàrlamaid.

Question reference: S2O-04344

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 2 December 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the shortage of organs for donation.

As part of our organ donation strategy, we have been running an award‑winning campaign to encourage people to register, and to tell their families what their wishes are. We have set up a Single Organ Retrieval Team, the first of its kind in the UK. We are introducing two non‑heartbeating donation programmes that make the option of donation more widely available. We have published a teaching resource pack on the ethical issues relating to organ donation and transplantation. Aimed at senior secondary school pupils, it has the potential over time to raise awareness within the whole population of the importance of organ donation.

Question reference: S2W-10521

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 10 September 2004
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 22 November 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what movement there was of female cattle from Crofters Commission farms from August 2003 to August 2004 showing, in each case, the (a) age of cattle, (b) criteria for sale, (c) final destination and (d) price received.

Details of sales of female cattlefrom the farms managed by the Crofters Commission between August 2003 and August2004 are as follows:

26 September 2003

(a) 15 heifers (aged 2.5 tothree years) with calves (aged to three months) at foot.

(b) Normal practice. Heifershave been used to test bulls, sale with calves at foot sought to minimise additionalcost and optimise return from what is a peripheral enterprise.

(c) Sold through United Auctions,Perth.

(d) Total Gross - £21,180: Net- £20,308.97.

7 October 2003

(a) 26 heifers (aged 2.5 tothree years) with calves (aged to three months) at foot.

(b) Normal practice. Heifershave been used to test bulls, sale with calves at foot sought to minimise additionalcost and optimise return from what is a peripheral enterprise.

(c) Sold through Thainstone Mart.

(d) Total Gross £29,600: Net£28,477.23.

27 October 2003

(a) 22 heifers (aged 2.5 tothree years) with calves (aged to three months) at foot.

(b) Normal practice. Heifershave been used to test bulls, sale with calves at foot sought to minimise additionalcost and optimise return from what is a peripheral enterprise.

(c) Sold through Dingwall Mart.

(d) Total Gross £25,710: Net£24,652.68.

12 November 2003

(a) 19 heifers, home bred agedapproximately 12 months.

(b) Rationalisation of non corefarming activity in light of implementation of Farm Business Plan and Scottish ExecutiveEnvironment and Rural Affairs Department Internal Audit recommendations.

(c) Sold through Dingwall Mart.

(d) Total Gross £7,255.

18 November 2003

(a) 15 cull cows under Over ThirtyMonths Scheme (OTMS). All aged or poor condition.

(b) Normal farmingpractice.

(c) Incinerated under OTMS.

(d) Total Gross £3,951.53: Net£3,484.04

25 November 2003

(a) Five cull cows under OverThirty Months Scheme (OTMS). All aged or poor condition.

(b) Normal farmingpractice.

(c) Incinerated under OTMS.

(d) Total Gross £1,467.04.

2 December 2003

(a) 11 Cull cows under Over ThirtyMonths Scheme (OTMS). All aged or poor condition.

(b) Normal farmingpractice.

(c) Incinerated under OTMS.

(d) Total Gross £3,194.39: Net£2,851.88.

25 March 2004

(a) Two heifers.

(b) Barren, unsuitable for breeding.

(c) Highland andIsland Livestock Ltd.

(d) Total Gross £1,234.00: Net£1,165.54.

31 March 04

(a) One heifer.

(b) Barren, unsuitable for breeding.

(c) Scotch Premier Meat.

(d) Net £684.03.

16 April 04

(a) Seven heifers.

(b) Barren, over 30 months.

(c) Highland and Island Livestock Ltd.

(d) Total Gross £2,319.93: Net £2,117.59.

19 May 04

(a) 1 Heifer.

(b) Late calf, unsuitable for breeding.

(c) Highland and Island Livestock Ltd.

(d) £350.00.

20 May 04

(a) Three heifers.

(b) Barren, unsuitable for breeding.

(c) Highland and Island Livestock Ltd.

(d) Total Gross £1,833.04: Net £1,730.36.

Question reference: S2W-12424

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 19 November 2004
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill, for example by publishing an English to Gaelic dictionary, initiating a Gaelic translation course or offering golden handshakes to Gaelic teachers.* The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:A dh fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba, d na ceumannan pragtaigeach a tha e a gabhail, mar eisimpleir, le bhith foillseachadh faclair Beurla gu Gidhlig, crsa eadar-theangachaidh Gidhlig a thiseachadh; no a bhith a tairgse filteanra do thidsearan Gidhlig, gus taic a thoirt do dh obrachadh Bile na Gidhlig (Alba).*

Question reference: S2O-04084

Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 2004
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 18 November 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed NHS Miscellaneous Provisions Bill will include measures to increase the supply of organs for donation.

In response to the Parliament and the Health and Community Care Committee, we have decided that the provisions on retention of organs and transplantation merit a separate Bill. That will allow the Parliament to give full and focused consideration to these important issues. The human tissue legislation will be introduced as soon as the Smoking, Health and Social Care Bill has completed its stages.

This decision may mean waiting three or four months longer for the new legislation on human tissue, but at the end of the day we believe the legislation will be the better for handling it in this way.

Chamber and committees