Chamber and committees

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.

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Question reference: S2W-30671

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2006
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of the Water of Leith flood prevention scheme, there are any additional factors that Scottish Ministers will take into account, given the time that has elapsed since the public local inquiry took place.

Question reference: S2W-30652

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2006
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30024 by Rhona Brankin on 4 December 2006, whether a target date has been set to announce the Scottish Ministers’ decision on the Water of Leith flood prevention scheme.

Question reference: S2W-30473

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 15 December 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its energy efficiency and micro-generation strategy.

Question reference: S2O-11460

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2006
Current Status: Answered by Tavish Scott on 14 December 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the redevelopment of Haymarket Station to enable improved access for all passengers.

Question reference: S2W-30303

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2006
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 December 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses were received to the consultation on Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 and when the finalised document will be published.

Question reference: S2W-30521

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 December 2006
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30040 by Rhona Brankin on 4 December 2006, what directions it has given to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest under section 21(5) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 or section 12(4) of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991.

Question reference: S2W-30304

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 December 2006
Current Status: Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 December 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of respondents to the consultation on Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 supported a 20% or greater target for on-site renewable energy generation in new developments.

Question reference: S2W-30039

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2006
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 4 December 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what the selection process is by which it ensures that the convener and other members of the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest have appropriate and relevant scientific qualifications and experience in relation to flora or fauna or the geological or geomorphological features of land.

Appointments to the AdvisoryCommittee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest are made by Scottishministers in open competition and are regulated by the Office of the Commissionerfor Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS).

Ministers appoint committee membersfrom among persons appearing to them to have scientific qualifications and experiencein relation to flora or fauna or the geological or geomorphological features ofland.

Question reference: S2W-30043

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2006
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 4 December 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest considers only objections to SSSI notification and denotification.

Question reference: S2W-30041

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Edinburgh Central, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 November 2006
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 4 December 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest may invite external advice and, if so, in what circumstances, how often it has done so and what steps are taken to ensure that those advising the committee have appropriate and relevant scientific qualifications and experience in relation to flora or fauna or the geological or geomorphological features of land.

The Advisory Committee on Sitesof Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) has invited external advice from specialistadvisers on eight of the 10 cases it has considered since August 2001. Specialistadvice is sought when the committee feels that it needs additional expert inputon specialist ecological and scientific issues.

All potential advisers are approachedto provide CVs, which are passed to committee members for consideration. Advisersare usually well-known to the scientific community as experts in their field. ACSSSIremains responsible for determining its advice after taking account of such additionalinput and is not bound to accept the advice of its specialist advisers.