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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.

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1999–2026
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Showing 60 of 2,354,908 contributions. Latest 30 days: 0. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 25 Mar 2026.
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
11 Dec 2001
Sea Cage Fish Farming
I welcome any injection of money, by the Executive or any other body. However, am I right in thinking that the scope of any inquiry would be determined by the committee that was conducting the inquiry and that, even if, say, 50 per cent of the funding came from another body, t...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Mar 2005
Work Programme
I am not clear about what Richard Lochhead is saying. Is he saying that there should be an inquiry into renewable energy? We know that the one proven method of producing renewable energy is by wind. There seems to be a scatter-gun approach to the debate that is raging in commu...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
15 Nov 2006
Crofting Reform etc Bill: Stage 2
There should not be any undue haste about the committee's composition. What the Executive is doing regarding crofting is well recognised, but the minister and the Executive should deliberate for an appropriate amount of time. They should not be huckled into a hasty decision ab...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
24 Jun 2003
Work Programme
The third item in table 1, which shows the draft work programme, reads: "Euro: state of preparation/implications for Scotland of possible membership".When we discussed this a fortnight ago, I thought that such an inquiry would be a good idea. Having taken receipt of the papers...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
03 Feb 2004
Promoting Scotland Worldwide Inquiry
I will return to a matter that I think we discussed at the previous committee meeting: the way that we conduct the inquiry. We are going to take evidence at six or seven meetings, and the witnesses will all have submitted written evidence and will be refreshing their evidence,...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
14 Sep 2004
Convener's Report
Dennis Canavan raises a serious matter, particularly when he points to the fees that are being charged for community groups, voluntary organisations and students, which he rightly says are not socially inclusive. I am concerned that at 9.40 on the day of the conference, conven...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
25 Jun 2002
Integrated Rural Development
I welcome what the minister said about fish farming, and aquaculture in general. The minister stated, rightly, that the Executive's decision not go down the road of a public inquiry was correct. A public inquiry would have given a platform to those whom he described as the voi...
Mr Morrison: Lab Chamber
03 Nov 2005
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE · Child Abuse
Has the minister established why, following the Orkney inquiry in 1991, one of Lord Clyde's recommendations, to create a multi-agency national resource for those who work with complex child protection cases, was not implemented? Lord Clyde simply wanted an agency that any loca...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Chamber
25 Jan 2007
Crofting Reform etc Bill
A week last Friday, I attended the celebrations in the community of Ness when Galson estate, which covers some 54,000 acres and includes some 20 townships, moved from private hands to community ownership. That truly was a great day—the culmination of many hours and days of har...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
12 Jun 2001
Subordinate Legislation
I will respond to the point that the convener and Tavish Scott raised about the threshold. The threshold is set for the repayment of student loans rather than for the endowment. Payment of student loans is covered by UK legislation. We think that the threshold should be kept u...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
24 Sep 2003
National Waste Plan Inquiry
How long has the facility been in operation?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
24 Sep 2003
National Waste Plan Inquiry
From what you have learned over the past three years, do you think it would be easy to translate this type of facility to a comparable area such as my own area of the Western Isles? What would be the cost of putting in the infrastructure? Have you learned any harsh lessons abo...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
24 Sep 2003
National Waste Plan Inquiry
Would the facility's viability be threatened in any way if the oil industry was not present in the area?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
24 Sep 2003
National Waste Plan Inquiry
How much did the plant cost?
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
17 Mar 2004
Common Agricultural Policy Reform Inquiry
Yes. I must apologise for my delayed arrival, convener; I was held up at another meeting. As a result, I might have missed the thread of earlier questioning.The last paragraph on the first page of the Scottish Crofting Foundation's submission refers to the effects of "a decoup...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
17 Mar 2004
Common Agricultural Policy Reform Inquiry
At the outset, I should have declared an interest, as I am a member of the SCF.The SCF paper says that different types of agricultural management are rewarded in hugely different ways. When do you think that there will be a harmonisation of the way in which the management of t...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
24 Mar 2004
Common Agricultural Policy Reform Inquiry
Likewise, convener.
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
21 Apr 2004
Common Agricultural Policy Reform Inquiry
I am a member of the Scottish Crofting Foundation.
