- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 16 December 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives of the scallop farming industry and what items will be on the agenda.
Answer
The Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group (SIFAG), agreed at its recent meeting to convene a meeting devoted to the ASP issue, early in the new year. In addition to the Marine Laboratory Aberdeen, the Sea Fish Industry Authority, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and fishing industry interests, which are all members of SIFAG, invitations will be sent to the Scallop Association, the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers, the Live Shellfish Traders Association and the Scottish Fish Merchants Federation. The meeting will look at issues such as the current ASP testing and monitoring regime, research into the causes of ASP, and future means of securing the long term sustainability of those businesses that have been affected by the ban.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 25 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning testing procedures to ensure that they conform with other European Union member states in the interpretation of the relevant EU guidelines.
Answer
The Scottish Executive ensures that testing procedures for ASP are carried out in accordance with EC Directive 97/61. It is for the EU to ensure compliance with EC Directives in other Member States.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 25 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning testing procedures to ensure that they conform with other European Union member states in the interpretation of the relevant EU guidelines.
Answer
The Scottish Executive ensures that testing procedures for ASP are carried out in accordance with EC Directive 97/61. It is for the EU to ensure compliance with EC Directives in other Member States.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what options are being considered in relation to the establishment of an appeals mechanism for crofters and farmers who are suffering penalties incurred from the current EU subsidy system and whether the claims mechanism when introduced will be applied retrospectively.
Answer
A review of all possible options for an independent appeal mechanism is underway. Details of the proposed arrangements will be issued for consultation by the end of the year. The European Convention on Human Rights confers no automatic rights to retrospection, but any implications by the appeal mechanism on previous decisions will be looked at.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 30 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what options are being considered in relation to the establishment of an appeals mechanism for crofters and farmers who are suffering penalties incurred from the current EU subsidy system and whether the claims mechanism when introduced will be applied retrospectively.
Answer
A review of all possible options for an independent appeal mechanism is underway. Details of the proposed arrangements will be issued for consultation by the end of the year. The European Convention on Human Rights confers no automatic rights to retrospection, but any implications by the appeal mechanism on previous decisions will be looked at.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 3 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the Skye Bridge Company will reduce the toll on the bridge over the winter months, as in previous years.
Answer
In accordance with the 1992 Toll Order, the tolls on the Skye Bridge will be reduced between 1 October and 30 April 2000.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that the Skye Bridge Company will reduce the toll on the bridge over the winter months, as in previous years.
Answer
In accordance with the 1992 Toll Order, the tolls on the Skye Bridge will be reduced between 1 October and 30 April 2000.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 5 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish an independent legal inquiry to investigate (a) the award of a contract to construct the Skye bridge under the Public Finance Initiative and (b) the toll order on the Skye bridge.
Answer
Partnership For Scotland commits the Scottish Executive to review the effects of the reductions to discounted tolls on the Bridge made in 1998 and to freeze the tolls at their current levels in cash terms for the remainder of the contract. These measures give direct benefit to users. We do not intend to establish an inquiry into the issues referred to, but I draw Mr Munro's attention to the detailed examinations already carried out by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee.
