Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns regarding any implications for (a) jobs and (b) the continuation of college campuses in the Highlands and Islands arising from the budget for 2011-12.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Highland and Cairngorms local action groups were unsuccessful in their bid for funding from the Broadband Challenge Fund.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive how many special protection areas are designated wholly or partly with regard to hen harrier interest and whether it will list them.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the numbers of hen harriers on special protection areas (SPA) is designated if a hen harrier interest is (a) static, (b) increasing or (c) declining and what the trend is for each such SPA.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated breeding success of hen harriers on special protection areas was in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of the Intellectual Asset Centre.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Intellectual Asset Centre is encouraged to seek funding from appropriate EU funding programmes.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any impediments to the Intellectual Asset Centre securing funding from the European Union.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers any reduction in funding from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise will have on the objectives of the Intellectual Asset Centre in relation to its work on food and drink strategic objectives and protected food names.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will replace the withdrawn programmes run by the Intellectual Assets Centre that ran in conjunction with the local authorities’ Supplier Developer Programme.
Peter Peacock: I regard it as a privilege to have served on the Scotland Bill Committee in the past three or four months. The committee did a very thorough piece of work and its report stands as a clear statement and analysis of the arguments of the day. That will be seen in the years to come. I have said before in the chamber that it would be strange if the Scotland Act 1998 was perfect in every respect...
Peter Peacock: I do not think that Wendy Alexander said anything about excise duty, but I will deal with the very points that Fiona Hyslop makes. The bill’s provisions will add to our existing powers over spending—which are important for economic growth—a wider basket of tax powers. We already have powers over council tax and non-domestic rates. Contrary to what has been said, with income tax coming...
Peter Peacock: I am afraid that I cannot, because I am short of time. If the UK wants to look at that as part of wider UK regional policy, Scotland should be at the table in the discussions and we should keep that option open. Overall, the bill will result in our having a growing basket of tax powers and will improve the governance of this country and our accountability over time. As others have said, the...
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used for awarding funding from the Broadband Challenge Fund.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of potential end users was considered when awarding funding from the Broadband Challenge Fund.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether cost-per-user was a factor in deciding to award funding from the Broadband Challenge Fund.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether a reporter other than the one who presided over the last inquiry will be appointed if a public inquiry is held into the proposed incinerator at Invergordon.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to hold a public inquiry into the proposed incinerator at Invergordon and, if so, when it will be held.
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive who will make the final decision on the application for an incinerator at Invergordon if a public inquiry is held.
Peter Peacock: I place on record my thanks to the cabinet secretary for having taken account of the point that I made at stage 2 and I thank him and his officials for lodging this splendid amendment.