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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-02658

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords to develop and promote the use of (i) photovoltaics and (ii) feed-in tariffs.

The Scottish Government is currently working with a group of local authorities, initially in the JESSICA Fund area, to develop the potential for solar photovoltaic projects using Feed-in Tariffs for renewable electricity. A similar workstream with a steering group of registered social landlords from across Scotland is also promoting the use of solar photovoltaics and Feed-in Tariffs. Housing Associations can get free independent help by contacting the Energy Saving Trust.

The Climate Challenge Fund and the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme are supporting registered social landlords and communities access renewable energy technologies, including photovoltaics and the benefits from Feed-in Tariffs.

We will publish a microgeneration strategy for Scotland by the end of 2011. It will set out our plans to build on the range of support already in place.

Question reference: S4W-02661

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how long the boiler scrappage scheme will be open for applications.

Question reference: S4W-02782

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to allocating contracts to community organisations under the Forestry Commission Scotland renewables scheme.

Forestry Commission Scotland is currently working with its development partners for the national forest estate to agree the location of wind and hydro schemes that should be investigated in more detail. As these potential sites are agreed, the commission will expect the development partners to engage with local communities in order to determine community preferences for receiving benefits. These leading edge community benefits will include an annual payment of £5,000 per megawatt installed, together with opportunities for communities to invest directly in the schemes.

Question reference: S4O-00204

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met NHS Lothian to discuss the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children incorporating the Department for Clinical Neurosciences in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S4W-02236

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons Marine Scotland has learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spillage in relation to wildlife protection.

Detailed analysis of the environmental impacts arising from the Deepwater Horizon incident is still awaited. The Scottish regulatory community take very seriously the need to apply any lessons as they emerge, albeit that some of these will be relevant only to incidents of a similar nature in a similar environment. Scottish Government officials are participating in the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG), which provides a focal point for review of the industry’s practices in advance of the conclusion of investigations into the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Marine Scotland officials also participated in Exercise Sula, which was carried out in Aberdeen and Shetland in May, following the request of the First Minister. This covered scenarios around the immediate aftermath of a deep-water oil spill and oil potentially coming ashore one week later. This included a practical demonstration of response equipment and procedures. A report of the Exercise is being prepared by the Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and will be published shortly.

The National Contingency Plan is also currently being reviewed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in order to take account of lessons learned from Deepwater Horizon and Exercise Sula. Marine Scotland will participate in this review.

Question reference: S4W-02237

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons Marine Scotland has learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spillage in relation to public health.

Question reference: S4W-02274

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the (a) Treasury, (b) Crown Estate and (c) BIG fund regarding the coastal communities fund announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 22 July 2011 and whether it will have an input into setting the criteria for assessing bids from the fund.

On 22 June 2011, the Scottish Government published its case for full devolution of powers and responsibilities of the Crown Estate in Scotland. We propose an approach based on returning 100% of the revenues for the direct benefit of Scotland and its local communities, as opposed to 50% as planned by the less ambitious Coastal Communities Fund.

In response to the announcement of the Coastal Communities Fund, my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 10 August seeking further discussions about delivery arrangements and powers. Mr Swinney also spoke to the Director of Big Lottery Fund Scotland about the UK Government’s proposals to distribute funds through the BIG Fund. There will be further discussions about funding criteria and bids once details of the fund are provided by UK Treasury. Scottish Government officials discussed the Coastal Communities Fund with Crown Estate Commissioners on 13 July at which time they advised although linked to Crown Estate revenues they have no involvement.

Question reference: S4W-02235

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans Marine Scotland has in place to deal with major oil spillages.

The National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations sets out the roles and responsibilities of the wide range of agencies involved in responding to such an incident. Marine Scotland’s primary role in this context is to assess and advise on environmental impacts. This includes chairing the Environment Group if one is established. The National Contingency Plan is currently being reviewed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which has overall responsibility for its maintenance and implementation on a UK wide basis. Marine Scotland will be contributing to this review to ensure that Scottish interests are properly reflected.

Question reference: S4W-02239

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with The Shell Group regarding the oil spillage from its Gannet Alpha platform.

Question reference: S4W-02175

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 12 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency planning is in place to address weather-related disruption to key rail routes.

Scottish ministers do not specify the level of contingency plans that the rail industry makes for any type of event. However, it is expected that the rail industry has sufficient and robust plans in place so that the effects of forseeable disruptive events are minimised. This has been the case since rail powers were devolved in 2005, and was also the case prior to 2005 under the management of the (GB) Strategic Rail Authority.