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
02 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
Mr Akhurst, in the second paragraph of the section of your submission entitled "The Debate", you mention the"necessary objective of global energy policy"and a"shift to a significantly lower carbon economy".In your outline, you cleverly mentioned that we need a mixed energy pol...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
09 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
I have a question for Lloyd Austin on peatlands and their role as carbon reservoirs, in respect of which I apologise immediately for my ignorance. Can anything be done to reclaim peatlands, as it were, or to enhance the role that they play?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
Is that basically an argument against peat cutting?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
You will appreciate that I am familiar with RSPB Scotland's innate ability to move the goalposts and to change its position with regard to wind farms and other issues. I am still trying to come to terms with the issue of peatland restoration and potential emissions. Do you env...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
Even though it can be proven conclusively that, taking into account efficiency, electricity generation and the socioeconomic benefits—as well as the environmental prizes that have to be secured—the best place to site a development would be on peatland.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
I am just following a train of thought.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
There is no planning issue. The issue is substantive—it is fundamentally important for me.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
Yes. I am fine, thanks, convener.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Feb 2005
Climate Change Inquiry
Is it not a hugely ambitious aspiration to invite four ministers to a meeting? I think that we need an injection of realism.
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
22 Jun 2005
Rural Development Inquiry
I am delighted to hear that a partnership between Communities Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise is being fostered, because that will serve the greater good of communities.Sandy Brady and Stuart Black know that the population of the Western Isles has increased for t...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
22 Jun 2005
Rural Development Inquiry
This might be an unfair question, but where do transport links appear on your list of priorities? Some people would dearly love the Highlands to be a desert in which everyone must pedal or paddle.
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
28 Jun 2005
Rural Development Inquiry
I want to ask broadbrush questions about general policy. As we all know, the partnership agreement includes a commitment"to maintaining strong, prosperous and growing communities in rural Scotland."What exactly does that mean? What type of growth is intended? Is it economic gr...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
28 Jun 2005
Rural Development Inquiry
I want to ask Ross Finnie and Allan Wilson whether they monitor the progress and impact of certain policies. Has there been analysis of the impact of positive measures such as rural petrol station grants, the reduction in road tax for hauliers, the abolition of road tax for is...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
22 Nov 2006
Crofting Reform etc Bill: Stage 2
I agree with Maureen Macmillan. Given the focused nature of the bill that we are now considering, I support her suggestion that the issue be considered by the committee of inquiry. The committee will have time to discuss that issue and many others properly and calmly, away fro...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
22 Nov 2006
Crofting Reform etc Bill: Stage 2
Amendment 27 removes the provision for tenancies of deceased crofters to be valued at market value. Amendment 28 removes the provisions that regulate the setting of market value by the Land Court, failing agreement between executor and legatee. Members will recall that, when w...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
22 Nov 2006
Crofting Reform etc Bill: Stage 2
I will press amendment 27 and I am comforted by the fact that the minister said that she is sure that the committee of inquiry will consider the issue.
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
09 Jan 2007
Marine Environment Inquiry
I am the Labour MSP for the Western Isles.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
17 Jan 2007
Marine Environment Inquiry
To follow up Ted Brocklebank's question, do you believe that the Crown Estate Commission as constituted and in how it undertakes its responsibilities is fit for purpose?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
17 Jan 2007
Marine Environment Inquiry
In what way?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
17 Jan 2007
Marine Environment Inquiry
So, in the context of the bill, you are beyond reform. As an entity, you are fit for purpose. I think you said that you have moved on significantly since 1961. Is that it?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
17 Jan 2007
Marine Environment Inquiry
That is encouraging. Will you remind us what percentage of your income is spent on research and development and reinvested in communities?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
17 Jan 2007
Marine Environment Inquiry
In pounds and pence, that amounts to roughly—
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
24 Jan 2007
Marine Environment Inquiry
I have two brief questions, the first of which relates to competence and the meaningful devolution of powers. Where do the inshore fisheries groups that are being established fit into the Executive's thinking? The issue, again, involves timescales. If I recall correctly, our c...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
09 Sep 2003
Promoting Scotland Worldwide Inquiry
As others have said, we need to be clear about what the Scottish Executive and the Parliament do—I am sure that the Presiding Officer would be delighted to assist us in that. Dennis Canavan mentions the other regions, and the agreements and the memorandums of understanding, or...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
23 Sep 2003
Draft European Union Constitutional Treaty
Such an event might involve members from different parts of Scotland, but I hardly think that the good people of Barra or the Butt of Lewis will feel part of an event that is held in the chamber. We must be careful with the language that we use. I support a short inquiry durin...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
02 Dec 2003
Convener's Report
Can you clarify that that is the inquiry that will also examine issues that relate to public service obligation orders?
