Fergus Ewing: On a point of order. I propose that there be a vote as to whether the standing orders are approved. Without the standing orders being approved, it is open to members to decide whether or not we follow the points of order made by Mr Salmond and Michael Russell before proceeding to vote in the way that you have suggested.
Fergus Ewing: On a point of order. Now that the ministerial team has been appointed, it would be churlish of us not to congratulate the ministers on their appointments and hope for the best in the future. I want to draw to the attention of the minister who has responsibility for fisheries, the welcome presence of-
Fergus Ewing: I welcome the fact that the days of opening of the office of the clerk have been published. What opportunity will there be-for all opposition parties and not just the Scottish Nationalists as the main opposition-to have substantive issues debated, such as the removal from Scottish jurisdiction of 6,000 square miles of fishing waters? This appears to have been carried out by stealth by Order...
Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to revoke the Beef bones regulations, and lift the ban on Beef on the bone.
Fergus Ewing: I congratulate Dr Jackson on raising a debate on a matter which the people of Scotland will expect us to solve in a way relatively free from party political considerations. I would like to declare a number of interests. The second proposed national park in the Cairngorms falls within my constituency and many of the general issues that Dr Jackson touched upon have a similar, if slightly...
Fergus Ewing: Will the minister give way?
Fergus Ewing: Will the minister give way?
Fergus Ewing: No one is suggesting that there should be one blueprint for the whole of Scotland. The question is how Labour will fund a national park in Loch Lomond. How much will such a park cost per year? Will the Executive rule out imposing local road tolls to fund it?
Fergus Ewing: Is the member aware that in a letter just last week the Labour Government ruled out the possibility of a variable VAT rate?
Fergus Ewing: Will Tavish Scott acknowledge that just last week I received a letter from the Labour Government at Westminster stating that it rules out the possibility of a variable VAT rate on fuel? What specific proposals will the Liberal Democrat party put forward to deal with the crisis in the Highlands and Islands-which have the highest fuel duty in Europe, if not the western world-given that, as...
Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures does it intend to introduce to promote tourism in the Highlands and Islands.
Fergus Ewing: As the representative of the people of Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, I would naturally prefer the Parliament to be situated in Inverness. However, I am prepared to concede that that will not be possible without adequate transport links to Heathrow and the rest of the world. I am sure that all members will join me in thanking the Church of Scotland for negotiating with the Scottish...
Fergus Ewing: rose-
Fergus Ewing: rose-
Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to meet with members of the Scottish Legal Aid Board to discuss delays in Legal Aid payments.
Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to seek an assurance from the Scottish Legal Aid Board that either – (a) the targets within which Advice and Assistance, Civil and Criminal accounts should be paid are being met; or, (b) arrangements are being made to ensure that the targets will be met in future.
Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to lay before the Parliament the 38 responses made to the February 1998 consultation paper on changes to the Right to Buy scheme and cost floor rules.
Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to restore, for a period of six months or other trial period, to those tenants affected by the Housing (Right to Buy)(Cost Floor)(Scotland) Order (S.I. 1999/611) the right to purchase their council house with the benefit of the discount which they would have received under the previous rules.
Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the Housing (Right to Buy)(Cost Floor)(Scotland) Order (S.I. 1999/611) and the Right to Buy Cost Floor Determination.
Fergus Ewing: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce measures to assist smaller business premises in relation to the impact of the non-domestic rates revaluation to take effect from 1 April 2000. (S1O-75)
