- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 April 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 6 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government how it will report to the Parliament the findings of the expert advice that it has sought on the proposed National Planning Framework 3.
Answer
A range of expert academic and professional advice informing the preparation of National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy is either already in the public domain or is being given further consideration by the Scottish Government ahead of publication of both policies June 2014. The reporting arrangements and times for this work varies.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 07 April 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 2 May 2014
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide guidance on unconventional gas extraction and hydraulic fracturing.
Answer
Proposals for unconventional gas extraction in Scotland will be studied on their merits. Each proposal will be considered through the normal planning process and the appropriate regulatory regimes including the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s guidance on the regulation of shale gas and coal bed methane published December 2012.
There are no proposals which involve the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques in Scotland at this time. The Scottish Government will follow a rigorous, evidence-based approach in the development and deployment of this technology.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2014
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2014
To ask the First Minister, in light of the reported 162% increase since 2004 in the cost of providing free personal care, what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that local authority social work budgets can meet demand.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2014
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 April 2014
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 30 April 2014
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the NHS Lothian board.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 30 April 2014
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 31 March 2014
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2014
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the Audit Commission report, An overview of local government in Scotland 2014.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2014
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2014
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what contribution it considers that housing can make to tackling poverty.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2014
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 February 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Burgess on 10 March 2014
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Housing (Scotland) Bill will include provisions relating to energy efficiency measures as common works by householders.
Answer
The Housing (Scotland) Bill amends the powers of local authorities to require home owners to carry out work on homes that are below tolerable standard, and this includes homes that lack satisfactory thermal insulation. The Bill also includes a provision to enable local authorities to pay missing shares where a majority of home owners agree common works under the Tenement Management Scheme, and this can include works to install insulation.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 February 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 March 2014
To ask the Scottish Government when the Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Private Sector Homes working group will present for consultation draft regulations to improve the energy efficiency of existing private sector housing.
Answer
The Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Private Sector houses working group will make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on draft regulations that would set minimum standards of energy efficiency in existing private sector housing. Draft Regulations are expected to be published for consultation in spring 2015.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 February 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 March 2014
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on delivering the recommendations in A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland: 2013 Update.
Answer
Building standards officials are in the process of investigating the fifteen additional recommendations made in the 2013 update of the original 2007 Sullivan Report.
In announcing deferment of the next set of energy standards in building regulations until October 2015, I have already acted upon the first recommendation made by the panel under the ‘Eventual and Staged Standards’ topic.
At this time, the focus of officials and the construction industry has turned to the development of an ‘action plan’ in support of the 2015 standards, referred to in the fifth recommendation under the ‘Eventual and Staged Standards’ topic.
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 24 February 2014
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Burgess on 10 March 2014
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the energy efficiency standard for social housing.
Answer
The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing is anticipated to be published shortly following constructive discussions and engagement with the representatives of social landlords and local authorities.