- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 28 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what immediate steps it will be taking to pursue with EU officials the scope for flexibility in the beef national envelope regime, as recommended by the Environment and Rural Development Committee in its 7th Report 2004 (Session 2), Report on the Implementation of the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy in Scotland (SP Paper 173), given the national envelope timetable.
Answer
The Executive have discussed the question of use of the beef national envelope with EU Commission officials on several occasions since February, when the announcement was made about use of the envelope. While there is flexibility in its use, notably in terms of the relative focus on quality or environmental objectives, EU legislation requires that it must be operated in a way which does not result in discrimination amongst producers. Hence it is not possible to operate a scheme which pays calves or cows at different rates in different areas.
Also, the legislation specifies that once set, the rate of the national envelope cannot be changed until the legislation is reviewed - at the latest in 2009. Seeking change to this would mean a re‑opening of the package agreed in June last year. This would require widespread support from other member states; there is no such support.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 24 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will begin work on its next 10-year transport plan.
Answer
A strategic transport projects review covering all transport modes, is referred to in Scotland’s Transport Future, the transport white paper published on 16 June. The review will begin before 2007.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 24 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive which supplies of milk on sale in supermarkets are GM-free.
Answer
I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that milk on sale in some supermarkets will be from animals consuming feed that contains approved GM ingredients, but details of specific amounts are not available. No milk is produced from GM animals.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 24 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to purchase land for affordable housing.
Answer
Communities Scotland provides funding for the acquisition of land for affordable housing as an integral part of its development programme. Since 1999 we have invested £1.3 billion in the development programme leading to the approval of 34,000 new affordable home across Scotland.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 23 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Executive of EventScotland has visited every region; when he visited each region, and when he plans to visit any regions he has not visited.
Answer
The Chief Executive of EventScotland has visited every area tourist board region except Dumfries and Galloway, the Orkney Islands, the Western Isles and the Shetland Islands. The dates of his first visit to each area is given:
| Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley | 2 September 2003 |
| Perthshire | 4 September 2003 |
| Highlands | 17 September 2003 |
| Ayrshire and Arran | 19 September 2003 |
| Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and the Trossachs | 20 to 21 September 2003 |
| Aberdeen and Grampian | 29 September 2003 |
| Fife | 3 October 2003 |
| Borders | 24 to 26 March 2004 |
| Angus and Dundee | 5 May 2004 |
The Chief Executive plans to visit Dumfries and Galloway on 23 July and the Shetland Islands in early August. He intends to visit the Orkney Islands and the Western Isles in the coming year.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 23 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether EventScotland has any plans to publish a manual which details the procedures for applying for grants to run a festival.
Answer
EventScotland publishes detailed information which explains how to apply to EventScotland for support for events, and copies are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 32233). This advice is also available at
www.eventscotland.org.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 23 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how much outstanding funding EventScotland has available to finance events this year.
Answer
This year, EventScotland will receive £3 million funding to support events.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 23 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in respect of planning and routing in relation to transmission from offshore renewable power generation sources to land.
Answer
While there is no planning process that applies specifically to the installation of these cables, they will be subject to consent under the Coast Protection Act and the Food and Environment Protection Act. Both of these functions are devolved.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 22 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an estimate of the cost of an undersea power cable to carry renewable electricity production from the Northern and Western Isles and the mainland to urban markets.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-08905 on 22 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 22 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish and Southern Energy plc about the possible transmission of offshore wind power generated at the Beatrice platform in the Moray Firth (a) by undersea cable to an appropriate landfall on the Dounreay to Beauly 275KW power line and (b) by undersea cable from Beatrice to Leith or Newcastle.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-08905 on 22 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