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
16 Dec 2003
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
Mr Leitch, towards the end of your presentation, you raised a point about how the guarantee would be applied. Is that point more about the duration of the guarantee or about its application?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
16 Dec 2003
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
I do not know whether the witness has been given a copy of the statement by Patricia Hewitt.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
16 Dec 2003
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
I am referring not to members, but to the witnesses.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
16 Dec 2003
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
Perhaps I can put Mr Leitch at ease. As the convener said, last night we received a statement from the Department of Trade and Industry. The clerks will provide you with a copy.In paragraph 2.2 on page 6 of the paper that accompanies the statement, under the heading "Defining ...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
16 Dec 2003
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
Local government colleagues will be familiar with the three-year spending guarantees that already exist, and which are a reality for the UK Government, the Scottish Executive and your own fora. It is unfortunate that friends from local government have not had proper sight of t...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
16 Dec 2003
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
As you saw the statement only moments ago, I invite you to respond in broad-brush terms. Where do you sit in relation to the clarification that Patricia Hewitt has given to us?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
16 Dec 2003
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
We should not forget that there are more ways of communicating with and extracting facts, details and answers from ministers than by having them physically appear here. The committee is more than capable of tabling a list of questions and using the traditional means of posting...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
16 Dec 2003
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
I would like to clarify something, convener, as I think that I misheard you. I thought that Mr MacShane was not able to come; I did not appreciate that it was only Patricia Hewitt who could not come. If Denis MacShane is coming, we obviously need to have a structured discussio...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab Committee
20 Jan 2004
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
In your submission and your subsequent responses, you talk about the European Commission as if it were a constant—as if it never changed and it never altered its priorities. However, the Commission has clearly indicated that it is moving to five-year programmes and Patricia He...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
20 Jan 2004
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
I have an observation about the submissions, which members have said were difficult to read. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency's submission, which is jargon-free, brief and focused, was a noble exception. It was obviously written by someone who had a good Hebridean ed...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
20 Jan 2004
Regional Development Funding Inquiry
I do not see why anyone can have any difficulty in understanding that UK ministers are not accountable to this place but to the UK Parliament, to which they are elected. They are not accountable to what is a sub-state Parliament. You do not have to be a Queen's counsel to expl...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
20 Jan 2004
Promoting Scotland Worldwide Inquiry
You are right, convener. We should not have 63 witnesses and we should have panels covering the themes that have been identified, such as the arts, universities, businesses and so on. My other committee, the Environment and Rural Development Committee, has been taking a lot of...
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
20 Jan 2004
Convener's Report
Alistair Darling recently made a welcome statement on public service obligations and I think that the clerks might have to rework paragraph 14 of our submission to the inquiry, which contains our recommendation, to take account of what the Secretary of State for Transport said.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
03 Feb 2004
Promoting Scotland Worldwide Inquiry
Could we think about substituting someone from Gleneagles hotel for Peter de Savary from Skibo Castle?
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
03 Feb 2004
Promoting Scotland Worldwide Inquiry
No, I did not, which was an oversight on my part.
Mr Morrison: Lab Committee
03 Feb 2004
Promoting Scotland Worldwide Inquiry
Peter Lederer.
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Committee

Rural Development Committee, 11 Dec 2001

11 Dec 2001 · S1 · Rural Development Committee
Item of business
Sea Cage Fish Farming
Morrison, Mr Alasdair Lab Western Isles Watch on SPTV
I welcome any injection of money, by the Executive or any other body. However, am I right in thinking that the scope of any inquiry would be determined by the committee that was conducting the inquiry and that, even if, say, 50 per cent of the funding came from another body, the person or persons involved in the inquiry would take their instruction, remit and scope from the relevant committee? We should not split hairs. If people with the relevant expertise can be identified, let them get on with the work and be remunerated by whomever.

