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: S2W-02681

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 30 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Ministry of Defence on any reservations the ministry may have over the placement of wave and tidal power plants in Scottish waters.

Question reference: S2W-02680

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 30 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to aid the successful placement of wave and tidal power machines in Scottish waters.

No such guidelines have beenissued. The Scottish Executive has contributed £2.125 million as the main sponsor of the Marine Energy Test Centre in waters off Orkney. This centre will allow companiesto test and subsequently accredit their devices following successful operation ina suitable environment.

The accelerated development of the wave and tidal industry in Scotland is also a high priority consideration for the Forum forRenewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS), due to hold its inaugural meetingnext month.

Question reference: S2W-02513

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 29 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will facilitate the publication of details of land areas that can be made available at an early date for the establishment of new forest crofts in the Forestry Commission's Scottish estate.

We are not aware of any criteriafor classifying land as a forest or woodland croft; therefore Forestry CommissionScotland does not hold records for such a classification. However, last month Iasked Forestry Commission Scotland to undertake a review, including a public consultation,of the long-term role of Scotland’s national forest estate, making recommendationsto ministers about changes that can improve its ability to deliver the prioritiesset out in the Scottish Forestry Strategy, together with other Scottish Executive policies. This will provide an opportunity for those with an interest indeveloping the concept of forest or woodland crofts to set out their ideas.

Forestry Commission Scotlandis also in discussion with Communities Scotland and local planning authorities aboutthe possibility of identifying sites on land it manages, that could be made availablefor the construction of low-cost housing.

Question reference: S2W-02514

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 September 2003
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 29 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive which areas of land in the Forestry Commission's Scottish estate are surplus to requirements.

The surplus areasof land managed by Forestry Commission Scotland are as follows:PlantationsApproved for Sale but Not Yet Committed - North Scotland

Property Name	Area (ha)	OS Sheet Number	Grid Reference
Ifferdale, Kintyre	27	68	NR763345
Aline Wood	279	14	NB234153
Glen Beag Plantation.	166	33	NG840165
Uigshader Plantation (Skye)	83.5	23	NG435470
Easter Muckernich	1.5	26	NH600531
Wood at Tressait, Strathtummel	4.5	52	NN805599
Toberchurn	49	21	NH618630
Killean Excambion	194	62	NR725445
Canterland	124	45	NO710663
Toucks	48.4	45	NO840850
Carmont	92	45	NO810840
Dalrigh, by Tyndrum	83	50	NN334290
Glen Nevis Cemetary Ext	1.28	41	NN122728

Plantations Approved but Not Yet on Offer for Sale - North Scotland

Property Name	Area (ha)	OS Sheet Number	Grid Reference
Hillend Moss	16	29	NJ525545
Cluanie Woodland	44	33	NH085123
Wellhead Blocks	7	29	NJ490405
Balmacara	17	33	NG800280
Birchwood	30	26	NH510495
Alanglach 11	15	26	NH625500
Mairebhal, N. Uist	3.1	18	NF797703
Langais	3.4	18	NF846654
Torosay Woodland	2.8	49	NM725360
Jamestown	13	26	NH475565
Compt.2534 Aigas	12	26	NH465425
Mullans II	13	26	NH577526
Langamull	202	47	NM394519
West Ardhu	157	47	NM430500
Colpy	50.6	29	NJ653343
South Glengorm	4	47	NW432567
North Glengorm	16	47	NW434560
Glengorm Sorne	72.5	47	NW440565
Barnacarry	210	47	NW895255

Buildings and Other Land Approved but Not Yet on Offer for Sale - North Scotland

Property Name	Area (ha)	OS Sheet Number	Grid Reference
Land at Ardchonnel	0.28	55	NM985127
Mechanical Workshop and Depot, Ducharnan	0.5	55	NR868939
Land at Barcaldine	0.07	49	NM958415
Land at North Dalchork	1226	16	NC550255
Byre and land at Barnluasgan	0.25	55	NR789911
Land at Jenkins Park	0.04	34	NH373096
2 Plots by Annlea, Dalmally	0.31	50	NN174275
Land at Tyndrum	0.15	50	NN328307
Inverinan Deer Larder and Site	0.17	55	NM998177
Land at Bellanoch	0	55	NR797925
Former Sawmill site at Leckuary	3	55	NR877958
Old Store building and land at Corryghoil	0.35	50	NN192276
Balcladaich	0.9	25	NH299261
Keepers Croft Glenlia	4	26	NH508208
Land and Houses at Glenelg	0.3	19	NG811900
Site at Dundreggan Reservoir	3	34	NH365156
Boundary Adjacent at Rotten o'Gairn	1.5	38	NO857038
Buildings at Balinoe	0.02	49	NM877242
Grazing land at Auchterawe	0.25	34	NH352082
Land at Bunessan	0.35	48	NM380217
2 Parcels of land adjacent Old School House, Strontian	0.22	40	NM813618
Cottage at Achnahannet	0.5	20	NH514985
Site adjacent to Burnside, Strontian	0.1	40	NM816617
Balmacara Campsite	11.67	33	NG804279
Land at Ardnarff	7.21	24	NG885355
Land adjacent to Tigh Na Coille	0.3	28	NJ132673
Old Schoolhouse, Glenmore	0	23	NG442396
Plot No 1 Bunessan	0	48	NM383217
Land at Beadoun, Tobermory	0	47	NM505549
Garages at Inverinate	0	33	NG934211
Glenvarigall Store, Portree	0.06	23	NG476400
Plot at Eynort	0.12	32	NG384267

