Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to establish a Gaelic-medium school in Edinburgh.
Answer · Michael Russell: Decisions on the future of Gaelic medium education in Edinburgh are for the City of Edinburgh Council. The Scottish Government recognises that there is strong support for a Gaelic school in Edinburgh from parents, from B²rd na G idhlig, from other Gaelic inte…
14 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds it has made available for a Gaelic-medium school in Edinburgh and whether those funds are time-limited.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39643 on 4 March 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.…
3 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have had renewable energy devices installed, broken down by (a) type of device and (b) local authority area, in each year since 2007.
Answer · Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally.</b></p>
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision to withdraw Fairer Scotland funding from the Capital City Partnership.
Answer · Alex Neil: We will be working with the Capital City Partnership to explore alternative measures for funding projects.</p>
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on Edinburgh’s Joined Up for Jobs Strategy of the withdrawal of Fairer Scotland funding from the Capital City Partnership.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work to…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support alternative training programmes to replace those that will be lost as a result of the reduction in the Fairer Scotland Fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: Edinburgh is being supported by the Scottish Government in a number of ways to help deliver employability initiatives. </p> <p >On 14 December 2010, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell announced £64.6 million ESF grant …
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on client groups of the withdrawal of Fairer Scotland funding from the Capital City Partnership.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work to…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Capital City Partnership was first informed that Fairer Scotland Funding would cease.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work to…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to withdraw Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding (FSF) from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to w…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was carried out with the service providers involved in delivering training to people eligible for assistance before the decision was taken to withdraw Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding (FSF) from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to w…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it decided to withdraw Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not withdrawn Fairer Scotland Funding from the Capital City Partnership. The Community Planning Partnership for Edinburgh, The Edinburgh Partnership, was awarded £22.798 million from the Fairer Scotland Fund from 2008-11 to work to…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided through the Fairer Scotland Fund for employability programmes in each local authority area in 2009-10 and is provided in 2010-11.
Answer · Alex Neil: Allocations of the Fairer Scotland Fund to each local authority area for 2009 and 2010-11 are as follows.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td rowspan=2 valign=top > <p align=center >Local Authority Area</p> </td…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides for employment programmes in the city of Edinburgh.
Answer · Alex Neil: Edinburgh is being supported by the Scottish Government in a number of ways to help deliver employability initiatives.</b></p> <p >On 14 December 2010, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP, announced £64.6 mill…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a habitats regulations assessment of the Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 1 No 18: Further Scottish Leasing Round (Saltire Prize Projects): Regional Locational Guidance published by Marine Scotland Science is required and what the reasons are for its…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The purpose of this report is to collate baseline information relevant to the development process, to assist developers interested in competing for the Saltire Prize to identify and develop projects rapidly. As its primary purpose is the provision of baseline…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 1 No 18: Further Scottish Leasing Round (Saltire Prize Projects): Regional Locational Guidance published by Marine Scotland Science to be a qualifying plan or programme in terms of section 5 of the Environmental Assess…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The purpose of this report is to collate baseline information relevant to the development process, to assist developers interested in competing for the Saltire Prize to identify and develop projects rapidly. As its primary purpose is the provision of baseline…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 1 No 18: Further Scottish Leasing Round (Saltire Prize Projects): Regional Locational Guidance published by Marine Scotland Science will be a material consideration in the determination of applications for relevant energy developme…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does consider that the document referred to will be a material consideration in the determination of applications for relevant energy development made under the Electricity Act 1989.</p>
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the need for the (i) environmental assessment of plans, programmes and strategies and (ii) habitats regulations assessment of plans.
Answer · John Swinney: In 2010, discussions were held between the Scottish Government''s SEA Gateway and Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the need for environmental assessment of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP).</p> <p >A stra…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much installed offshore wind energy generating capacity it considers could be developed by (a) 2020, (b) 2030 and (c) in the longer term without adversely affecting the marine environment.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: A valuation of the UK''s offshore renewable resource, published in May 2010, estimated that Scotland has 169 Gigawatts (GW) of practical offshore wind resource.</p> <p >The Scottish Government also published a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence it has had, or intends to have, with (a) the UK Government and (b) other EU member states regarding the potential for the planned growth of marine renewables to affect special areas of conservation and European protected species in the (i) UK territorial or marine area…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38778 on 26 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence it has had, or intends to have, with the European Commission regarding the potential for the planned growth of marine renewables to affect special areas of conservation and European protected species.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government regularly contributes to discussions with the European Commission, UK Government and EU member states on marine renewables and offshore wind energy issues. It contributed to the development of recently published EU Guidance on Wind Ene…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the (a) status and (b) role of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan will be in relation to (i) decisions on planning applications, (ii) the preparation of development plans, (iii) decisions on applications under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and (iv) mari…
Answer · Jim Mather: The National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) Stage 1 and 2 reports identify Scotland''s key locations that can support the development of a globally competitive offshore renewables industry. The reports set out the indicative infrastructure requirement…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund will be made available to assist developers in avoiding damage to the natural environment.
Answer · Jim Mather: The National Renewables Infrastructure Fund is being administered by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Where funding is provided by SE or HIE to support infrastructure projects these will have been subject to the relevant co…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment will be made of the environmental effects of projects before they are considered eligible for funding from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund.
Answer · Jim Mather: Applications for funding through the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund will be considered by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). SE and HIE both require that projects obtain the necessary planning consents prior to the p…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the planned growth of marine renewables does not adversely affect European protected species or special areas of conservation.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38778 on 26 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that the planned growth of the marine renewables industry furthers the conservation of biodiversity.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is taking a planned approach to the development of wave, tidal and offshore wind energy sectors in a sustainable manner. The Scottish Government undertook a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to examine the wider environmental ef…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the potential adverse impacts and benefits for biodiversity of the growth of the marine renewables industry.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Marine renewables and offshore wind will make a significant contribution to our renewable energy targets and contribute to our wider environmental objectives, particularly in relation to climate change.</p> <p >The climate change benefits associated with ma…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider using any underspend from the 2010-11 rural affairs and environment budget to prioritise work on the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme.
Answer · John Swinney: Funding for flooding projects, including that allocated to the City of Edinburgh Council, has been rolled up in the local government finance settlement since 2008-09. As such, it is a matter for individual councils to decide how they allocate the total fundin…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a projected underspend in the 2010-11 rural affairs and environment budget.
Answer · John Swinney: All Scottish Government expenditure is being closely monitored and managed so that there will be a very small underspend by the end of the financial year, in line with recent performance. HM Treasury has advised that it has abolished the existing end year fle…
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37516 by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 November 2010, whether it sees a continuing role for the Scottish Forestry Commissioners.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no plans to change the role of the Scottish Forestry Commissioners.</p>
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37516 by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 November 2010, by what mechanism the status and role of the Scottish Forestry Commissioners can be changed.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government may, by virtue of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act, seek, by order, to amend, transfer or delegate the functions of the Forestry Commissioners as they relate to Scotland. A proposal to abolish the Forestry Commissioners would …