Tavish Scott: I am completely lost by Duncan Hamilton's question. I am sure that the minister will deal with that in his summing-up; I am giving the Liberal Democrat perspective. I have talked about what Charles Kennedy said, and the Liberal Democrat minister will respond to the debate on behalf of the Executive. A more significant development is the announcement of a large-scale trial at a farm near...
Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful applications for support under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme, as set out by Lord Sewel in March 1999, there have been in each parliamentary constituency and what is the total value of these applications in each constituency.
Tavish Scott: I was under the impression that this was a back-bench debate and I am disappointed that that has not been the case. We have heard front-bench speeches. I hope that that will be sorted out through the appropriate channels in due course. [MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] I want to support the amendment that is in the name of Gordon Jackson—it takes the Holyrood project forward and asks Parliament to...
Tavish Scott: Ye can just haud yer wheesht. The Tories have opposed the building today and yesterday and they will do so in the future. They opposed the creation of the Parliament; they opposed the voting system that gives them all, bar John Scott, their seats in the chamber; and they now oppose the creation of a modern and dynamic building within which Parliament can operate.
Tavish Scott: No. That I can understand. At least the Conservatives are consistent. What I cannot understand so readily is the Scottish National party. It is a party that should believe in vision, and which says much about self-determination, but unfortunately today it has turned its back on a definite future and instead favoured the blame game. Mike Russell said that there had been "far too much spin."...
Tavish Scott: No. Mike Russell would not answer questions on the finishes, the size or the cost of the building. As usual, we get no answers from the SNP, just the blaming of someone else every day and every week. For those who say that Gordon Jackson's amendment is the cheapskate option, I refer them to paragraph 6.8.1 of the Spencely report. With regard to the MSP block, changes and reductions in cost...
Tavish Scott: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has not kept members up to date since last June but—
Tavish Scott: Donald Gorrie is behind me and I am looking out. The corporate body has accepted responsibility, and today it is right, as the Spencely report shows in paragraph 9.4 on management recommendations, to move towards a rigorous method of keeping the Holyrood project on time and within budget. That is what Gordon Jackson's amendment is all about. Members today have picked up the fact that the...
Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on the Scottish economy of sterling remaining outside the European single currency. (S1O-1498)
Tavish Scott: The minister will be aware that the international food exhibition in Glasgow finishes today. I have spent two days there, promoting Shetland and helping Shetland companies sell produce. Is the minister aware that many export companies are concerned about the need for stable exchange rates and a positive entry into the euro zone, given the right conditions? I accept that monetary policy is a...
Tavish Scott: The First Minister will be aware that his colleagues John Home Robertson and Henry McLeish have already written letters of support for the North Atlantic Fisheries College in Scalloway. Having visited Scalloway, does the First Minister share my view that the fisheries college is a centre of excellence? It is linked to the University of the Highlands and Islands and brings together science,...
Tavish Scott: From the Liberal Democrat benches, I welcome the statement and the aid package. I associate myself, and the Liberal Democrats, with the remarks made by Alex Johnstone. I also welcome the minister's announcement that he will hold a conference before the Royal Highland Show rather than after it; that is eminently sensible. I have two questions on the principles that the minister outlined. Does...
Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of its timetable for the implementation of the recommendations of the report by the Scottish IACS Red Tape Review Panel and whether it will make a ministerial statement to the Parliament.
Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote the conservation of biodiversity and how it will attain the UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets on (a) Forestry Commission land, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise land and (c) land held by its Rural Affairs Department.
Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive what data it provided to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions on the attainment of the targets set out in the 14 "headline" indicators in their document A Better Quality of Life .
Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive whether a comprehensive policy and financial management review has been carried out on (a) Scottish National Heritage, (b) Scottish Environment Protection Agency, (c) Historic Scotland, (d) West of Scotland Water Authority, (e) North of Scotland Water Authority, (f) East of Scotland Water Authority, (g) Crofters Commission, (h) Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd,...
Tavish Scott: I hope that my console will work properly while I deliver my speech. I begin by registering an interest. I have an environmentally sensitive area plan on my own farm at home. I also admit to a sense of guilt today. While everyone else is working hard at the lambing, I am here pontificating about a matter that is important to a number of crofters and farmers in Shetland but not, happily, to my...
Tavish Scott: I would like to pursue the point the minister made in response to Duncan Hamilton's question. In the northern isles, when the tender period is too short, particular difficulties are created for providing new ships. Will that be a problem for CalMac? Is the minister aware of arguments that she can put to the European Commission to try to extend the length of the tender period? Companies that...
Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted or has any plans to conduct an assessment of the effect on agriculture of its implementation of EC regulations.
Tavish Scott: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government or the European Commission regarding the proposed EC directive on strategic environmental assessment.