Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to (a) promote and (b) support farmers’ co-operatives.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government works closely with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society to promote and support co-operatives. We have also supported five co-operation projects totalling £1.5 million under the Scottish Rural Development Programme Food Proces…
12 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce community energy plans to allow local communities to identify their own local renewable energy needs.
Answer · Jim Mather: Through a concerted drive to maximise community benefits from renewables and increase local ownership of energy, we already help communities to identify their own local renewable energy needs, and to realise their ambitions.</b></p> <p >Our Climate Challenge…
12 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a planning presumption requiring new buildings to include sufficient renewable generation on site to deliver between 20% and 50% of their energy needs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No, we intend to continue to have an outcome-focussed approach by delivering CO<sub>2</sub> emissions reductions through building regulations. This allows the procurer of the new building the opportunity to use energy efficiency measures to good effect as wel…
12 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the rise in carbon emissions from transport since 1990 as reported in Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2008, what action it is taking to make journeys greener.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: </b>The Climate Change Delivery Plan published in 2009 suggests that emissions from transport should reduce by 27% by 2020 if the overall target of a 42% emissions reduction over this period is to be met. It highlights the need for complete decarbonisation o…
4 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, what plans it has to (a) consult stakeholders in Scotland in relation to and (b) respond to the consultation on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government will not be responding to or promoting the consultation. Stakeholders in Scotland are free to respond if they wish to do so.</p>
4 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, whether any matter in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to shape the Nature of England, will affect Scotland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35599 on 31 August 2010. The natural environment crosses national boundaries and <i >An invitation to shape the Nature of England</i> recognises that the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations will need…
4 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33962 by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010, what discussions it has had with the UK Government in relation to the consultation on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) white paper, An invitation to shape the Nature of Engla…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The UK Government has kept the Scottish Government informed of its proposals. The UK Government and the Scottish Government together with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are discussing options for a joint position statement on…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the work that is carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission in assessing the Scottish Government’s progress on addressing sustainable development issues.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. 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/A…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will retain the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-07682 on 3 September 2009. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament''s website, the official report can be viewed at:</b></p> <p >http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were consulted regarding the proposed abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board by the United Kingdom Government
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The United Kingdom Government did not consult Scottish ministers about the proposed abolition of the English and Welsh Agricultural Wages Board, which has no jurisdiction in Scotland. They did, however, write to Scottish ministers alerting us to their intenti…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the value of the advice and research carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission in relation to NHS Scotland and local authorities
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. 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/A…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the work carried out on its Greener Scotland policy objectives by the Sustainable Development Commission, especially that regarding sustainable development and tackling climate change
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. 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/A…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the added value to its work arising as a result of its consideration of the Sustainable Development Commission’s reports
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. 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/A…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gives to the reports published by the Sustainable Development Commission
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. 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/A…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the scrutiny of its work that is carried out by the Sustainable Development Commission
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35435 on the 19 August 2010. 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/A…
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what value it puts on the contribution made by the Sustainable Development Commission to its work in relation to energy, waste reduction, health and transport
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The work of the Sustainable Development Commission has been valuable in informing Scottish Government policy development across a broad range of areas.</p>
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the future of the Sustainable Development Commission
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Yes. Discussions are ongoing.</p>
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will retain the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish ministers are assessing their options with regard to the Sustainable Development Commission in Scotland and its functions, following the UK Government''s decision to withdraw funding from the end of the financial year.</p>
22 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its ministers were consulted regarding the proposed abolition of the Sustainable Development Commission by the United Kingdom Government
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs wrote to the First Minister on 14 July, to inform the Scottish Government that she was planning to announce on 22 July that the UK Government would be withdrawing funding for the Sustainable Devel…
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S3W-30350 by Alex Neil on 15 January 2010, how many of the households that requested insulation measures through the Home Insulation Scheme have had these measures installed, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Alex Neil: The table below sets out the number of households in the areas covered by the first phase of the Home Insulation Scheme that were referred under that scheme for insulation measures. The table also shows the number of those households referred under HIS which …
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many households will be targeted during the second phase of the Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: We estimate that the £15 million of Scottish Government funding available to deliver the second phase of the Home Insulation Scheme in 2010-11 will allow us to target around 200,000 households throughout Scotland. A more precise figure will be available when …
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what areas will be covered by the second phase of the Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government''s approach to delivery of phase two of the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) in 2010-11 was agreed with COSLA. We are working to agree the detail of final schemes for those local authorities which bid unsuccessfully in 2009-10, and have al…
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what areas have been selected for the £10 million universal access scheme under the Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Universal Home Insulation Scheme Implementation Group, which I chair, has recommended that delivery of the scheme is led by local authorities. The Implementation Group, Scottish Government and COSLA have agreed and finalised the arrangements for the schem…
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many members the Public Sector Climate Action Group has.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35296 on 4 August 2010. 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/Apps2/Business/…
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is represented on the Public Sector Climate Action Group.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Membership of the Public Sector Climate Action Group can be found within minutes of meetings available on the Scottish Government website at:</p> <p >www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/Workingothers/pscag.</b></p>
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit of the Public Sector Climate Action Group is.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The remit of the Public Sector Climate Action Group is available on the Scottish Government website at:</p> <p >www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/Workingothers/pscag.</b></p>
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Public Sector Climate Action Group has met since its creation.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Public Sector Climate Action Group has met three times. Meeting papers are available on the Scottish Government website at:</p> <p >www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/Workingothers/pscag.</b></p>
14 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Public Sector Climate Action Group was established.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The first meeting of the Public Sector Climate Action Group was held on 8 February 2010. Meeting papers are available on the Scottish Government website at:</b></p> <p >www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/Workingothers/psca…
6 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much from the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant budget lines in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 was spent on grants for (i) electricity and (ii) heat generating technologies.
Answer · Jim Mather: The following table shows how much from the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants budget was spent on grants for electricity and heat generating technologies in each of the last three years.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead…
6 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme were made between 17 March and 1 July 2010.
Answer · Jim Mather: Between 17 March and 1 July 2010, the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant scheme received a total of 764 applications. </p>