Parliamentary questions

Sarah Boyack

2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

25 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the president of NUS Scotland's evidence to the Education and Culture Committee that further education student support in Scotland is “not fit for purpose”.

18 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding EU issues.

17 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of how abolishing air passenger duty might impact on its ability to meet its climate change targets.

Answer · John Swinney: Transport Scotland published analysis in September 2014 which estimated that reducing air passenger duty (APD) in Scotland by 50% would generate a small net annual increase in emissions of between 0.05 and 0.06 mega tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. In re…

16 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of respondees to its consultations in each of the last five years has asked for the response not to be published, broken down by directorate.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Consultations and published responses, broken down by topic, are available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/.

16 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is monitoring the reported increase of rents in the farming sector.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government monitors annual changes in farming sector rent through its statistical surveys. Results are available in the Tenanted Agricultural Land in Scotland publication which is usually released in late April of each year. The latest publishe…

12 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 11 November 2015 (Official Report, c. 92), that "there is an ambition for a further 14,000 homes" to be connected to district heat networks by 2020, whether it will confirm where the developments will be locate…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since March 2014 over 2,000 homes have connected to communal or district heating schemes including: The Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village, with 750 homes connected; Several Wheatley Group developments in Glasgow, connecting over 800 homes; Continued exp…

11 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it sought legal advice to confirm the integrity of its directions to local authorities and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to fracking and underground coal gasification in January and October 2015.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has sought appropriate legal advice.

11 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the cleft palate unit in Edinburgh will be retained.

5 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's consultation on whether fracking should take place in such areas, whether it will use the moratorium on unconventional gas extraction to consider whether it should be permitted (a) at surface level in and (b) below (i) national parks, (ii) natura sites an…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: On 8 October 2015 the Scottish Government announced a timetable for a comprehensive programme of research and consultation on unconventional oil and gas. Through this process we will give full and careful consideration to the impact that this technology could…

4 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27874 by Richard Lochhead on 28 October 2015, what further action it is taking in light of recent reports that Volkswagen Automobile Group also falsified CO2 emission details.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is acting in a number of ways to address the Volkswagen scandal and wider air quality issues. We are engaging with other devolved administrations on how best to respond to the Volkswagen scandal. We have supported the UK Government's r…

4 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will make provision under section 153 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 to take account of section 67 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: We currently have no plans to make provision under section 153(3)(b) of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994.

3 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm that no test drilling for unconventional gas will be permitted with the involvement or direction of any industry body.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: In line with the Scottish Government’s evidence-led approach to unconventional oil and gas, only boreholes to extract core samples are not included in the moratorium. Core sampling allows analysis of data including stratigraphy and rock properties. Borehole…

3 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether test drilling for unconventional gas, including drilling a borehole solely for the purpose of core sampling, will (a) face restrictions over proximity to (i) groundwater and (ii) residential areas and (b) be limited to a certain depth.

Answer · Alex Neil: Only boreholes for the purposes of core sampling are not included in the moratorium. A company seeking to drill a borehole to acquire a core sample would need to obtain all the necessary regulatory consents. These would include planning permission from a loc…

3 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) moratorium on fracking that it announced and (b) directions to local authorities and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency that it issued in January 2015 prohibited test drilling including drilling for boreholes solely for the purpose of core sampling.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24473 on 8 October 2015, which confirmed the Scottish Government’s position that boreholes drilled for the purpose of core sampling are not included in the moratorium. Boreholes for test fracking or hydrocarbon…

3 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how exploration, which is prohibited under the terms of the moratorium on fracking, differs from drilling a borehole solely for the purpose of core sampling, and how it determines when such activity can proceed in its directions to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and local aut…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Petroleum exploration and development licences have been issued in Scotland under a UK Government licensing regime. This regime divides oil and gas developments into four stages – exploration, appraisal, production and decommissioning. Under the UK's licensi…

3 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether planning permission has been granted for any (a) test drilling and (b) borehole drilling for the purpose of core sampling for unconventional gas extraction, including fracking, coalbed methane and underground coal gasification.

