- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 17 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that people do not set snares when they see the tracks of protected species and how this is monitored.
Answer
It is a criminal offence to intentionally or recklessly snare a protected species. As with all wildlife legislation, enforcement is a matter for the police.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 17 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of protected species being trapped have been reported to it in the last five years.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally. Any evidence suggesting that a protected species has been snared intentionally or recklessly should be reported to the local police force or wildlife crime officer. As in all other cases involving a report suggesting that a crime may have been committed, it will be a matter for the police to determine how to respond to any such reports.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 17 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of failing to inspect snares, or cause them to be inspected, at least once every day at intervals of no more than 24 hours, in each of the last five years.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the Inverness to Wick and Thurso railway lines for a pilot to consider the possible extension of the national concessionary travel scheme.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18280 on 12 December 2008. 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/wa.search.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 12 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the national concessionary travel scheme to include rail travel.
Answer
The review of the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People is still ongoing. I expect to receive a report of the review in the next few weeks and shall consider recommendations made by the Steering Group who carried out the review.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd regarding the installation of an instrument landing system at Wick Airport.
Answer
We have held no such discussions with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL). As satellite based technologies develop, HIAL will evaluate the costs and benefits of these in relation to the provision of navigational aids at its airports.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources are planned for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 in order for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to provide instrument landing systems where they are required across its network area.
Answer
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) has not sought resources from the Scottish Government for the provision of new Instrument Landing System equipment at its airports for the period 2008-11. Such investment does not form part of HIAL''s capital plan for this period.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of instrument landing systems in the Highlands and Islands airport network area in terms of the (a) reduction in postponed and delayed outward flights, (b) fall in diverted inward flights and (c) effects on regional economic development.
Answer
We understand that a study undertaken by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd has shown that less than 2% of scheduled flights through Wick are cancelled or diverted and that an Instrument Landing System (ILS) would benefit only 50% of those flights.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the cost of reducing all Caledonian MacBrayne fares by 40% for (a) passenger, (b) vehicle and (c) cargo services.
Answer
No detailed assessment has been made of a 40% reduction of CalMac Ferries Ltd''s fares for (a) passengers, (b) vehicles or (c) cargo services. The Scottish Government is currently investigating Road Equivalent Tariff as the basis of future ferry fares in Scotland. However, the Scottish Ferries Review, currently underway, will include consideration of other charging structures for ferry fares.
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Friday, 21 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 December 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what fare concessions have been deleted for (a) commercial and (b) non-commercial ferry passengers in the road equivalent tariff pilot areas and what savings will be achieved in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11..
Answer
All existing discount arrangements, except for the national concessionary schemes for young persons, older and disabled islanders and the 10% discount on the overnight freight service between Ullapool and Stornoway, will cease on the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot routes.
The removal of those discounts will not result in any savings as the overall journey cost with RET will be lower than, or at least the same as, the discounted fares previously available.
