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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

129
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415
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1999–2026
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Official Report

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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
31 Aug 1999
Structural Funds (Highlands and Islands)
We currently have a crisis in agriculture, a crisis in fishing, a crisis in aquaculture and a crisis in forestry relating to the amount of mature timber. The Highlands also faces a general crisis above all the others in transport and the cost of fuel. If we do not get that rig...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
19 Oct 1999
Structural Funds
The kind of question that local people ask me as an MSP is whether they will be on those bodies.My second question is not really a question. The monitoring committee decides on the criteria and then the permanent programme executive decides on what projects to fund. Are there ...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Committee
27 Mar 2001
Common Fisheries Policy
Mr Fischler is quoted, in the Fishing News, as saying at a recent press briefing that the committees must not be placebos. He stated:"If you have multi-annual quotas, for example, then we would foresee the Regional Committees dealing with the yearly distribution of the fishing...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
23 Apr 2002
New Petitions
Surely your research department realises that, although insurance companies have a right to ask that perfectly reasonable question for commercial reasons, when they are dealing with police officers, who protect the public, they should treat them more considerately, as it is no...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Committee
06 Jun 2002
New Petitions
A fundamental question is what degree of deafness benefits from the digital hearing aid. Would a person who had been stone deaf from birth benefit or would only those who are hard of hearing benefit? Is it a question of degree? You said that 85 per cent of people would benefit...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
25 Jun 2002
New Petitions
It is also a question of jurisdiction. Chief constables are pretty responsible people and, if a chief constable thought that it was necessary to pass over a case, he would be happy to do so. At the moment, it is up to him. The question is whether that is enough. I think that t...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
05 Nov 2002
New Petitions
The suggested action in the members' briefing uses the phrase "where suitable conditions exist". As far as I can see, two suitable conditions are not mentioned in the petition: the availability of the underbridge and a suitable site. Both make the conditions very suitable and ...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Committee
17 Dec 2002
Current Petitions
I have a question about the suggested action. On what ground could the petitioners challenge the validity of the ballot? Is it a question of a majority or a minority?
Dr Ewing: SNP Chamber
03 Jun 1999
Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries
I cannot give way because I have too much to say in too short a time. To bring in the European dimension for a moment, for 20 years I served on the European Fisheries Committee. At the moment, I am— technically, and will be for another month—the only UK vice-president of the F...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Chamber
22 Jun 2000
Bail, Judicial Appointments etc (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I am full of admiration for all those who served on the Justice and Home Affairs Committee, when I see the amount of work that they have done and detail that they have had to apply their minds to. I congratulate them and the convener of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee, ...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Chamber
24 Jan 2002
Question Time · Aquaculture Sites (Relocation)
The minister might know that I asked a similar question last year. The then minister promised to consider and make a study of the example of Northern Ireland waters. Was that done? If so, what opinion did the Executive form about the practicality of that option?
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Chamber
30 May 2002
First Minister's Question Time · Common Fisheries Policy
My memory on fishing goes back quite a long time. I remind the First Minister of the successful visits that Mr McLeish made to Europe ahead of the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. Like other ministers, Mr McLeish gave an assurance that, where the Scottish interest dom...
Dr Ewing: SNP Chamber
27 Mar 2003
First Minister's Question Time · British Sign Language (Interpreters)
That was an encouraging answer.I am proud to be asking the last question in the Parliament. Since my members' business debate on the subject, during which the public galleries were packed with deaf people, the Executive has taken quite a lot of steps on the issue, such as the ...
Dr Winnie Ewing: SNP Committee
18 Aug 1999
Structural Funds
I have two questions, the first of which concerns structural operations in the fisheries sector and the fact that only draft regulations exist. Might we have any indication as to when we will get sight of those? We would certainly want to see the draft regulations before they ...
Dr Winnie Ewing: SNP Committee
31 Aug 1999
Structural Funds (Highlands and Islands)
Last time the problem in many areas was that projects were not brought forward. Will we now look at who is responsible for doing that? Is it the local enterprise companies, is it a crowd of people with good ideas who happen to live in an area that needs funding, or is there an...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
31 Aug 1999
Documentation
I have a question on that, which may be urgent. The proposal for a council regulation contains an alarming feature; it proposes to abolish the present advisory committee, because it does not work, and to establish a new one. It is difficult to find out who the committee member...
