Rhoda Grant

27 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research findings from the USA and Australia that vaccinating children with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) reduced hospital admission rates, what research it is undertaking on the impact of introducing a pneumococcal vaccination programme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The pneumococcal vaccine PCV7 was introduced into the Scottish routine immunisation schedule in 2006. In 2010 the vaccine was replaced by PCV13, which contains the seven serotypes included in the PCV7 vaccine, as well as six additional serotypes which broaden…

27 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that it complies with a requirement to meet the public interest when the matters to be considered in doing so are not laid out in the relevant legislation.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government provides guidance for its staff on applying the public interest test in relation to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004. This is available on pages 44 and 45 at: …

27 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether legislation that contains a requirement to meet the public interest specifies the matters to be considered in order to do so.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In relation to most exemptions used under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and all exceptions under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, information can only be withheld if, in all the circumstances of the case, the public …

11 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the remit will be of the expert ferry group that is being established by Transport Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: The remit of the expert ferry group will be: to provide Scottish Ministers with considered advice about key ferries related issues in Scotland, as requested by ministers. On the request of Scottish Ministers provide advice on strategic issues highlighted by l…

11 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is being invited to join the expert ferry group that is being established by Transport Scotland; which service users will be invited to join; whether the meetings will be held in public, and whether the minutes of the meetings will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Expert Ferry Group will include key transport professionals/operators of subsidised services, academics and private operators of ferry services and representatives from all of the relevant regional transport partnerships. Meetings will be chaired by a se…

28 May 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to control the population of greylag geese in the Uists.

28 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the interim report of Land Reform Review Group focuses on community ownership and whether this reflects a change in the group's remit.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The remit of the independent Land Reform Review Group (LRRG) has not changed. The consultation, which yielded 484 submissions, has brought forward a wide range of issues on a broad range of subjects, including farm tenancy issues and issues regarding access. …

22 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a membership list for the Scottish Coal Industry Sector Taskforce and the criteria by which the members were chosen.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: A list of the members of the Scottish Coal Industry Taskforce is provided in the following table. No formal selection criteria is in place. Initial membership was sought from all major political parties and focussed on those council areas most affected by th…

21 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that a UK emissions performance standard of 450g CO2/kWh will (a) not create incentives that will lead to investment being diverted from renewables to gas and (b) adequately incentivise the development of carbon capture and storage in Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: To meet Scotland’s future energy needs, some form of electricity generation from thermal plant is required as part of a balanced generation mix. As set out in our recent draft second Climate Change Report on Proposals and Policies, our indicative electricity …

21 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that carbon capture and storage is rolled out according to the schedule on page 75 of Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting our Emissions Reduction Targets 2013-2027, the Draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Draft Second Report on Proposals and Policies presents emissions and generating capacity based on a plausible generation scenario in Scotland to 2027. This scenario is based on a range of factors, including credible assumptions about: thermal plant extens…

21 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the final Electricity Generation Policy Statement.    

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government intend to publish a finalised Electricity Generation Policy Statement (EGPS) in 2013 to reflect consultation responses and contextual changes since the draft EGPS was published for consultation in 2012.

21 May 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support businesses in the Western Isles.

13 May 2013 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that North Sea oil and gas production will continue for the rest of the century.

10 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it follows the UK emissions performance standard (EPS); how it will ensure that this will help it meet its 2030 target, and what consideration it has given to adopting its own EPS.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: As part of the draft Electricity Generation Policy Statement published in March 2012, the Scottish Government informally consulted on the possibility of a distinct Scottish Emissions Performance Standard (EPS). Responses indicated a range of views with indust…

10 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much offshore renewable development will be required after 2020 to meet its ambition of having a largely-decarbonised electricity supply by 2030.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government, like the rest of the UK and EU neighbours has not set electricity targets beyond 2020 in terms of specific fuel mixes. Decarbonisation will be achieved through a range of policies and be dependent upon a number of factors, some of wh…