Buildings and Other Land Approved and on Offer but Not Yet Committed - North Scotland

Property Name	Area (ha)	OS Sheet Number	Grid Reference
Land at Inchree	13.07	41	NN030630
Achlich and Rhians Crofts	0	35	NH560040
Land at Minard	0.5	55	NR978963
Achnanellan Hill Ground	249	40	NM780675
Development land at Bunessan, Mull	2	48	NM380217
Area adjacent to Farr Bay House	0.26	10	NC708624
Sites A and B Ratagan	0.59	33	NG922195
Kiel Campsite and adjoining Woodland	1.10	49	NM669453

Plantations Approved but Not Yet on Offer for Sale - South Scotland

Property Name	Area (ha)	OS Sheet Number	Grid Reference
Shawbraemoor	22	85	NY182747
Crosswood Burn	23.5	72	NR060580
Buteland	30	65	NT127635
Solsgirth	18	58	NT000950
Stroneslaney Plantation	21.2	57	NN553199
Land at Tarbert	2.4	56	NN329058

Building and Other Land Approved but Not Yet on Offer for Sale - South Scotland

Property Name	Area (ha)	OS Sheet Number	Grid Reference
Kingshouse Grazing	4.49	57	NN563202
Storage/Deer Larder , Glendaruel	0.12	55	NS018878
Exc at Benmore Gardens	2.2	56	NS143859
Kilmun Development Site	0.20	56	NS160825
Hafton Site & Buildings, Tighnabruich	2.5	62	NR973726
Land at Whistlefield	1.5	56	NS143934
Tarfessock Farmhouse	0	83	NX364883
Former ROC Bunker, Kingshouse, Strathyre	0.04	57	NN563202

Plantation Approved and on Offer for Sale but Not Yet Committed - South Scotland

Property Name	Area (ha)	OS Sheet Number	Grid Reference
Blairenbathie	2.96	58	NS120946
Allanton, Strathaven	43.6	71	NS616365
Greenwood	40	67	NS841639
Pt Thornielee Forest (Pot Eco-Village)	14	73	NS405364
Polkemmet Moor Exc	64.8	65	NS935625

Buildings and Other Land Approved and on Offer but Not Yet Committed -South Scotland

Property Name	Area (ha)	OS Sheet Number	Grid Reference
Thorngower, Moniaive	0	76	NX783907
Land at Castle Douglas Office	0.001	84	NX766627
Land at Benmore Botanic Garden	0.01	56	NS144855

This schedule does not includeareas where sales terms have been accepted and are with solicitors for completion.

Question reference: S2W-02152

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 22 August 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 19 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its online application form for the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme is available in a text format that is universally accessible.

The Suckler Cow Premium Schemeclaim form is published in PDF format on the Scottish Executive website. It canbe read or printed off by any operating system or Internet Browser using Adobe Acrobatsoftware.

The interactive version of theclaim form is available to producers or their agents with access to SEERAD Online.To complete and submit the form electronically they require a PC with a Windowsoperating system (version 98 or above) and Windows Internet Explorer (version 5.1or later).

Question reference: S2W-02116

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2003
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 16 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use disability discrimination legislation to improve access to housing options for disabled people.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

Communities Scotland hasprovided funding to Ownership Options in Scotland to develop a DIY Personal Housing Planning andEvaluation Kit as a housing option self-assessment tool for disabled people orfamilies including a disabled person. This will ensure that people receive anindividual, high-quality assessment of their housing requirements and formulatea plan to realise them. This will be available on their housing options websiteby the end of this month.

In addition, the Scottish Executive is funding the Scottish Accessible Information Forum that aims toimprove access to information for disabled people. This includes information onhousing options.

Question reference: S2W-02115

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2003
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 11 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the availability of suitable housing for disabled people.

Question reference: S2W-02114

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2003
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 11 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Special Needs Capital Grant has been withdrawn and what plans there are to replace or reintroduce it.

Question reference: S2O-00335

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 August 2003
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 September 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure that the electricity grid between the mainland and the northern and western isles is being strengthened and extended, given the social and economic implications of not doing so.

We workedwith the DTI in the preparation of a report that was published earlier thisyear and which assessed the work required to upgrade the transmission systemgenerally to accept increasing amounts of renewables generation. The Executiveis also participating in a group that is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to considerthe transmission issues arising from potential renewables developments in thenorthern and western isles.

Question reference: S2W-01182

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 June 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 4 August 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice is given to local authorities regarding the installation or replacement of street lights and reducing light pollution.