Dr Winnie Ewing: SNP Committee
28 Sep 1999
Consultation Process
When the legal basis of a subject is discussed in the European Union, that does not mean that one should not realise that the whole subject is a matter for discussion. To dismiss it and say that it is a question with a legal basis is fine, but the legal basis is not changed un...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
28 Sep 1999
Consultation Process
I know that we have gone past it, but I am asking a question about the legal basis.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
09 Nov 1999
European Documents
If the papers that we receive do not tell us the answers to our questions, what will be the state of play regarding anti-dumping action against Norway? Will we be told in the documents? This battle has been going on for about 20 years—it comes and it goes. Action is started an...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
09 Nov 1999
Convener's Report
My appointment with Western Isles Health Board comes first. It will be a question of timing. First things first.
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Committee
23 Nov 1999
Priorities
I am impressed by the paper and the work that is being done in co-operation. I have always found COSLA a bit of a mystery, because I was only once invited to anything that it organised, despite my long political career—maybe that is because I am not acceptable politically. Tha...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Committee
14 Dec 1999
Objective 3 Operational Plan
I have a short question that relates to paragraph 4 of the draft report, under heading 1, where reference is made to the Highlands and Islands. Will the same principles that we have discussed today, which are included in the draft report, be followed in providing parallel assi...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
07 Mar 2000
Objective 2 Draft Plans
My question is rather different. I was just going to ask Colin Imrie if he has any news of how the Highlands and Islands are faring. They are in Europe already.Secondly, you said in your summation, Mr Imrie, that the Commission wants very clear criteria. Are you able to say at...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Committee
21 Mar 2000
European Structural Fund Programme Management Executives
Thank you for coming along, minister. I wonder whether I could take you up on your preference to meet the EIB, which interested me a lot. You said, I think, that you will meet EIB representatives again, so you must have plans to do so regularly. Its help—cheap money to local a...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
05 Sep 2000
Convener's Report
I support what Margo MacDonald has said, but, as she probably knows, the effects of the dispute are not limited to the Borders. Johnstons mill in Elgin is affected, as are manufacturers of shortbread and biscuits, which, oddly enough, also seem to be well established in Morays...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
07 Nov 2000
Current Petitions
I must ask a terrible question: where is Durris forest?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
23 Jan 2001
New Petitions
The question of security arises. I do not know what security in the Perth Museum and Art Gallery is like; perhaps you could tell us. I, too, am concerned about the cost of looking at the stone. I take it that the cost that you mentioned is for an inclusive package, and that so...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
27 Feb 2001
Current Petitions
I find it strange, because the usual objection to cage fish farming is that there is shallow water and insufficient tidal movement. There must be a massive environmental improvement if the cages are at sea. I raised the matter at question time and received a sympathetic answer...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
11 Sep 2001
New Petitions
I have a question about the disinfectant troughs. Were they adequate? A motorist entering Northern Ireland, where the procedures seem to be more thorough, must have their whole car sprayed.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
11 Sep 2001
New Petitions
We should send it straight to the Rural Development Committee. We have already received an answer to the question from Ross Finnie.
Dr Winnie Ewing: SNP Committee
11 Sep 2001
New Petitions
I have a follow-up to Rhoda Grant's question. Given all the new technologies, surely anywhere is a suitable candidate—it could be Inverness, Oban or the island of Islay. If there were a suitable building, it might be cost-effective to go where jobs are scarce but there are a l...
