- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 7 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what further progress has been made in implementing the Land Reform Action Plan published in August 1999.
Answer
I am pleased to announce that the fifth progress report of action to implement our wide-ranging Land Reform Action Plan is published today. All MSPs are receiving copies.
Members should note that, since the last progress report:
- the Scottish Law Commission has published proposals and a draft Bill to reform title conditions;
- a contract has been let for research to consider the need for improved information on rural landholdings;
- the Crofters Commission has published guidance on community management; and
- the New Opportunities Fund has announced the Award Partner to administer the £10.8 million Scottish Land Fund (a partnership of Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise).
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 7 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue matriculation cards to school pupils who are over 16 in order to put them on an equal footing with students of the same age who are in further education.
Answer
Matriculation cards are issued by individual colleges. Their similar use in schools would therefore be a matter for schools or local authorities.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 16 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing a fast track procedure in the free central heating programme for pensioners who have been diagnosed with terminal illness.
Answer
A working group has been set up to advise the Executive on the rules for the new scheme. It is considering the question of priority need and the circumstances you describe will be taken into account in the deliberations.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 July 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 24 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of total Skye Bridge toll income goes towards (a) repayment of debt; (b) interest charges on the capital cost of the project; (c) annual maintenance costs; (d) toll collection costs; (e) administration, and (f) profit.
Answer
I refer the member to my answer to question S1O-2379.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 02 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 16 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that there will be a Gaelic news broadcast following the announcement by Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig that it will not renew the Grampian Television contract when it expires on 31 December 2000.
Answer
Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig is considering options for television news and current affairs following its decision on Telefios. There is already a Gaelic news service on BBC Radio nan Gaidheal, which will now be available on the Internet.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 31 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 3 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider putting a GM crop trial site at Rosskill by Munlochy in the light of representations from the local community and Highland Council.
Answer
The Scottish Executive, as a competent authority, is required to operate within governing European and UK legislation on the deliberate release of genetically modified crops. Under European Directive 90/220/EEC, consent can only be refused where there is scientific evidence that a release will pose a risk to human health or environmental safety. Consent was granted for this site to participate in the trial programme following safety assurances from the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) that there are no unacceptable risks to public health and environmental safety were very low. If any evidence emerges to bring this decision into question we will review it, but at present there are no grounds on which to withdraw consent.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the GM Crop trial at Roskill Farm, Munlochy.
Answer
The programme of farm scale evaluations is organised and funded on a UK basis and detailed budgetary information is not available at individual farm level.
The total cost of the three-year UK programme is £3.3 million, to which the Scottish Executive is contributing £0.2 million. The main contributors are the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it can give that farmers whose crops are accidentally cross pollinated from GM crop trials cannot be sued by GM seed companies for breaches of patent.
Answer
This is not a matter for the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it consulted before allowing the GM crop trial at Roskill Farm, Munlochy to go ahead, how far in advance they were consulted and what questions they were asked.
Answer
I refer Mr Munro to my oral answer of 7 September to question S1O-2169 and my written answer of 19 September to question S1W-9461.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 September 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal recourse or right to compensation a farmer has who finds his crops to be contaminated with genetically modified DNA.
Answer
There are currently no provisions in Scots or UK law covering liability for damage caused specifically by genetically modified organisms. However, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, there are powers to prosecute a consent holder where the limitations and conditions attached to the consent are breached. Compensation would be a matter for the civil courts in determining an ordinary action brought by an affected farmer for negligent harm done to him or his business or for nuisance.
The Scottish Executive's priority is to protect human health and the environment. Consent is not granted if there is any prospect of a GM release giving rise to environmental harm.