In the same item of business

The Convener: Con
Agenda item 1 is sea cage fish farming. We have received a paper from John Farquhar Munro.
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): LD
I hope that everyone has a copy of the paper. I have been carrying the paper about in my hip pocket for the past two weeks, but because of other committee in...
The Convener: Con
Thank you, John. Do members have any questions?
Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): LD
It says in the paper that the Transport and the Environment Committee"decided to seek the appointment of a research coordinator".According to the remit for t...
The Convener: Con
I can see where you are coming from, but I am not sure that that is for us to answer. If a procedural matter is involved, that is for another committee to re...
Mr Rumbles: LD
I am not saying that it is up to this committee to decide who is appointed as an adviser. As I understand it, we have a reporter because we are involved as w...
The Convener: Con
What are you suggesting should be done?
Mr Rumbles: LD
I would like to hear other committee members' views.
John Farquhar Munro: LD
The Transport and the Environment Committee has suggested to the Executive that it establish such a post. There has not been great debate on who should fund ...
Mr Rumbles: LD
It is not the legality that I am questioning, but the appropriateness.
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): Lab
I welcome any injection of money, by the Executive or any other body. However, am I right in thinking that the scope of any inquiry would be determined by th...
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): SNP
I do not have any particular concerns about where the money comes from; my concern is simply that we get the right person in place to do the job and that we ...
The Convener: Con
The second paragraph of Rhona Brankin's letter to the Transport and the Environment Committee states:"I understand that you agreed in discussion that the ter...
Mr Rumbles: LD
I am not suggesting, as Stewart Stevenson implied, that the committee should be involved in the appointment process—the member has got the wrong end of the s...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): Lab
My concern is not about the funding of the post, although I can see what Mike Rumbles is driving at. He is asking whom the holder of the post will be answera...
The Convener: Con
I gather that the Transport and the Environment Committee has not yet resolved this matter. We could ask our reporter to make the point at tomorrow's meeting...
The Convener: Con
Fergus Ewing has a different point.
Fergus Ewing: SNP
I, along with my colleagues in the SNP, had hoped that there would be a full, independent inquiry into sea cage fish farming, but that was ruled out by Execu...
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): Con
I support what Fergus Ewing has just said. We should take more evidence from the Norwegians. If an industry is profitable rather than hanging on by its finge...
The Convener: Con
I do not know whether Richard Lochhead wants to speak or whether his light is on by accident, but I am happy to give him the opportunity to speak.
Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): SNP
I support the suggestion that my colleague Fergus Ewing made. I attended the aquaculture conference that took place last week at the Holyrood Hotel, not far ...
The Convener: Con
It would not be this committee that would call for evidence, but the Transport and the Environment Committee. Our reporter could put that suggestion to the T...
John Farquhar Munro: LD
I would not mind doing that, but I think that an anomaly might develop. Sea cage fish farming around the Scottish coast is mainly Norwegian-owned. If Norwegi...
Mr Morrison: Lab
Stolt Sea Farm Ltd, which is Norwegian-owned, runs a successful £10 million factory on the island of Scalpay. We do not have to import Norwegian working meth...
The Convener: Con
I am sorry, but are you saying that it would be inappropriate to suggest to the Transport and the Environment Committee that lessons might be learned from ex...
Mr Morrison: Lab
We should always try to learn from one other, but—this is a delicate point—I wonder how willing the Norwegians would be to surrender some of their best intel...
Richard Lochhead: SNP
Regarding Alasdair Morrison's point, in terms of the industry's strategy we should consider regulation, which involves a relationship between the industry an...
Fergus Ewing: SNP
Yes. I want to clarify my suggestion for Alasdair Morrison. I did not suggest—though it now seems a pleasant idea—that we visit Norway. The furthest that I h...
Mr Rumbles: LD
We might be drifting off the point. As the convener pointed out, we will not be taking the evidence; it will be the Transport and the Environment Committee. ...
The Convener: Con
Yes. I was about to make that point.