Dr Winnie Ewing: SNP Committee
11 Sep 2001
Current Petitions
I am a bit concerned to find that, in the Scottish Executive health department's response to this petition, Highland was the only health board to reply "No" to the question whether chronic pain management services were provided. At a meeting of Highland Health Board that John ...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
02 Oct 2001
New Petitions
So you cannot say that a valuation was made and that you offered to sell the property for that sum.My second question concerns your strong words. You used the word "vindictive", but such an allegation is usually hard to prove. Did you engage a solicitor at any point?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
02 Oct 2001
New Petitions
Professor Stewart, you mentioned the running costs, rents and salaries, which must be heavy in Edinburgh in particular. You say that some of the people who work in the centres are paid. Can you tell me the ratio between the volunteers and paid staff? What does it cost to train...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
02 Oct 2001
New Petitions
What about the legal question?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
02 Oct 2001
New Petitions
It was not a question, but such remarks had to be said by someone. I am horrified by the evidence that we have heard.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
23 Oct 2001
New Petitions
The position of the deaf in Scotland is tragic. We have only 35 fully qualified sign interpreters. Finland has a smaller population, but has 350 sign interpreters. In my time as chairman of the European Parliament Culture, Youth, Education, Media and Sport Committee, the Parli...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
06 Nov 2001
New Petitions
Were the amazing changes a result of cuts? Was it all a question of money?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
15 Jan 2002
New Petitions
I wanted to ask Hayley a question. You are with your father and you say that you are happy there. Does your father have custody of you?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
15 Jan 2002
Current Petitions
I am among the MSPs who think that there should be a full public inquiry on foot-and-mouth. We are not getting that at the moment, but we keep being told about the other inquiries that are being carried out under various headings. There seems to be a question whether it is sci...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
15 Jan 2002
Current Petitions
Yes, there is a Scottish one. Should not that inquiry be informed that there is a question on which we would like reassurance?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
15 Jan 2002
Current Petitions
But we do not yet have the results of an inquiry to tell us about foot-and-mouth in detail. The question of the ash seems to be worth putting to the Scottish inquiry, wherever it is being conducted.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
15 Jan 2002
Current Petitions
That does not answer my question.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
05 Feb 2002
New Petitions
I have one question on nobile officium that I must clarify in my mind. You mentioned the Human Rights Act 1998. Did you perhaps muddle your appeal to the nobile officium by bringing in the European convention on human rights? Did you give the court an excuse for a technical bl...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Committee
26 Mar 2002
New Petitions
The clerks might be able to help with my question, although, as a lawyer, I should perhaps know the answer to it. I am interested in what you said about the powers of the ombudsman. Is it within the ombudsman's powers to review a planning decision?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
26 Mar 2002
New Petitions
Could we write to Historic Scotland to seek its view on the question of the Pictish burial site?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
23 Apr 2002
New Petitions
No one knows the answer to the fundamental question.
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP Committee
07 May 2002
New Petitions
I am sorry. The airport was fogbound, so I had to drive all the way to Edinburgh. I am sorry if my question has been asked—I usually arrive at the committee on time. I notice that the matter has gone before the pensions ombudsman. Is that correct?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
21 May 2002
New Petitions
My second question relates to security at Perth museum. Is the museum happy to accept the security problem involved in looking after such a precious thing?
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
21 May 2002
New Petitions
I am speaking. When I have finished, you can ask me a question about what I have said.When I was a member of Parliament, I also served on the House of Commons Select Committee on Violence in Marriage—that was the proper name of the committee, although it was unfairly known as ...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
21 May 2002
Current Petitions
Before you leave the previous issue, I want to raise a point about the quote that is at the foot of the second page—there are no page numbers—of the Scottish Executive's response. The response quotes Lord Sutherland as saying:"I find it difficult to see how the printing of the...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
21 May 2002
Community Volunteers (PE447)
It is a pity, in a way, that we must consider all the separate issues together—rain geese, seals and everything—because each merits special attention. Paragraph 6 of SNH's response says:"Case law in Europe and the UK has established that the selection of sites, and the setting...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
06 Jun 2002
New Petitions
I escorted a blind man who won me as a prize—the prize was to spend a day with me going around Edinburgh. He had a marvellous time. Everyone was wonderful to him and his dog. Even though it was a busy July, everyone made way for him when we went into a pub. He said to me that ...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
06 Jun 2002
New Petitions
Thank you. I was sorry to digress a little, but I could not resist the opportunity to ask the question.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
06 Jun 2002
New Petitions
We are also told that"the Executive is currently assessing the measures that individual NHS Boards take in following the Good Practice Guidance."The good practice guidance recommends that all people who need a hearing aid should be able to get one. Can we ask whether the asses...
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
18 Jun 2002
Current Petitions
It seems that one cannot isolate the answer without considering question 7.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
18 Jun 2002
Current Petitions
We all want an answer to Sylvia Jackson's question.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
25 Jun 2002
New Petitions
That is another question. The inquiry into the legal profession is separate from your asking for a register of interests for Scottish judges, which is a clear request.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
25 Jun 2002
New Petitions
It is a big tourism question for everyone.
Dr Ewing: SNP Committee
25 Jun 2002
New Petitions
I do not know whether any of you have come up against the Lord Lyon when he has been exercising his jurisdiction, but he has always struck me as being extremely proud of his jurisdiction and has issued great threats to anyone flying the wrong flag and has commanded immediate e...
