Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive why there is no relief vessel for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route when a vessel breaks down.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what the total annual cost is of its subsidy to public service obligation routes, broken down by route.
Duncan Hamilton: The SNP is minded to support amendment 215. We agree with the direction that Alasdair Morrison is taking. Like him, we would appreciate clarification from the Executive on where it thinks the proposal would fit correctly. The case for separate crofting legislation has been made on a number of occasions today. Alasdair Morrison outlined the importance of good management and of the...
Duncan Hamilton: The SNP supports entirely the Executive's position on amendment 6 because it would have the effect of debarring any further application for five years if an application were withdrawn. That seems unnecessarily restrictive, which is presumably precisely why it has been proposed. I have always had a high estimation of Mr Aitken and Mr McGrigor, particularly with regard to their education....
Duncan Hamilton: I advise members who have drifted off during this debate because of the technicalities and the complexity of the bill to tune back in at this point because we are coming to the heart of the matter. The amendments in this group amount to no more than a series of wrecking amendments designed by Mr Aitken to remove a third of the bill.
Duncan Hamilton: We now have confirmation that they are wrecking amendments. The only thing that we can praise Mr Aitken for is his consistency, as he has tried to thwart this part of the bill from stage 1 and he is trying to do so all the way to the bitter end. However, some of his comments have been ridiculous. The idea that this legislation is being driven by a class agenda is idiotic. That is not the...
Duncan Hamilton: Conflicting evidence was certainly given, but the RICS witnesses were also unable to tell the committee why Bill Aitken's example of double glazing could not be factored into market value. The committee heard no convincing evidence that improvements on land would be stunted as a result of part 3. Bill Aitken's evidence on the matter is sketchy at best. The bill mentions market value, a proper...
Duncan Hamilton: I shall be brief. I ask the minister to answer two specific questions in his summing up. I support the Executive's amendments and I particularly welcome the minister's support for amendment 66B. However, will he reflect on some of the examples that have been given in the debate, such as scientific activities, activities under the Duke of Edinburgh's award, or activities by NGOs that seek...
Duncan Hamilton: In essence, the minister is saying that the air link—and, according to his letter, the airport—may be under threat because of the potential of other means of transportation. Was the Executive aware of that when the improvements to the ferry came through? Were those concerns shared with the community? If not, why not?
Duncan Hamilton: Will the minister take an intervention?
Duncan Hamilton: rose—
Duncan Hamilton: I am delighted that the minister has finally found his seat—not something that he would be able to do on the new Barra service if he got his way. There has been considerable notice in the press and a lot of discussion of the issues surrounding the future of the Barra to Glasgow direct air link. Today presents an opportunity for the people of Barra, through their representatives, to have...
Duncan Hamilton: With the greatest respect, I will carry on. Self-promotion is not a problem that the member usually has. The point of the debate is not to get into that kind of SNP-Labour division. It is rather to emphasise the difference between the view of the Parliament and the view of the Executive, because we are discussing an Executive decision. I want to reflect the anger and the frustration of the...
Duncan Hamilton: The minister mentioned potential displacement, particularly in relation to west coast communities. He will know that communities such as Oban, Skye, Campbeltown and the Argyllshire islands share the characteristic that more than 10 per cent of their employment is directly or indirectly related to the fishing industry. With that in mind, all that he has told us is that he will guard against...
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports Caledonian MacBrayne continuing to run a ferry service from Gourock to Dunoon.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to replace the Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route when the charter finishes on 3 April 2003.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive why Caledonian MacBrayne did not produce a costed analysis of the roll-on/roll-off option for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route in the light of the Deloitte and Touche report in 2001.
Duncan Hamilton: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct Caledonian MacBrayne to meet representatives of Argyll and Bute Council to discuss safety issues surrounding the Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route.
Duncan Hamilton: As the first member to speak in this debate who is not a member of the Rural Development Committee, I commend the committee for its report. The report was honest in seeking agreement where that was possible and in reflecting some of the difficulties in what is a complex area. As other members have said, vast parts of the bill have attracted cross-party agreement. There is crucial agreement...
Duncan Hamilton: The minister will be aware that a key part of Executive policy for rolling out broadband is to aggregate public sector demand in terms of local authorities, health, education and so on, and thereafter to hope that private industry will provide some of the infrastructure. Is he happy with the current assessment of public demand? Is he happy with the level of private investment, and is there...
