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: 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: 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: 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: 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 what measures does it intend to introduce to promote tourism in the Highlands and Islands.
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)
Fergus Ewing: What kind of logic dictates that small businesses-the engine of growth in the Scottish economy-must pay 50 per cent of the full rates bill for any small shop or office that is empty, while empty industrial premises, such as the premises in Dunfermline that are not occupied by Hyundai, receive 100 per cent remission?
Fergus Ewing: rose-
Fergus Ewing: On the topic of business rates, does Mr Davidson accept the evidence of the Scottish Council Development and Industry that, while the Conservative party was in power, the total surcharge that Scottish businesses paid, according to Craig Campbell, was £1.2 billion? That was when the uniform business rate was in force and so it had nothing to do with local authorities of other hues. The...
Fergus Ewing: There are 1,629 unemployed people in my constituency. That is about eight or nine times the number of people here today. People come in units of one; the task that we face is what can we do to make a difference for the better. So far, we have heard only one proposal in the Government's programme that will make a difference-a difference for the worse-and that is the toll tax. I was encouraged...
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.
