- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what cross-border safeguards are in place to prevent the spread of bluetongue disease in Scotland from livestock travelling through infected areas in England.
Answer
Although bluetongue virus type 8 was found to be circulating in south east England in 2007, no evidence of virus circulation was found in 2008. There are currently, therefore, no known areas in England with active infection.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm the recent press report that cattle from Belgium will be arriving at a farm in close proximity to the border with England.
Answer
The Animal Health Agency has confirmed that some breeding cattle have been imported from Belgium to a farm in Northumberland.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that the voluntary ban on animal movements from bluetongue disease-infected areas is enforced rigorously.
Answer
Scottish Government advice on keeping bluetongue out of Scotland has been consistent; avoid sourcing livestock from high-risk areas. The majority of the Scottish livestock industry has taken this message on board and a voluntary industry ban on imports is currently in place. However, this ban has no legal standing as where EU bluetongue trade rules are met such trade is legal. As such the voluntary ban relies on the good-will of livestock farmers and dealers.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what cross-border safeguards are in place to prevent the spread of bluetongue disease in Scotland from livestock travelling through England.
Answer
In Scotland we have a post-movement notification system for all susceptible animals that have been in any bluetongue restricted zone other than for bluetongue virus type 8 within the previous 60 days. This Scotland-only provision provides protection from potentially infected animals travelling both directly from foreign bluetongue“infected areas, and indirectly via England or Wales.
As Scotland and England are part of the same bluetongue virus type 8 Protection Zone, cross-border safeguards are not permissible for this strain. Scotland does continue to enjoy the protection provided by the post-import testing of all livestock coming to the UK from bluetongue-affected countries on the European continent. Animals travelling to England before moving to Scotland may not move from the first destination premises until negative results for the virus have been obtained. However, the best protection from BTV8 for Scotland''s livestock is being provided by the mass compulsory vaccination campaign currently underway; when temperatures, and risk levels, rise again in the spring, the majority of Scottish livestock will already be immune to this particular virus.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take if the voluntary ban on animal movements from bluetongue disease-infected areas is broken.
Answer
European Union trade rules require the free movement of animals where they meet the agreed requirements. Scottish livestock industry organisations are promoting a voluntary ban in recognition of the potential implications of sourcing stock from high risk areas. Responsible sourcing of stock represents good practice and where trade meets legal requirements the Scottish Government has no legal ability to intervene.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 26 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much will be available for town centre works and regeneration initiatives for towns in the (a) Scottish Borders, (b) Dumfries and Galloway, (c) East Lothian, (d) North Ayrshire, (e) South Lanarkshire and (f) East Ayrshire council areas from the 2009-10 budget.
Answer
The Scottish Government''s £60 million Town Centre Regeneration Fund will be available in 2009-10 to support our town centres and local high streets. We are currently working on the details of the Fund, and will shortly be entering into discussions with stakeholders. We anticipate full details of the scheme will be announced by the end of March 2009.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to protect and enhance the natural environment.
Answer
The importance of valuing and enjoying our built and natural environment and protecting and enhancing it for future generations is recognised through its inclusion as one of the fifteen national outcomes in the National Performance Framework. The Framework guides the actions of the Scottish Government and other public bodies. Performance information is available on the Scotland Performs website.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/scotPerforms/objectives/greener.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that people in the Scottish Borders are able to receive essential health and other services regardless of cross-border differences in legislation or service provision.
Answer
The duty of the Scottish Government is to provide policies, frameworks and resources to NHS boards in order that they can deliver high quality, safe and sustainable services that meet the needs of their local population. Within this context, the actual provision of local healthcare services is normally the responsibility of local health boards, taking into account national guidance, local service needs and priorities for investment.
NHS Borders has advised me that it has close ties with NHS services across the border into Northumbria and Cumbria. It continues to foster strategic alliances with these partners given the two-way flow of patients, and the need to secure access to services for patients close to the border and ensure seamless care.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 5 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that people in the Scottish Borders are able to receive their entitlement to free ophthalmic services if their nearest optician is in England.
Answer
NHS boards in Scotland are responsible for making arrangements to secure the provision of the free NHS eye examination within their area.
NHS Borders has made arrangements for people to receive the free NHS eye examination conveniently at ophthalmic practices within their area, including at Duns, Galashiels, Hawick, Kelso, Melrose, Peebles and Selkirk.
- Asked by: Jim Hume, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 2 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent report in the Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press, what support, training and advice will be offered to Stena Line employees in Stranraer facing redundancy.
Answer
The local PACE response team has already offered support to Stena Line employees in Stranraer who may be facing redundancy.
The type of support will be tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances but will include: access to a new national helpline and improved website; Jobcentre Plus services; one-to-one counselling; comprehensive information packs; access to high quality training; seminars on skills such as CV writing and starting up a business, and access to IT facilities.
In light of the current economic climate, we have recently introduced a number of enhancements to the existing Partnership Action for Continuing Employment PACE initiative, including dedicating 80 Skills Development Scotland staff to deliver improved support to individuals facing redundancy.
