Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 2448 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S1W-34010

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 February 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any reduction in fishing effort in the white fish sector has arisen due to the cancellation, sale or transferring of licences outwith the recent decommissioning scheme in each of the last three years and, if so, what the si'e of such a reduction has been in each year.

It is certainly the case that a number of white fish licences have been used, and more are expected to be used, to licence incoming pelagic vessels. This will have the effect of reducing licensed white fish capacity and could lead to reductions in white fish fishing effort.It is extremely difficult to track the effects of these and other licence transactions: an exercise to do so would take some time and resources and could only be undertaken at likely disproportionate cost. However, work done previously to inform discussions in the joint industry/Departmental Working Group on fishing vessel licensing suggested that over 1998 and 1999, in licence transactions involving over 10 metre vessels, the average increase in effort of vessels new to the fleet (measured in GT days) was 34%. This was offset to some extent by a 10% drop in the fishing effort of donor licence vessels, following re-licensing.The effects on fishing mortality of such transactions will also depend, amongst other things, on the efficiency of the vessels concerned, including as a result of technological gains. Overall, it seems unlikely that licence transactions have resulted in a real reduction in fishing effort in the white fish sector.

Question reference: S1W-33628

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 24 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought advice from Her Majesty's Government about what the criteria are in respect of a member state having fishing interests in a certain sea area or fishing 'one as referred to in Article 31(2) of EU Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002.

Question reference: S1W-33474

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 21 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it interprets the principle of relative stability as a rule concerning access to waters and resources within the meaning of Article 19 of EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002.

We understand relative stability to be a rule concerning access to resources within the meaning of Article 19 of EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002. Specifically, relative stability underpins the rules concerning allocation of fishing opportunities, in as much as those opportunities shall be distributed in such a way as to assure each member state relative stability of fishing activities for each stock or fishery (Article 20 of EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002).

Question reference: S1W-33627

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought advice from Her Majesty's Government about whether the reallocation of fishing opportunities equivalent to deducted fishing opportunities, referred to in Article 23(4) of EU Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002, could result in the member state receiving the reallocation gaining fishing opportunities for stocks in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) areas other than in ICES areas that had been deducted from the member state that had exceeded its fishing opportunities.

A reallocation of fishing opportunities between member states allowed for by the provisions of Article 23 Paragraph 4 of EU Council Regulation (EC) 2371/2002 can only be decided once the Commission has considered the likely impact of the reallocation on the interests of the member states involved and on the conservation of resources. Further, any decision must be taken by the Commission in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 4 and Article 7 of Decision (EC) 468/1999. This makes it unlikely that such an eventuality could occur except in the most exceptional of circumstances.

Question reference: S1W-30754

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 October 2002
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 7 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of each of its public information campaigns since 1999, broken down in each case by (a) internet and website design and hosting, (b) print media design and (c) broadcast media.

The figures requested are as follows.

1999-2000 (£)
Campaign	Press	Radio	TV	Production	Ambient	Cinema	Web
Electoral Registration	25,036			750
Children's Hearings	32,768	52,840		29,156
Fire Prevention			136,312	254,588
Tobacco Campaign				10,404
NHS Fraud				100,000
European Elections	30,218			1,811
Food Safety	109,676			9,008
Road Safety		58,772	425,365	177,700	120,750	83,447
Scotland's Parliament	388,142	19,858	109,716	15,435
Childcare Helpline	31,921	31,921
Environment				4,676
Teacher Recruitment	45,179	36,244		14,999
Domestic Abuse	105,293	33,279	301,978	62,074			6,169

2000-01 (£)
Campaign	Press	Radio	TV	Production	Ambient	Cinema	Web
Alcohol Abuse	220,900		198,371
Fire Prevention	144,060
Food Safety	25,658			6,822
Lead in Water	61,752			15,225
NHS Helpline	137,528
Road Safety		84,307	951,170	7130	55,059	152,895	7,561
Safer Scotland	140,120
Fostering	32,443
Flu/Winter Campaign	195,848		428,760	352,387
Drug Enforcement Agency	47,606				7,129
Environment				462,326
Domestic Abuse			294,558	134,339	7,748	70,819
Children's Hearings	67,592	37,813		17,588
Child Care	119,917			12,102		511
Organ Retention	53,596			2,100
Organ Donor Filler				48,465
Travel Awareness			175,000	100,000			25,000
NHS Fraud	121,942
NHS Public Appointments				21,838

