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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.

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Question reference: S3W-23856

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 26 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into the impact of wind farms on aviation and possible steps to minimise such impact.

Considerable research has been undertaken into the impact of wind farms on both civil and military aviation and these can be accessed via the British Wind Energy Association website:

http://www.bwea.com/aviation/aviation_resources.html.

The Scottish Government is chairing the South West Scotland Regional Aviation Solution Sub-group with the remit to investigate the development and application of a regional solution in the south west of Scotland and the concentration of such an endeavour where it is likely to free up the most megawatts of electricity by the alleviation of aviation objections. Information on the discussions so far, is available on the Energy Consents website: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consents/Guidance

In a UK national context, Scottish Government officials are also actively participating in the Aviation Advisory Panel discussions in partnership with key stakeholders in the aviation sector to resolve the potential impacts of wind farms on radar systems.

Question reference: S3W-23855

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 26 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to minimise the impact of wind farms on aviation, including radar interference, physical obstruction of aircraft or impact on low flying.

We have established a South West Scotland Regional Aviation Solution Sub Group with airport radar operators and developers to investigate the development and application of a regional solution in the south west of Scotland and that such an endeavour should be concentrated where it is likely to free up the most megawatts of electricity by the alleviation of aviation objections. Information on the discussions so far, is available on the Energy Consents website:

www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consents/Guidance.

Question reference: S3W-23859

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 26 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the wind farm applications that have been rejected due to aviation issues in the last five years.

The following section 36 wind farm applications were refused by Scottish ministers.

Wind Farm	Number of Turbines	Megawatt Capacity
Greenock	22	55
Kyle	85	255

Other smaller scale wind farm applications of 50MW or less are considered under the Town and Country Planning Act 1997 by the relevant planning authorities throughout Scotland. Information on these applications is not centrally held.

Question reference: S3W-23642

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is undertaking regarding badgers and the transmission of bovine tuberculosis and whether it intends to publish the results.

Question reference: S3W-23644

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to prevent the widespread re-emergence of bovine tuberculosis.

Scotland continues to have a relatively low and stable incidence of bovine TB. Current policy remains effective in identifying and eradicating new incidents of TB in Scotland.

Current controls include:

Zero tolerance of overdue tests;

Pre and post movement testing of all cattle coming to Scotland from high incidence areas of GB, and

Gamma Interferon testing applied to all cattle over six weeks of age on holdings as identified as new confirmed breakdowns.

Question reference: S3W-23645

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received on the need to introduce further measures to prevent the widespread re-emergence of bovine tuberculosis.

Question reference: S3W-23643

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of bovine tuberculosis have been identified in each year since 2004.

Question reference: S3W-23849

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to an increase in the rateable value of wind farms and what the timetable is for taking a decision.

Rateable values of all non-domestic property in Scotland, including wind farms, are determined by the Scottish Assessors who, in carrying out that function, act independently of the Scottish Government. Statute requires that all rateable values must be reviewed every five years. The Assessors are currently revaluing all non-domestic property in preparation for the next revaluation which comes into effect on 1 April 2010 and will take into account a number of different factors in determining the valuation of non-domestic properties. Scottish ministers have no locus to intervene in this process.

Question reference: S3W-23853

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of the impact on proposals currently under consideration of an increase in the rateable value of wind farms to (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000 and (c) £20,000 per megawatt.

Question reference: S3W-23851

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 11 May 2009
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 May 2009

To ask the Scottish Executive what average cost increase there would be over the life of a wind farm if the rateable value were increased from £5,000 to (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000 and (c) £20,000 per megawatt.