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Committee

European Committee, 31 Aug 1999

31 Aug 1999 · S1 · European Committee
Item of business
Structural Funds (Highlands and Islands)
Ewing, Dr Winnie SNP Highlands and Islands Watch on SPTV
We currently have a crisis in agriculture, a crisis in fishing, a crisis in aquaculture and a crisis in forestry relating to the amount of mature timber. The Highlands also faces a general crisis above all the others in transport and the cost of fuel. If we do not get that right, frankly, these are just nice words under various headings. The problems with transport and fuel affect infrastructure, entrepreneurs and tourism, which is also facing a crisis. Transport problems should be a priority. The Mallaig road has been mentioned; Mallaig is a place of thriving new industry but the road is as bad as ever. It is not the only road of its kind but what is sad is that it serves a lot of growing businesses. Those are the crises that we will have to deal with. These are nice documents with nice graphs but we seem to be no nearer to solving the problems.At the previous meeting, I asked one of the officials a question to which I did not receive an answer. I may ask it when Mr McConnell comes, although I may have to go before that. My first question is what sum the Highlands and Islands is getting—it has been described as £210 million and £300 million. Secondly, how much extra money was secured as transitional aid? I would have thought that that was a simple question, but I have never been able to get an answer to it.

In the same item of business

The Convener: Lab
The first document before us is the special programme for the Highlands and Islands for 2000 to 2006. As you see, it is a consultative draft plan; the Rural ...
Stephen Imrie (Committee Clerk):
I have been advised by the Scottish Executive that, as the paper is a draft plan, a more formal and complete consultation document will be coming to the comm...
Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): SNP
As, later in this meeting, we will be discussing the dates on which we need to meet to complete the regional map and so on, it is surely quite important to k...
Stephen Imrie:
It is not for me to comment but, in terms of scheduling business, it would help to know the end date. We are taking consultation on this document now, as we ...
The Convener: Lab
We should write to the Executive.I have been asked by Maureen Macmillan if I will take an intervention because she is leaving to go to the Justice and Home A...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): Lab
I begin with some general remarks about the draft plan. I hope that everybody appreciates the size of the Highlands and Islands—it is as big as Belgium, some...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): SNP
How are we going to approach this matter—bit by bit, subject by subject, or by that kind of general statement?
The Convener: Lab
I am in the hands of the committee. Shall we go through the document section by section?
Dr Ewing: SNP
It think that would be useful because there are points in every section as well as general issues. It would be easier to discuss things if we knew where we w...
Allan Wilson (Cunninghame North) (Lab): Lab
That is an important point but there are clear omissions in the draft plan—most noticeably of a financial table—which mean that our consideration will have t...
The Convener: Lab
This is our first discussion; we will, at a later date, consider some of the detail that, as has been said, has been omitted from this document. As Margo ind...
Ms MacDonald: SNP
This is a general point about the management of information. We should determine priorities, because if the committee has a view on the priorities we can ind...
The Convener: Lab
There were at least three languages in that sentence.
Ms MacDonald: SNP
Nae problem. That was Glaswegian.
The Convener: Lab
A number of broad objectives have been articulated. Allan spoke about giving the reduction of social and economic disparity equal importance with increasing ...
Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): Lab
On a point of information, you said that the fisheries and agriculture issues are being examined elsewhere. We gave the comments from our last meeting to the...
Stephen Imrie:
It is my understanding that we will receive a document from the Executive containing the agriculture, fish and financial material that Mr Wilson mentioned. I...
Dr Jackson: Lab
The reason I ask the question is that it follows on from Maureen's point about trying to see the whole picture, in terms of those areas that need an on-going...
The Convener: Lab
I will ensure that the committee clerk and I speak to other conveners to bring some of those points together. We will be able to give you a better idea of ho...
Ms Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): Lab
The plan talks throughout about building on the good work of the previous programme. That is important, but we have not examined the previous plan, which may...
The Convener: Lab
There are a number of ways in which we could do that. The first is to circulate the whole of the previous plan. The second is to produce a synopsis of the ke...
Ms MacDonald: SNP
A synopsis taken in conjunction with the some of the first charts in the report—those on population changes, for example—would be sufficient. We would hardly...
The Convener: Lab
I will ask for a synopsis to be circulated to the committee.
Dr Ewing: SNP
What will be the time scale for receiving the document on agriculture, fishing, aquaculture and forestry?
Stephen Imrie:
I am not aware of what the time scale will be.
Dr Ewing: SNP
Does that mean that we cannot make any comment on agriculture and fishing with regard to the documentation that we have?
Stephen Imrie:
I understand that separate material will arrive.
Dr Ewing: SNP
We currently have a crisis in agriculture, a crisis in fishing, a crisis in aquaculture and a crisis in forestry relating to the amount of mature timber. The...
The Convener: Lab
If you wish to pursue that matter you will have to use other avenues. Jack McConnell is coming here today specifically to discuss objective 2.
Dr Ewing: SNP
He is coming at 3.30 pm?