Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jun 2014 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government would introduce a local income tax in the event of independence.
2 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address waiting time challenges in NHS Lothian.
2 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which of the flood improvement schemes proposed in each local authority area in 2013-14 it (a) approved and (b) rejected, broken down by the (i) cost of and (ii) timescale for setting up the scheme.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: A joint COSLA/Scottish Government panel was established to evaluate the seven flood protection scheme applications received. The two successful applications are set out in the following table. Council Scheme Cost £ Construction Timescale Scottish Borders…
1 May 2014 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister, in light of the reported 162% increase since 2004 in the cost of providing free personal care, what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that local authority social work budgets can meet demand.
23 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of the NHS Lothian board.
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how, in making planning decisions, it has taken account of the potential cumulative impact of offshore wind developments in Scottish, UK and other European waters on protected wildlife sites, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: At the strategic plan level, a Strategic Environmental Assessment and a Habitats Regulations Appraisal of Marine Scotland’s forthcoming plans for offshore renewables, under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Conservation (Natural Habitat…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government, (b) the European Commission and (c) EU member states regarding the potential impact of offshore windfarms outwith Scottish waters on protected wildlife sites in Scotland, and what the reason is for its position on this matter…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has ongoing discussions with the UK, European Commission and EU member states on marine issues, including renewables and protected wildlife sites. While the issue of windfarms outwith Scottish waters impacting protected sites in Scotla…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that offshore windfarms are monitored to ensure that they do not result in greater than predicted impacts on the environment and to inform future plans and projects.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Offshore wind farm consents issued by the Scottish Ministers contain stringent conditions which the developer must comply with. These conditions include requirements for the developer to monitor the impact on the likes of birds, marine mammals, fish and benth…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include clarity on surface access to Glasgow Airport in the final National Planning Framework 3 in order to influence investment decisions.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee’s report on its consideration of the Proposed National Planning Framework 3 recognised the importance of good surface access systems for airports. We will consider all of the Parliament’s recommendations in …
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish its reasons for removal of projects from the proposed National Planning Framework 3.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The National Planning Framework 3 Main Issues Report, published in April 2013, explained why national development status was no longer considered to be needed for several national developments identified in National Planning Framework 2 (NPF2). The NPF2 Monit…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require carbon assessments to be carried out prior to consideration of proposals to develop on peatlands.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) is currently under review, but the draft SPP, published for consultation in April 2013, proposed that where peat and other carbon rich soils are present, planning applicants should assess the likely effects of development on car…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide guidance on unconventional gas extraction and hydraulic fracturing.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Proposals for unconventional gas extraction in Scotland will be studied on their merits. Each proposal will be considered through the normal planning process and the appropriate regulatory regimes including the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s guida…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a response to requests from stakeholders for clarity in relation to its policy on wild land in the proposed National Planning Framework 3.
Answer · Derek Mackay: At the 18 March 2014 parliamentary debate on the Proposed National Planning Framework 3, it was confirmed that Scottish Planning Policy is the appropriate place to deal with wild land with a reference to the issue in the finalised National Planning Framework.…
3 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will report to the Parliament the findings of the expert advice that it has sought on the proposed National Planning Framework 3.
Answer · Derek Mackay: A range of expert academic and professional advice informing the preparation of National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy is either already in the public domain or is being given further consideration by the Scottish Government ahead of publi…
31 Mar 2014 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the Audit Commission report, An overview of local government in Scotland 2014.
12 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contribution it considers that housing can make to tackling poverty.
19 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Coping with the cuts? Local government and poorer communities.
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Housing (Scotland) Bill will include provisions relating to energy efficiency measures as common works by householders.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Housing (Scotland) Bill amends the powers of local authorities to require home owners to carry out work on homes that are below tolerable standard, and this includes homes that lack satisfactory thermal insulation. The Bill also includes a provision to en…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Private Sector Homes working group will present for consultation draft regulations to improve the energy efficiency of existing private sector housing.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Regulation of Energy Efficiency in Private Sector houses working group will make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on draft regulations that would set minimum standards of energy efficiency in existing private sector housing. Draft Regulations are exp…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on delivering the recommendations in A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland: 2013 Update.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Building standards officials are in the process of investigating the fifteen additional recommendations made in the 2013 update of the original 2007 Sullivan Report. In announcing deferment of the next set of energy standards in building regulations until O…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the energy efficiency standard for social housing.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing is anticipated to be published shortly following constructive discussions and engagement with the representatives of social landlords and local authorities.
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill will make it easier for local authorities to engage local SMEs as installers for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland initiative.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 3 October 2013 will establish a national legislative framework for sustainable public procurement that supports Scotland’s economic growth through improved procurement practice. I…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to households to undertake enabling works to prepare for energy efficiency measures.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government provides funding to local councils through area based schemes to support households to undertake enabling works to prepare for energy efficiency. In 2014-15 fifteen per cent (15%) of the £60 million area based scheme budget is availabl…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the consultation, European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 Programmes, and whether it plans to use the funds to support home energy efficiency and domestic microrenewables schemes.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The recent consultation generated 80 responses and the final report will be published by 14 March 2014. There is currently considerable support for domestic energy efficiency within Scotland, and the structural funds must not duplicate that provision, and eit…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland support the needs of rural and off-grid households.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Government funding for area based fuel poverty schemes is distributed across all councils in Scotland. £42 million of the £60 million available is allocated on the basis of need which takes into account levels of fuel poverty and reflects the differe…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will next publish a progress report on the fuel poverty statement.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 set a statutory duty on the Scottish Government to eradicate fuel poverty in Scotland, as far as reasonably practicable by November 2016. The Scottish Fuel Poverty Statement was published in August 2002 and last reviewed in Nov…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18027 by Nicola Sturgeon on 13 November 2013, what progress it is making on delivering its statutory duty "to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that people are not living in fuel poverty in Scotland by November 2016".
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is committed to eradicating fuel poverty and is doing everything within its limited powers to achieve this. Fuel poverty statistics published in December 2013 show a reduction in the number of households living in fuel poverty in Scot…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the second round of funding for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland area based schemes initiative.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Our budget for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) is £74 million in 2013-14. We will spend nearly a quarter of a billion pounds over a three year period on fuel poverty and energy efficiency. For each of the next two years the Scottish…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many households have received support under the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland area based schemes initiative, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) type of support.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We do not hold information on the number of households which have received support under the area based element of the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland. We are working with local authorities and other delivery agents to gather this data. Counci…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many households have had energy efficiency measures installed under the energy assistance scheme, broken down by type of measure.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows the number of households whose installations have been completed (i.e. passed inspection) and for which the Scottish Government has been invoiced for both the Energy Assistance Scheme and stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package in t…