- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the formal public consultation that NHS Dumfries and Galloway is undertaking on service delivery change to be a statutory requirement or an administrative requirement imposed by ministers.
Answer
The National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004 introduced a duty on NHS boards to consult with local people on the planning and development of healthcare services; and on decisions to be made by boards that would significantly affect the operation of healthcare services.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 December 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 January 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for NHS Dumfries and Galloway, while undertaking a formal public consultation on service delivery change, to develop new or more detailed proposals and arguments on aspects of the changes without resubmitting them to full public consultation and extending the consultation period to enable this to be done.
Answer
I expect all NHS boards to conduct formal public consultation on major service changes in line with national guidance on informing and engaging the public. As in all cases of major service change, I will receive a report on the adequacy of NHS Dumfries and Galloway''s public consultation process from the Scottish Health Council in due course.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how its agencies are working with energy co-operatives to help meet its renewable energy targets.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the value of the co-operative business model as a way of financing renewable energy projects. This is reflected in the membership of the new Community Renewables Implementation Group, a subgroup of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) which includes a number of parties promoting the co-operative model.
In addition, the co-operative model for renewable energy projects is one of the options suggested to communities in the Scottish Government''s Community Renewable Energy Toolkit, available online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 December 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 11 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on replacing PFI with a new tripartite form of financing involving government, private and co-operative partners.
Answer
The Scottish Government supports the use of the Non Profit Distributing (NPD) model of finance for public infrastructure. The NPD structure has both public and private sector financial involvement, alongside enhanced stakeholder involvement in the management of projects.
The Scottish Futures Trust will continue to develop this method of funding to further improve the value for money it can deliver to the taxpayer.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the sheep electronic identification scheme will be subject to the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition standards.
Answer
No. Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition relates to the maintenance of land. However, electronic identification of sheep does form part of one of the statutory management requirements of cross compliance covering identification and traceability of sheep and goats.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances farmers would be penalised for breaching the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition standards in the context of the sheep electronic identification scheme and how that penalty would be applied.
Answer
Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition relates to the maintenance of land. However, electronic identification (EID) of sheep does form part of one of the statutory management requirements of cross compliance covering identification and traceability of sheep and goats.
Where it is found at inspection that a keeper has not complied with the statutory management requirements, a breach will be recorded and this shall result in a percentage reduction in payments due to the business.
The inspection process and penalties cannot be confirmed until final decisions are made on the implementation of the requirements following the consultation on sheep EID which finished on 2 November 2009. The inspection process shall be designed to take into account practical issues and be as efficient and effective as possible.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide financial support to assist farmers in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging.
Answer
The Scottish Government has been working hand in hand with industry to gain concessions and minimise the impact of these rules being imposed by Europe. That is why we have already invested £3 million in a large scale electronic research pilot aimed at finding workable and affordable systems for Scotland. The pilot, currently in phase two, is focussing on reducing costs, ensuring the use of critical control points in the most appropriate manner and assessing the options available towards the introduction of an individual animal database.
In Scotland, we have also made funding available of up to £1,000 per farmer under the SRDP Land Managers Options that will assist farmers with the cost of funding electronic reading equipment. We continue to work with the sector on all aspects of EID and explore all options available to help reduce the EID implementation challenge.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated the prospect of providing financial support to assist farmers in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28926 on 26 November 2009. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with farming organisations regarding the prospect of providing financial support to assist farmers in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging.
Answer
The Scottish Government has had various discussions with farming organisations regarding financial support to assist farmers, in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging. These discussions have taken place both during and prior to the public consultation, as well as being part of the Scottish electronic research pilot considerations. The Scottish Government is also currently considering correspondence received on this issue which were received as part of the formal consultation responses.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects to meet farming organisations to discuss the prospect of providing financial support to assist farmers in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging.
Answer
The Scottish Government is still analysing the responses to the public consultation, looking at all aspects of EID, to find the best route forward and ensure a suitable future for sheep farmers. Once this work is complete, officials will meet to discuss with the relevant farming organisations.