8 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) grocery, (b) butcher, (c) baker, (d) fishmonger, (e) newsagent, (f) confectionery and (g) tobacco retail outlets there are, also broken down by the number of wholesalers.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Data on business sites by industrial sector are available from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR). The IDBR, maintained by the Office for National Statistics, is a database of all enterprises registered for VAT and or PAYE, covering 99 per cent o…

2 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent sandstorms and forecast persistant rain, what assistance it will give to Moray Council to help clear up and what its position is on whether clearing drains and gullies should be considered a priority measure as a contingency against flooding.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: As yet, Moray Council has not submitted an application for any additional funding following the recent storms. The Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with over £10.3 billion in 2013-14. Moray Council’s needs-based share of this tot…

26 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the March 2013 Oil and Gas Analytical Bulletin used the last two years’ oil price-per-barrel to forecast an average price of $113 per barrel over the next five years and whether it is aware of any other (a) governments, (b) agencies, (c) businesses and (d) independent org…

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Oil and Gas Analytical bulletin summarises a range of forecasts for future oil prices, and provides projections of North Sea tax revenue under a number of different price assumptions. An oil price of $113 per barrel is used in scenario…

17 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it calculates future oil revenues.

15 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that any significant environmental effects that might result from the construction of tracks for (a) agricultural, (b) forestry and (c) other purposes are considered before construction takes place.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Where new development is proposed, including the construction of tracks, this must be considered in light of statutory provisions on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which requires an assessment of the likely significant effects of certain projects o…

15 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that consultation is carried out with the public affected or likely to be affected by agricultural or forestry projects for which environmental impact assessments are required.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: For forestry projects, details are made available to the public through the public register of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). Once an Environmental Statement is received details of the application for consent are published in local newspapers invitin…

15 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the cumulative effect of projects are taken into account when considering the need for environmental impact assessment of agricultural and forestry projects.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In terms of Forestry projects, the potential cumulative effect of projects are accounted for in two ways, firstly by considering the cumulative effect of different types of environmental impacts associated with the project and secondly by including any other …

15 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that those undertaking agricultural or forestry projects that may give rise to significant environmental effects are aware of the potential requirement to undertake an environmental impact assessment.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: For Forestry, the potential requirement of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is central to the information we provide to those carrying out forestry projects. This information is available on the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) website and from loca…

15 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the environmental effects that arise from forestry and agricultural projects are adequately assessed.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Forestry projects are considered under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. The regulations provide a structured approach to evaluating environmental impacts to ensure that potential environmental impacts are adequately …

15 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the research it commissioned on the impact of removing road equivalent tariff for commercial vehicles on routes between the mainland and the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree was completed and on what date it will publish the findings.

Answer · Keith Brown: Over the last few months we have engaged closely with the study consultants and with Steering Group members on the final report into the post-RET commercial vehicle fares impact study. We are finalising publication arrangements, and anticipate that the report…

20 Mar 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to directly promote, sustain and develop the unique culture of the Highlands and Islands.

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of properties there are in each council tax band.

Answer · John Swinney: The total number of dwellings on the council tax valuation list on 3 September 2012: Council tax band Number of dwellings % of total dwellings in each council tax band Band A 550,385 22% Band B 593,848 24% Band C 403,321 …

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of 16 to 64-year-olds have been employed in each local authority area in each of the last four years, also broken down by (a) gender and (b) qualification level.

Answer · John Swinney: The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides the official source for local labour market information. The information requested is available from the Local Area Labour Markets in Scotland: Statistics from the Annual Population Survey 2011 publication: http://…

19 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of 16 to 64-year-olds have received job-related training in each of the last (a) three months and (b) four years, broken down (i) gender and (ii) local authority.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Annual Population Survey provides the official source of local area labour market information. Data on those receiving job related training in the last four years is not held centrally. People aged 16-64 in employment receiving job-related training in th…

13 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the mortality rate of older people who are moved from one care home to another and whether it considers that local authorities should take account of this before moving residents.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not hold any information on the mortality rate of older people who are moved from one care home to another.