Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Doosan Power Systems has created up to 1,700 jobs through its offshore wind plans, as referred to on page 84 of the Scottish Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13.
Answer · John Swinney: Doosan Power Systems plans for investing in Scotland’s offshore wind market changed in mid-December 2011. With that, the company decided not to press forward with its 10 year plan to invest £170 million in Scottish wind power, which had the potential to creat…
9 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Doosan Power Systems has set up an R&D centre near Glasgow creating 200 jobs, as stated on page 84 of the Scottish Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13.
Answer · John Swinney: Doosan Power Systems plans for investing in Scotland’s offshore wind market changed in mid-December 2011. With that, the company decided not to press forward with its plans for a research and development centre near Glasgow which had the potential to create 2…
9 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Steel Engineering has created at least 120 jobs as stated on page 85 of the Scottish Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13.
Answer · John Swinney: In April 2011 Steel Engineering announced it would create 120 jobs when it opens a new plant and builds a "mini-port" in Renfrew to transfer large structures on to ships in the Clyde. This project will be supported by a £1.8 million Regional Selective Assista…
12 Dec 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce its plans for the Highlands and Islands superfast broadband pilot.
28 Nov 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish food and drink products have protected geographical indication status.
23 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for how many dropped shifts per Highlands and Islands ambulance station a risk assessment has been carried out in the last 12 months.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not held centrally, this is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09728 on 3 October 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the p…
23 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many shifts per Highlands and Islands ambulance station have been (a) delivered by single crewed ambulances and (b) dropped in the last 12 months.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not held centrally, this is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. However, across Scotland the Scottish Ambulance Service have advised that total incidence of single crewing for July to September 2012 (inclusi…
23 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what each Highlands and Islands ambulance station's response time was for (a) category A and (b) all emergencies in each of the last 12 months.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government, this is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. However, related performance information held by the Scottish Government is set out below. In 2011-12, the national …
23 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance Areva will receive from (a) it and (b) Scottish Enterprise as a result of its memorandum of understanding with the Scottish Government.
Answer · John Swinney: The MoU has been signed on the basis of exploratory discussions. SE remains in discussions with Areva regarding the level and type of financial assistance that could be offered once the scale and location of the project is known. Other assistance that is bei…
23 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs and how many pipeline jobs will be created as a result of its memorandum of understanding with Areva; what type of jobs; where they will be based, and when they will be created.
Answer · John Swinney: The announcement made on 19 November 2012 stated that the Memorandum of Understanding between AREVA and Scottish Enterprise had the potential to could create 750 jobs in Scotland from manufacturing and the supporting supply chain. The location and timing of t…
23 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it pays the Scottish Council for Development and Industry to administer the cities strategy and whether it will provide a breakdown of the administrative costs.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Council for Development of Industry (SCDI) was instrumental in bringing together the cities initially and the cities considered that it would be helpful if the SCDI had an ongoing role in facilitating the Scottish Cities Alliance. SCDI provides t…
1 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the recommendation by the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee in 2010 that "should funds from the UK policies for reducing emissions from the homes and communities sector prove inadequate, the Scottish Government should provide additional alte…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In considering the 2013-14 draft budget, the Scottish Government has sought to maximise the funds available to meet its fuel poverty, energy efficiency and emission reduction targets, within the limited powers it currently holds. The Scottish Government is in…
10 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it works with further and higher education institutions to develop skills relevant to the renewable energy sector.
10 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the criteria are for awards from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Following the launch of the Renewable Energy Investment Fund by the First Minister on 10 October 2012, the REIF criteria are published and available for inspection on the REIF page of the Scottish Enterprise website: www.scottish-enterprise.com/reif.
25 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed on zero-hours contracts, broken down by gender and expressed as a percentage.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is not possible to give an estimate for the number of people in Scotland who had a zero hours agreed work arrangement during April to June 2012, as the data is unreliable. This is due to the small sample size of this cohort in Scotland. Note: 1. The ques…
25 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08299 by Stewart Stevenson on 24 July 2012, whether it will provide an update as to when it will announce the appointment of the convener of the Crofting Commission.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Ministers appointed Susan Walker as convener of the Crofting Commission on 25 September 2012. The full text of the Scottish Government news release on the appointment can be read at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/09/crofting25092012.…
24 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding there will be for the National Retrofit Programme in 2013-14; when this will be announced, and what account will be taken of fuel poverty in the Highlands and Islands in determining this.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: In 2013-14, £65 million will be available from the Scottish Government to fund the National Retrofit Programme. We intend to use this money to lever in £120 million of energy company funding to tackle fuel poverty, reduce emissions and upgrade Scotland’s agei…
17 Sep 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for people who have been referrred for psychological therapies.
5 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will remove permitted development rights for tracks laid for agriculture and forestry purposes.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government recently consulted publicly on a number of proposed amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. The consultation included proposals to remove permitted development rights for new t…
5 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether tracks laid for renewable energy, recreation or tourism purposes can benefit from permitted development rights and, if not, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Specific permitted development rights apply only to the construction of agricultural or forestry tracks which meet the criteria set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992; there are no specific permitted dev…
5 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that tracks laid for agriculture or forestry purposes could have adverse environmental impacts and, if so, what these are.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Any inappropriately located development can potentially have an impact on the environment. The Scottish Government is considering whether to amend permitted development rights for agricultural or forestry tracks. An analysis of responses to a public consulta…
5 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the maximum length and width is for tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes that can be laid without the need for planning consent.
Answer · Derek Mackay: In order to benefit from permitted development rights tracks must meet the requirements set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. There is no maximum length or width set out in the Order.
5 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action can be taken regarding tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes located outwith designated sites.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Planning permission is required for constructing hill tracks, including all tracks accessed by the public. At present certain private enterprises - such as agricultural and forestry operations - have permitted development rights, which enable hill tracks to b…
5 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the findings of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Banding Review.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government response was announced to the Parliament on 13 September 2012 .The details are available on the Scottish Government website.
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that requiring solar water heating on every new residential build would make it more affordable.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The most appropriate and cost effective way of reducing emissions from buildings depends on a number of factors, as set out in our planning and building standards systems. Scottish Planning Policy (paragraph 44) places energy generation within a holistic fram…
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of potential benefits to manufacturers of solar water heating systems if demand were to increase by (a) 10%, (b) 20% and (c) 50%.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has not assessed the potential benefits to manufacturers of solar water heating of increased demand at these rates. The Scottish Government supports continued growth of the market for solar water heating and welcomes the development of…
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the cost of accreditation is an impediment to companies considering being solar water heating installers.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There has been a significant increase in businesses based in Scotland registered to install solar water heating under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, from 46 in January 2010 to 112 as of July 2012. We therefore do not consider accreditation is an im…
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the standardisation of the equipment used in solar water heating installations could reduce consumer costs.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government supports standards for microgeneration technologies, including solar hot water systems. There are many benefits to standardisation, and solar hot water systems must be registered under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme or Solar …
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to small businesses considering installing solar water heating on their premises.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Our Small Business Loan Scheme, managed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), provides loans to businesses to install energy efficiency and renewables measures. Since the scheme was introduced in late 2008, 26 loans totalling £256,311 have been paid for solar wat…
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is considering to increase the number of companies that can install solar water heating.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Over the last two years, the number of businesses based in Scotland registered to install solar water heating under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme has increased from 46 in January 2010 to 112 as of July 2012. A further 187 UK companies operate in Sc…