Parliamentary questions

Claudia Beamish

624 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

13 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment in his speech of 17 April 2013, what modelling (a) its analysts and (b) the James Hutton Institute has carried out regarding the change from historic to area-based payments in pillar 1 of the reform o…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: My speech on 17 April 2013 at the “CAP Moving Forward” conference was to introduce the results of modelling work that had already been carried by the James Hutton Institute on behalf of Scottish Government. The modelling covered a range of scenarios that had…

12 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving from its International Development Fund for people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories of Gaza and the West Bank.

10 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the liquidation of Scottish Resources Group and ATH Resources, what action it is taking to ensure that habitat and environmental impact regulations are maintained at open cast coal sites.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The interim liquidators for The Scottish Coal Company Limited have applied to the Court of Session for directions on whether they have power to abandon or disclaim sites owned by the company and statutory licences, analogous to that which exists in England an…

10 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, where a restoration bond proves to be inadequate, who is responsible for ensuring that the restoration work is completed.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Where responsibility rests may depend on the circumstances around any individual case. Where a planning condition or obligation exists that requires restoration of land, this may be enforceable against the landowner, developer or parties with an interest in t…

10 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what types of development must provide financial bonds in association with planning consent; what types of bonds there are, and what its position is on whether each provides adequate security.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Planning legislation contains no requirement that any development must provide financial bonds in association with planning consent. Planning authorities may, if they consider it appropriate, seek to ensure restoration of sites through planning conditions or…

5 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the health and wellbeing benefits of community transport for older people across rural South Scotland and the rest of the country as noted in Age Scotland's report, Still Waiting.

3 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Transport Scotland has had with tourism stakeholders regarding the chartering of train services on the Borders railway link on Saturdays.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland has not had any discussions with tourism stakeholders regarding the chartering of train services on the Borders Railway project. However, Network Rail has recently commenced discussions with tourist train operators who have enquired about a…

21 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what site restoration arrangements are in place for opencast sites run by companies other than Scottish Coal.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Planning permission from the planning authority is required before opencast coal operators can begin extracting coal. Neighbour notification and public advertisement of the application is normally part of the process to be followed. The Restoration Bonds Wor…

21 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many abandoned opencast sites there are; how much it would cost to carry out a full environmental restoration of them, and whether it has contingencies in place to fund such restorations.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2012 provides information on previous uses: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/01/2295/7#tb11. The site register: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Planning/Site-Register provides…

17 Apr 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports access to education and training for women of all ages in South Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: This Government invests around £2 billion each year in colleges and universities. In particular included in that amount is significant and specific funding to support the development in the South of Scotland of the Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels and th…

5 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Emissions Reduction Programme Board has met since 11 December 2012 and whether it has discussed, or plans to discuss, the Second Report on Proposals and Policies in 2013.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Emissions Reduction Programme Board last met on 28 February 2013. The Second Report on Proposals and Policies is, and will continue to be, a key focus for board discussions. Notes of board meetings, and carbon reduction activity reports outlining activit…

5 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met other cabinet secretaries to discuss climate change emissions reductions in their portfolio areas.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment led discussion about emissions reduction, and specifically the draft second report on proposals and policies, at two meetings of the Scottish Cabinet in January 2013.

5 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Environment and Climate Change last met other ministers to discuss emissions reductions in their portfolio areas.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I have on-going dialogue concerning emissions reduction with my ministerial colleagues. The development of the draft second climate change Report on Proposals and Policies and our strategy for a low carbon Scotland has been discussed at two meetings of the Ca…

5 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the final version of the Second Report on Proposals and Policies.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A publication date has not yet been set for the final version of the draft second report on proposals and policies. The Scottish Government is working to complete and publish the final report as soon as reasonably practicable taking into account representatio…

5 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which proposals from the draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies officials are reviewing with a view to turning them into firm policies.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is reviewing the entire draft second report on proposals and policies in light of the recommendations that were made during the 60-day period for Parliamentary consideration. We Will respond to those representations when we publish the…

5 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date the EU's climate change targets for 2020 will be increased.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Future EU climate change policy is a matter for the Member States of the European Union and only as an Independent member state would the Scottish Government be able to directly speak to and have a vote on proposals within the EU negotiations at European Envi…

5 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what economic sectors it is exploring to identify additional policies and proposals for the second report on proposals and policies.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The draft second report on proposals and policies for meeting Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set out measures in a broad range of sectors across Scotland’s economy. The Scottish Government is considering the recommendations that have be…

3 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provision has been planned for people travelling between the rail and bus stations at the new Galashiels public transport interchange.

Answer · Keith Brown: In preparation for the return of rail services to the central Scottish Borders, a new Transport Interchange will be delivered in Galashiels by Scottish Borders Council that will fully integrate train, bus, taxi, car, cycling and pedestrians. Further informat…

25 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that changes proposed in the ownership or management of the national forest estate in England will have implications for Scotland.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In its policy statement on forestry and woodlands, published in January, Defra said that it plans to establish a new, operationally-independent management body for the public forest estate in England. While these do not have direct impacts on delivery of the …

24 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that consenting authorities take into account the provisions of article 6(2) of the habitats directive when considering proposals affecting European wildlife sites that have deteriorated or are at risk of deterioration.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A broad range of measures exists to anticipate and regulate interventions to deliver the requirements of Article 6(2) of the Habitats Directive. These include the lists of Operations Requiring Consent associated with Sites of Special Scientific Interest (whic…