2001-02 (£)
Campaign	Press	Radio	TV	Production	Ambient	Cinema	Web
Children's Hearings	166,723		33,032	40,476	1,826
Drugs	48,203	39,646	809,116	659,127	236,124	42,420	30,738
Flu	138,494		389,074	63,950	38,525
NHS Helpline	110,495			1,967
NHS Fraud	29,920
Prevention of Suicide		23,500		25,366			5,141
Alcohol Abuse	229,145			260,712
Teacher Recruitment	72,911		238,054
Fire Prevention	175,763	39,008	82,694	3,120
Domestic Abuse	94,369		287,039	57,392	109,708	60,103	23,500
Child Protection on the Internet	74,466	59,735			10,273	41,829
Road Safety		125,167	769,105	189,691	244,144	201,748	2,332
Travel Awareness		29,174	132,188	243,553	155,648
Environment	78,602		490,858	9,542	87,020		89,295
Litter					118,934
Teaching in Scotland							35,806
Healthy Eating				49,083
Digital Access				25,675
Funding for Learners				9,488			14,488
Electoral Registration				4,838
National Care Standards				7,340
Performance Management Guide - Intranet				8,706
Scotland Online21st Century Govt.				15,667

2002-date (£)
Campaign	Press	Radio	TV	Production	Ambient	Cinema	Web
Digital Access	117,356	8,703		23,907			45,041
Alcohol Abuse		77,878	341,806	109,102	113,903	33,691
Children's Hearings	195,014	242,256		48,325	2,347
Concessionary Fares	133,642		107,448	21,206	117,675
Crime Braker	20,273
Domestic Abuse	128,622		365,380	89,940			2,526
Drugs Campaign	127,106	38,205	692,975	45,957	64,342	26,492	31,338
Environment	24,809		244,093	261,485			52,877
Fire Prevention	98,861	36,317	84,001	2,348
Flu Campaign	126,711		341,359	339,136	62,480
Free Personal Care	243,940			8,785
Funding for Learners	68,586	31,632
Glasgow Housing Association	14,936				16,514
M74 Completion Project	5,936	2,458		10,398			21,914
National Debate	99,127	92,031		58,634	37,560		3,613
NHS Helpline	120,813			4,063
Organ Retention	80,671			4,471
Organ Donation				940
Prevention of Suicide	34,125	34,564		633	22,916
Racism		40,788	351,199	601,713	203,214	24,793	38,775
Road Safety	15,784	125,727	785,349	217,354	100,891	51,629
Travel Awareness		59,181	331,278	72,437	91,943		9,751
UEFA				4,943	2,087
Teaching				9,888			273
Healthy Eating			217,402	268,079			2,820
Social Care	221,529		111,235	168,794			34,762
Scottish International Forum							37,083
Tartan Day				37,554			15,275
Regional Selective Assistance				17,625			15,980
Child Protection on the Internet		62,519			386	39,736
Safer Scotland	65,342	57,171		42,547

Question reference: S1W-33468

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers and staff attended the Agricultural and Fisheries Council meeting no. 2481 on 27 and 28 January 2003.

Question reference: S1W-33536

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive from which budgets the #50 million fisheries aid package was taken and whether it will give a breakdown of this package.

The costs of this one-off, unplanned spending in 2003-04 will be met within the usual flexibilities available to the Executive in managing its overall resources. It will comprise a combination of carry forward of 2002-03 underspending and 2003-04 estimating, windfall savings in a range of demand determined spending. It is not possible to say at this stage what combination of 2002-03 and 2003-04 savings will deliver the resources required.

Question reference: S1W-33525

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the procedure for withdrawal from the Common Fisheries Policy and what the legal position would be if such a policy was pursued.

Question reference: S1W-33473

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what its interpretation is of "rules concerning access to waters and resources", as referred to in Article 19 of EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002.

The rules concerning access to waters and resources are those rules described in Chapter IV (Rules on access to Water and Resources) of EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002.These are subject to a fuller interpretation by reference to multiple decisions of the European Court of Justice and to the multifarious provisions of superior legislation, including but not restricted to Treaties of the European Union.

Question reference: S1W-33475

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 January 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 February 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the deductions from future fishing opportunities outlined in paragraph 1 of Article 23(4) of EU Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 would be for one year only or for an indefinite period.