Parliamentary questions

Rhoda Grant

2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

3 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) 16 and (b) 17-year olds is in (a) education and (b) apprenticeships

Answer · Angela Constance: The latest Annual Population Survey for April 2011 to March 2012 estimates that 88% of 16 year olds and 79% of 17 year olds are enrolled in any education or are currently doing a recognised apprenticeship. Source: Annual Population Survey, Office for Nationa…

3 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what public interest tests must be met before the compulsory purchase of land by a public body can proceed; where details of these tests are available and what review procedures there are.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Circular 6/2011: Compulsory Purchase Orders set out that in deciding whether to confirm a compulsory purchase order Scottish Ministers will weigh up the public benefit in the public body's proposals against the interests of the people affected. The public bod…

16 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances a track, road or private way intended primarily for forestry purposes could be created or materially improved, upgraded or otherwise altered without needing regulatory consent.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The creation, improvement, upgrading or alteration of forestry roads is principally controlled by the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. In “sensitive areas” any person wishing to undertake any work of this nature should…

3 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the £120 million that it announced on 25 June 2012 for broadband improvements in the Highlands and Islands is additional to the £10 million previously announced for the area.

Answer · Alex Neil: I can confirm that the £120 million announced on 25 June 2012 for broadband improvements in the Highlands and Islands includes the £10 million previously committed to the region.

19 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its microgeneration strategy.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I launched the Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland on 22 June 2012 in Inverness. It sets out the Scottish Government’s support for microgeneration, our ambitions for the sector and the successes and key actions we have taken to date across a range of polici…

19 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how rural off-gas grid householders will qualify for the proposed national retrofit programme.

Answer · Alex Neil: The National Retrofit Programme, which I announced in my statement to the Parliament on 6 June, will aim to offer a range of free or discounted heating and home insulation measures to people across Scotland who struggle with fuel poverty. The programme is to …

19 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s consultation on eligibility criteria for the proposed energy company obligation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The UK Government Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) consultation on the Energy Company Obligation closed in January this year. Scottish Ministers responded. DECC have recently published their response. This and other DECC publications relating …

19 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how rural householders will qualify for assistance under the proposed energy company obligation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a UK Government policy. Relevant information may be found on the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s website. Of particular interest may be a document titled: Carbon Saving Community Obligation: Rural and Low Income Areas. Further information ma…

15 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what powers crofting and other agricultural estates owned by the Scottish Government were acquired prior to 1999; what information it has on the policy purpose; whether such powers still exist, and what information it has on whether compensation was paid to the previous owners.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Most of the estates or holdings were acquired between 1900 and 1939 for lease to smallholders and crofters for land settlement purposes. The acquisition of land took place under the Congested Districts (Scotland) Act 1897, the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act…

15 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated net cost is of administering crofting and other agricultural estates owned by the Scottish Government.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The estimated net cost of administering the Scottish ministers’ crofting and agricultural estates is £143,000 per annum.

15 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a map showing the locations of crofting and other agricultural estates owned by the Scottish Government.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: A map showing the locations of Scottish ministers’ crofting and other agricultural estates, along with those of other SEARS partners, is available on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/259920/0082987.pdf.

15 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what crofting and other agricultural estates it owns and how many hectares each comprises.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division has responsibility for 58 Crofting Estates and four lowground holdings. A detailed breakdown can be found on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Ru…

6 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often the Fiscal Commission Working Group has met since 25 March 2012; when the group will conclude its work, and whether its findings will be made publicly available.

Answer · John Swinney: The Fiscal Commission Working Group was established on 25 March and has since been co-ordinating the work to help establish a fiscal and macro-economic framework for Scotland. A formal meeting will take place in Edinburgh on 27 August 2012 to review progres…

6 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Council of Economic Advisers (a) last met and (b) will next meet.

Answer · John Swinney: The last full meeting of the Council of Economic Advisers was on 20 January 2012. There was also a special session of the council, which was attended by four council members, on 18 February 2012. The next meeting of the Council of Economic Advisers is schedu…

6 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the Council of Economic Advisers met in 2011.

Answer · John Swinney: There were no meetings of the Council of Economic Advisers in 2011. The council meeting on 10 September 2010 was the last during the previous parliamentary term. The Council of Economic Advisers was then reconvened by the First Minister following the Scotti…

6 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates the Council of Economic Advisers published its previous annual reports.

Answer · John Swinney: The Council of Economic Advisers published its previous annual reports on the following dates: First annual report – 5 December 2008; Second Annual Report – 4 December 2009; and Third Annual Report – 10 December 2010.

6 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Council of Economic Advisers will publish its fourth annual report.

Answer · John Swinney: The Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers will produce a Chair’s Brief at the end of the year summarising the advice that the council has provided over the year.

31 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for hauliers from the islands to be eligible for discounts on ferry prices.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07640 on 19 June 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

31 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discounts on ferry prices are available to hauliers from the islands.

Answer · Keith Brown: All hauliers using CalMac and NorthLink ferry services pay reduced fares due to the substantial subsidies paid to those companies under the terms of their contracts with the Scottish Ministers. In addition, certain further tariff reductions are available on a…

24 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05087 by Stewart Stevenson on 27 January 2012, which of the projects were on land that was (a) part- and (b) wholly- owned by the Forestry Commission when the (i) applications were made and (ii) funding was awarded.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07452 on 12 June 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…

24 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05087 by Stewart Stevenson on 27 January 2012, when the (a) applications were made and (b) funding was awarded.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table lists cases with grant and loan funding to community energy projects located on the national forest estate. These schemes are operated by Community Energy Scotland and includes funding from the Community Renewable Energy Support Programme …