Claudia Beamish

15 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revise the annual greenhouse gas emission reduction targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

1 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will be in a position to specify a minimum distance between unconventional gas operations and residential and water-protection areas and whether it will include below-ground operations.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is still considering revisions to the finalised Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) following public consultation. Following Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee scrutiny of National Planning Framework 3 and the accompanying SPP position s…

12 Mar 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will focus more on "enhancing" rather than "protecting" certain characteristics in marine protected areas.

6 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the national marine plan.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Statement of Public Participation (SPP), required by Schedule 1 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and Schedule 6 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which is published on the Scottish Government’s website sets out the timetable currently anticipate…

5 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on complementary medicines and therapies and on supporting NHS boards in their use.

26 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications for the marine environment and marine industries are of the delay to the National Marine Plan.

11 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the EU's proposed 27% target for renewable energy by 2030, what additional measures it will introduce to ensure that the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 is delivered in full.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government remains on track to achieving the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 ambition of at least a 42% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2020, and at least an 80% reduction by 2050. We expect the policy framework we have developed, the s…

11 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on the delivery of its Second Report on Proposals and Policies of the EU’s proposed 2030 targets for (a) renewable energy and (b) greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government welcomes the European Commission’s proposal on 22 January 2014 for a target of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases emissions and a 27% target for renewable energy by 2030. We have argued strongly for a 40% EU wide target with a 50% tar…

31 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to assess the possible impact in Scotland of proposed EU regulations on the provision of food information to consumers.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for general food labelling and nutrition labelling in Scotland. During the development of the EU Food Information to Consumers Regulation, the FSA consulted on an impact assessment regarding the EU req…

31 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it conducts of the requirement for equine passport issuing organisations to maintain a searchable, computerised database.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Whilst there is currently no formal monitoring of equine passport issuing organisations with regard to the maintenance of a searchable, computerised database the Scottish Government works closely with Scottish passport issuing organisations, and understands t…

31 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning to establish a national equine database for Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH) of the European Commission is due to vote in March 2014 on the draft regulation for the identification of equidae, which stipulates that each member state must operate a central database of …

15 Jan 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to protect bus routes in South Scotland.

18 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how its education policy supports children with additional support needs.

4 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to provide carers with information and advice on accessing practical support and technology.

26 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has not undertaken a public consultation on, or discussed with relevant organisations, the criminalisation of forced marriage.

19 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what account the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth takes of sustainable development in his policy framework for sustainable growth.

30 Sep 2013 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, what action it is taking to ensure that all relevant policies and proposals are properly costed and acted on to ensure that annual emissions targets are met.

18 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the national indicators used in the National Performance Framework feed into decisions relating to its investment commitments.

17 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, other than that provided on its website, what information has been shared with stakeholders with regard to the consultation, Planning Scotland's Seas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Planning Scotland’s Seas consultation covers five distinct but linked sets of proposals, a) draft national marine plan, b) Marine Protected Areas network; c) draft sectoral plan for Offshore Renewables; d) Priority Marine Features; and e) draft Planning C…

17 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide guidance on the coordinates of the explicit management zones in the proposed marine protected areas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The boundaries of the Marine Protected Area (MPAs) proposals currently out to public consultation are based on best available evidence on the distribution of habitats, species and geological features. The management options papers include information on activ…

17 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will provide information on fisheries activity that is needed for decision making in the proposed marine protected areas but is not given by the ScotMap project.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A draft Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) is provided for each proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA). Each BRIA contains the available fisheries data. For over 15 metres vessels, official landings data is spatially distributed using VMS pings. For f…

17 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the feature activity sensitivity tool to assist people who want to respond to the consultation, Planning Scotland's Seas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The feature activity sensitivity tool, known as FEAST, is available online. FEAST enables users to explore what is known about the proposed protected features of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and their sensitivity to pressures, and the mari…

9 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government to seek an alteration to EU trade agreements relating to consumption-based carbon emissions in order to align the cost of imports with their full carbon cost with the aim of incentivising local production.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the UK Government regarding an alteration to EU trade agreements relating to consumption-based carbon emissions. However, the Scottish Government is aware of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) public…

9 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the increase in emissions related to consumption in the last year, as noted in the report, Scotland's Carbon Footprint 1998–2010.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The slight increase in emissions related to consumption in 2010 is due to the particularly cold weather and the associated increase in emissions from household heating which occurred at the beginning and end of that year, an increase in emissions associated w…

9 Sep 2013 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take in relation to the 4% increase in Scotland’s carbon footprint between 2009 and 2010 as noted in its report, Scotland’s Carbon Footprint: 1998-2010.  

6 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Climate Change Delivery Board will oversee delivery of the second report on proposals and policies; how regularly it will meet, and when the recent changes to the board's structure will be updated on the Scottish Government's website.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: A system of Check Point and Exception Reports is being developed to assist the board monitor delivery of the second report on proposals and policies. The board meets quarterly and the board web pages are updated after each meeting.

6 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how often the Emissions Reduction Board met in 2013, and whether any of the meetings discussed the draft second report on proposals and policies.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Emissions Reduction Programme Board met on 28 February. The re-named Climate Change Delivery Board met on 25 July and is expected to meet again in September and December 2013. Issues discussed by the board are recorded in the notes of meetings published …

3 Sep 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions for bicycle access and storage on trains and at stations will be included in the contract for rail passenger services to be issued in 2014.

27 Aug 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the issues associated with underemployment.

7 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the list of birds protected by special penalties as set out at Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; what its position is on whether this legislation is fit for purpose, and what criteria it uses to determine the birds to list.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Schedule 1 to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 may be amended by Scottish Ministers at any time and remains open to review as necessitated by consideration of the conservation needs of wild birds. Amendments in recent years include the addition of red ki…