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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-14667

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with Hargreaves Services Plc about the formation of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust.

The Scottish Government has talked with a range of stakeholders across the coal industry in the development stages of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust (SMRT) including local authority planning officials, landowners, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and representatives of the coal industry including Hargreaves who were involved in the initial formation of the SMRT and but no longer play a part in the body going forward.

Options for funding the trust are possible from a variety of sources including coal operators and the coal industry itself, and Hargreaves have been the first coal operator to contribute to the funding of the trust providing £1.1 million. The SMRT is an independent body and not part of the Scottish Government.

It is not the responsibility of the SMRT to restore open cast mines. Coal operators will still be responsible for the restoration of their respective open cast sites. However these tasks are often complex and the trust will work with coal operators, local councils, landowners, communities, and environmental bodies to facilitate the responsible restoration of open cast sites.

Question reference: S4T-00377

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent representations it has received regarding rendition flights landing in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-14722

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how many of the companies bidding for Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route contracts are headquartered in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK.

Question reference: S4W-14724

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many of the companies bidding for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route pay full UK tax on their UK business.

Question reference: S4W-14725

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the contracts for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will ensure that the successful bidders will (a) not make use of tax avoidance practices, (b) pay at least a living wage to all employees, (c) use local staff and raw materials where possible and (d) demonstrate a commitment to sustainable construction practices.

The contract will oblige the successful bidder to comply with all legislation including that relating to taxation, including a requirement to pay at least the standard benchmark.

It will also stipulate levels of training and employment opportunities for apprentices, graduates and the long term unemployed. All vacancies will be advertised in local job centres and sub-contracts to be tendered advertised in Public Contracts Scotland thus maximising the opportunity for local employment and for local companies.

In addition, the successful bidder will be required to provide a clear demonstration of how he will maximise the delivery of sustainable solutions following best practice for this critical project.

Question reference: S4W-14665

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what sources of funding will exist for the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust.

The Scottish Mines Restoration Trust (SMRT) is an independent body and not part of the Scottish Government. Therefore, the funding sources are a matter for the board of SMRT.

Coal operators are responsible for the restoration of their respective open cast sites. However, we recognise that these tasks are complex, and the Trust will work with the Scottish Government and its agencies, coal operators, local councils, landowners, communities, and environmental bodies to facilitate the responsible restoration of open cast sites.

Question reference: S4W-14664

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what effect the creation of the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust will have on existing planning obligations placed on coal mining companies.

Question reference: S4W-14666

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 16 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the liquidation of Scottish Coal will have on any applications by the company for coal extraction that are in the planning system.

Question reference: S4W-14663

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Mines Restoration Trust will engage with communities situated next to opencast coal mining sites.

The Scottish Mines Restoration Trust is an independent body and not part of the Scottish Government. We understand, however, that the Trust will ensure that a permanent community representative is appointed to their board. As each site is unique, bespoke solutions will be required and each site the Trust considers will need local knowledge, input and agreement from local community representatives as part of the working groups set up for each site.

Question reference: S4W-14631

Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 13 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4F-00845 by Alex Salmond on 13 September 2012 (Official Report, c. 11413), on what date it will publish its estimate of the climate impact of its policy on air passenger duty.