Answer · Alex Neil: Information on individual planning permissions is not held centrally. Boreholes for test fracking or hydrocarbon flow testing are prohibited under the terms of the moratorium, and no applications for such activities have been made since the moratorium was an…

21 Oct 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Longannet Taskforce and PACE team will report on the interventions they have made with the workers and apprentices affected by the power station's closure.

13 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an updated national reporting framework that will map its sustainable development goals.

Answer · John Swinney: Scotland’s aims and ambitions – such as tackling inequality, ensuring access to high quality education and healthcare – are already a key part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These aims and ambitions are enshrined in our National Performance Fram…

5 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 4 October 2015, VW task force call, what response it has received from the UK Government to its call for a UK-wide taskforce to be set up to deal with the matters arising from Volkswagen Automobile Group's admission that it falsified some emissions details…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The UK Government has responded to the Scottish Government on Volkswagen (VW) issues. They have confirmed the position on a number of the points raised by the Scottish Government, for example that having defeat software fitted will not lead to an increase in …

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change the level of fees for protective expenses orders.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A protective expenses order may be granted by the Court of Session. The limits for a protective expenses order are set out in Chapter 58A of the rules of that court. The Scottish Government has no plans to change those limits. An application for a protectiv…

1 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many protective expenses orders have been used in court cases in each of the last three years.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In March 2013 court rules came into effect to allow protective expenses orders (PEOs) to be applied for in certain environmental cases in the Court of Session. Since then, there have been a number of applications for protective expenses orders. Data on the nu…

23 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions regarding new cultural investment it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council.

14 Sep 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the timetable for the conclusion of the evidence-gathering process and public consultation regarding the moratorium on fracking and unconventional gas extraction will be published before the October recess.

10 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will publish the options paper on the introduction of an environmental court, as laid out in the 2011 SNP manifesto; what stakeholder consultation is planned, and whether it expects to reach a conclusion or publish a decision in advance of the 2016 election.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We are, at present, actively working on a paper which, as I have previously indicated to Parliament and stakeholders, will be published during this Parliament. When the paper is ready for publication, the Scottish Government will be in a position to give det…

7 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to allocate any Barnett consequentials arising from the new vehicle excise duty.

Answer · John Swinney: The Barnett formula does not adjust to changes in reserved taxation but allocates to Scotland a population share of net changes in expenditure on comparable spending programmes in England. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is reserved and there will therefore be no B…

7 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2015 (Official Report, c.52), how much it will make available to the Longannet taskforce for regeneration activities.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27377 on 29 September 2015. 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/parliamenta…

7 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2015 (Official Report, c.52), what action it is taking to ensure that its energy strategy focuses on retaining the skills and expertise needed for thermal generation.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s skills agency Skills Development Scotland published an updated Energy Skills Investment Plan in March 2015. The plan maintains and develops the significant range of world-leading skills and expertise that Scotland has to offer the en…

7 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2015 (Official Report, c.52), what plans it has to review its energy strategy.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer Ms Boyack to my comments to Parliament on 17 September 2015 (motion S4M-14272) in the debate on the future of renewables in Scotland’s energy policy.

7 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment in its 2015-16 programme for government that thermal generation will "continue to be an important part of Scotland’s electricity mix in the foreseeable future”, when it will announce details of its plans to ensure the delivery of thermal generation that relies on …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Energy is a reserved matter and we have continually pressed the UK Government on the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) for years. The UK Government’s CCS commercialisation competition is nearing its conclusions soon and we hope that the Peterhea…

7 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2015 (Official Report, c.52), what support it will provide to (a) Clydeport and (b) other (i) businesses, (ii) employees and (iii) communities in the supply chain affected by the closure of Longannet Power Station.