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.

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Question reference: S1W-06201

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd in determining its maintenance strategy.

The maintenance strategy of Highlands & Islands Airports Limited for runways, taxiways and ramps is determined following independent inspection by expert consultants and consideration by the company of regulatory and safety requirements. Other maintenance requirements, including buildings, mechanical and electrical installations are determined by the company's engineers and prioritised in the light of consultation with airport managers.

Question reference: S1W-06199

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used when selecting members of the Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

The criteria used when selecting Members to the Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) are:

Skills

Analytical and strategic skills;

Effective presentational, communication and negotiating skills;

Ability to provide inspiration and motivation for the HIAL Board;

*Ability to speak Gaelic;

Knowledge

Broad knowledge of Highlands and Islands issues;

Knowledge of aviation/transport issues;

*Knowledge of NDPBs/Nationalised Industries and the Public Policy Framework;

Experience

Proven experience at a senior level in the areas of business, finance, local government (aviation/transport);

Qualifications

Qualifications and/or experience in relevant subjects and issues such as business, finance, local government (aviation or transport).

* Desirable criteria (the remainder are necessary criteria)

Question reference: S1W-06200

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms of reference are for members of the Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and what measures are in place to ensure that these are followed.

Question reference: S1W-06202

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd in determining its capital investment strategy.

Highlands & Islands Airports Limited prepares business cases for capital investment to determine best value for money. Analytical studies are also carried out on a regular basis to assess the lifespan and regulatory compliance of existing infrastructure. Proposed investments are considered and, where appropriate, prioritised in accordance with operational, statutory and regulatory demands and financial implications.

Question reference: S1W-06198

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the members of the Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, including details of each board member's duties, annual remuneration and the date each appointment is due for review.

The information is as follows:

Name	Remuneration	Appointment expiry date
Peter J Grant CBE, Chair	£18,188	28.02.2001
Robert Macleod, Managing Director	£61,965	08.06.2000
Francis W F Hamilton#	£5,807	31.07.2001
William K Semple#	£5,807	30.09.2000
William Brackenridge#	£5,807	30.11.2002
Stuart Edmond#	£5,807	31.03.2003

The Members of the Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd are appointed to oversee the strategic direction of the company and its expenditure. Issues considered by the HIAL Board include financial, operational, development and miscellaneous responsibilities such as pay and the business priorities of the company. The time commitment of non-executive members is assumed to be two days per month and of the chairman 11/2 days per week.

#Non-Executive Members

Question reference: S1W-06207

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government or the European Commission regarding the proposed EC directive on strategic environmental assessment.

Question reference: S1O-01623

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will widen the membership of the proposed Water Forum from members of the CBI to other representatives of Scotland's businesses.

Question reference: S1W-05709

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted or has any plans to conduct an assessment of the effect on agriculture of its implementation of EC regulations.

Our guiding principles are the need to comply properly with EC regulations whilst ensuring that we do not impose any unnecessary or unreasonable burden on the agriculture industry.

All EU regulations, which impact on producers, were the subject of detailed scrutiny by a recent Red Tape Review panel of industry representatives. The panel investigated the perception that the UK over-interprets EC regulations and applies them more stringently than other members states but concluded this was not the case.

Question reference: S1W-05197

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 14 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote the conservation of biodiversity and how it will attain the UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets on (a) Forestry Commission land, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise land and (c) land held by its Rural Affairs Department.

The Scottish Executive is working to ensure that all Government Departments, Agencies and organisations as well as the private sector are encouraged to contribute to the enhancement of Scotland's biodiversity. While particular action is targeted at a number of priority species and habitats, general conservation measures are also widely encouraged.

Progress towards the UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets is being achieved by the Forestry Commission through its status as Lead Partner for the BAP woodland habitats and its involvement with a number of species action plans. Highland and Islands Enterprise is funding preliminary work for the Highland Council Local Biodiversity Action Plan and undertakes work towards biodiversity targets across the breadth of its estates and holdings. Land held by the Rural Affairs Department is sympathetically managed, to contribute where appropriate, to specific biodiversity action plans. The Department has also recently launched a new Estates Charter, which incorporates recognition of the natural heritage, sustainable development and biodiversity in its estate practices.

Question reference: S1W-05193

Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 14 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what data it provided to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions on the attainment of the targets set out in the 14 "headline" indicators in their document A Better Quality of Life.

Targets for the headline indicators are included in the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions documents A Better Quality of Life, published in May 1999, and the supplementary report Quality of Life Counts, prepared by the Government Statistical Service, published in December 1999. None of the targets stated are for Scotland separately although reference is made that Scottish targets may be found in other documents.

The Scottish Executive have provided no data to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions on the attainment of targets set out in their documents A Better Quality of Life or Quality of Life Counts.