Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many households have had energy efficiency measures installed under the affordable warmth scheme, broken down by type of measure.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Some 1,500 households are reported by energy companies to have received installations in the period to end January 2014. Measures installed include: gas boilers, full gas central heating systems, heating controls, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation. T…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the likely impact of changes to the energy company obligation on its ability to (a) tackle fuel poverty and (b) meet the emissions targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: On fuel poverty: the UK Government’s proposed changes to the energy company obligation (ECO) will have implications for the delivery of our Home Energy Efficiency Programme (HEEPS). We are working closely with delivery partners to better understand their like…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what alternative funding sources it is investigating for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland in the event that funding from the energy company obligation declines.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is currently working closely with local authorities, obligated energy companies and other delivery partners to assess the impact of the changes to the energy company obligation (ECO) on the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotlan…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether additional funding will be made available for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland in the event that funding from the energy company obligation declines.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is currently working closely with local authorities, obligated energy companies and other delivery partners to assess the impact of the changes to the energy company obligation (ECO) on the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotlan…
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it has engaged with stakeholders in Scotland to assess the impact of changes to the energy company obligation.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: We have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders to discuss the energy company obligation (ECO) and to work closely with delivery partners on the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland. Stakeholders with whom we engage regularly include, amongst …
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the likely impact of changes to the energy company obligation on the funding of the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are in regular discussion with the delivery partners for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS), including local councils, to assess the likely impact of the UK Government’s proposed changes to the energy company obligation (ECO) on HEE…
28 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there was a delay in the publication of the business case for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.
20 Jan 2014 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to strengthen the powers that local authorities and communities have to purchase land.
8 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities it consulted and in what form in advance of its announcement on 7 January 2013 regarding the provision of school meals.
Answer · Michael Russell: Extending the entitlement of free school meals to children in primary 1 to 3, has been a Scottish Government commitment since 2007 and there has been an on-going dialogue between COSLA and the Scottish Government about it. Following the UK Government’s autum…
8 Jan 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board.
5 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the need for the provision of traffic warden services and whether it considers that these should be delivered by each local authority.
Answer · Keith Brown: The management of traffic and the provision of a traffic warden service is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Whether parking enforcement should be delivered locally is a matter for each local authority to consider based on its own local needs and pri…
5 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18312 by Keith Brown on 25 November 2013, what funding it will provide to local authorities to help deliver parking enforcement services.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is providing local government in Scotland with over £10.3 billion in 2013-14. The vast majority of this funding is being provided by means of a block grant. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financ…
10 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance local authorities can seek from the (a) Coal Authority and (b) Department of Energy and Climate Change when taking forward restoration projects at former opencast coal sites.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Coal Authority and local authorities are represented on the Scottish Coal Industry Taskforce chaired by Mr Ewing, Energy Minister and local authorities are of course free to consult either of…
10 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) local government and (b) the UK Government regarding providing support to councils to ensure that restoration projects at opencast coal sites are taken forward.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Coal Authority and local authorities are represented on the cross-party Scottish Coal Industry Taskforce chaired by Mr Ewing, Energy Minister. Restoration is a principle part of the discussions …
10 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide additional guidance to planning authorities on securing the restoration of opencast mining sites and, if so, whether it has discussed this with (a) planning authorities and (b) the reporters unit.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government’s current consultation, Opencast Coal Restoration: Effective Regulation invites views on revisions to planning policy and advice including Planning Advice Note 64: Reclamation of Surface Mineral Workings. The consultation is open until…
10 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported comment by the Scottish Opencast Communities Alliance that local authorities should be allowed to introduce fees for monitoring and enforcing planning consents.
Answer · Derek Mackay: In 2010, a consultation on Resourcing a High Quality Planning System sought views on the introduction of fees for monitoring and enforcing planning conditions. Responses on this were mixed, and so the proposal was not included in the changes to the fees regul…
10 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that local authorities have access to expert advice when considering applications for opencast coal developments.
Answer · Derek Mackay: This is primarily a matter for planning authorities. However, the Scottish Government’s current consultation Opencast Coal Restoration: Effective Regulation, invites views on capacity building and skills within planning authorities. The consultation is open u…
10 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the building of new affordable housing in Edinburgh.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: In Edinburgh, we have allocated £81 million of grant for the building of affordable housing up to March 2015, and in October this year announced a further £88 million, which is a minimum allocation, for the period to March 2019. We also support affordable ho…
2 Dec 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, Coping with the cuts? Local government and poorer communities.
13 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the board of Edinburgh College.
23 Oct 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a scheme for local authorities similar to the City Deal programme in England.
25 Sep 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what priority it attaches to community policing.
28 Aug 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much its pledge to maintain the so-called triple lock for pensions will cost.
19 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to further education colleges on the need to provide education and training opportunities for disabled people.
Answer · Michael Russell: In my strategic guidance, I have asked the SFC to work in partnership with Enable, the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disabilities and other partners in securing improvements in retention, attainment and progression for college students with learning disabi…
17 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the proposed closure of sheriff courts, what representations it or the Scottish Court Service has received regarding accessibility for disabled people (a) travelling to sheriff courts and (b) in the buildings housing sheriff courts.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the chief executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
17 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investment will be required to increase the capacity at Edinburgh Sheriff Court as a result of the proposed closure of Haddington and Peebles sheriff courts.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
17 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the staffing implications are for Edinburgh Sheriff Court of the closure of Haddington and Peebles sheriff courts.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
17 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it or the Scottish Court Service has carried out regarding the impact on accessibility of the proposed closure of sheriff courts.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
12 Jun 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government which policies in the Draft Scottish Planning Policy will inform local authority development plans in relation to housing needs for older people.
23 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that strategic environmental assessments of single outcome agreements are carried out; what benefits such assessments bring, and what the implications might be if they are not undertaken.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires a Responsible Authority to secure the carrying out of an environmental assessment in relation to a qualifying public plan or programme during the preparation of that plan or programme. The main benefit…