Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total area of blanket bog is in Scotland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Blanket bog occurs close to other habitats such as wet and dry heath, with a range of transitional forms and as such has a number of possible definitions. Recent estimates of extent, each using slightly different methods and criteria, are between 1.1 million …
5 May 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the carbon benefits are of restoring Scotland’s blanket bogs.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Blanket bogs represent a considerable reservoir of carbon, the balance of which is disturbed when they are drained. Benefits of restoration may therefore include a reduction in losses over time of carbon to watercourses and atmosphere. The magnitude of the be…
16 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the letter that it sent to the UK Government offering to represent UK interests at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, due to be held in Washington on 18-19 April 2010.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The text of the letter to the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, issued on 13 April 2010, is as follows.</p> <p >I understand that the UK has been invited to a meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in Washington on 18-1…
16 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth wrote to the UK Government offering to represent UK interests at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, which will be held in Washington on 18-19 April 2010.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate was announced by Todd Stern, US Special Envoy for Climate Change, on 7 April 2010. Following discussions at official level between the Scottish Government and the Department of Energy and Climate …
16 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31666 by Jim Mather on 9 March 2010, on what date it will publish the Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33264 on 29 April 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/Apps2/…
16 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31666 by Jim Mather on 9 March 2010, how many households its boiler scrappage scheme will support, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Energy Saving Scotland Boiler Scrappage Scheme, which will launch on 24 May 2010, will support up to 5,000 homeowners with a £400 grant towards the replacement of a working G-rated boiler with an Energy Saving Recommended model. The scheme will be demand-…
16 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-31666 by Jim Mather on 9 March 2010, on what date it will announce the (a) launch date, (b) delivery mechanism and (c) level of incentive of its central heating boiler scrappage scheme.
Answer · Jim Mather: The details of the Energy Saving Scotland Boiler Scrappage Scheme were announced by the Minister for Housing and Communities on 20 April 2010.</p> <p >The scheme will launch on 24 May and be delivered through the Energy Saving Scotland advice network, which …
16 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32772 by Jim Mather on 15 April 2010 and in light of the introduction of the UK Government’s Feed-In Tariff on 1 April 2010, how many of the 750,000 installations projected by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change to be installed across the …
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government are keen to see, at the very least, a proportionate take up of the 750,000 installations by 2020 predicted by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change. However, the Feed-In Tariff is a brand new initiative and is demand led. As s…
26 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants have been issued under the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables scheme in the last three years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) size and type of renewable device in each category.
Answer · Jim Mather: Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant offers “ financial year 2009-10:</p> <p >Number of Grants Offered</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >Local Authority</p> </t…
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money will be saved by the withdrawal of the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant for electricity generating technologies.
Answer · Jim Mather: There will be no overall savings to the Energy Saving Scotland Home RENEWABLEs Grant budget line of £2.6 million in 2010-11. By closing the scheme to electricity generating technologies, the Scottish Government has been able to ensure that the remaining £450,…
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was carried out with constrction and renewables industry representatives regarding the withdrawal of the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant for electricity generating technologies.
Answer · Jim Mather: Because of the unexpected spike in demand the Scottish Government did not formally consult with industry representatives regarding the withdrawal of the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grants for electricity generating technologies. But we have an ongo…
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the forthcoming energy efficiency strategy will identify targets for the installation of electricity generating technology devices for households.
Answer · Jim Mather: The forthcoming Energy Efficiency Action Plan will not identify targets for the installation of electricity generating technology devices in households.</p> <p >The Scottish Government has introduced a target to meet 50% of Scotland''s electricity demand fro…
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number is of electricity generating technology devices expected to be installed in light of the withdrawal of the Energy Saving Scotland home renewables grant for such devices.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government expects that installations of renewable electricity generating devices will significantly increase with the introduction of the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) on 1 April 2010, even in light of the withdrawal of Energy Saving Scotland home renewa…
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its projections are for annual income from renewable energy projects promoted on Forestry Commission land over the next five years.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Annual income from renewable energy projects on the national forest estate could rise to around £10 million over the next five years, but this is subject to a number of factors, including the price of renewable energy.</p>
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average annual number of trees have been planted since 2007-08.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32759 on 23 April which gave the areas of woodland created annually since 2007-08. Using a broad average stocking density of 2,000 trees per hectare, the number of trees planted annually since 2007-08 is theref…
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many hectares of trees were planted in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and have been planted in 2009-10.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The total areas of new woodland created with grant-aid support, and also on the national forest estate, in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 are given in the following table. </p> <p >Area of New Woodland Created (Hectares)</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cel…
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to reach its target of planting 100 million trees by 2015, which is equivalent to planting 10,000 hectares of trees per year.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: By encouraging tree planting on privately owned land, and through land acquisition for new planting on the national forest estate.</p>
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the planting of extra hectares of trees required to meet the 100 million trees target by 2015 will be financed.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Financial support for tree planting on privately owned land is available through the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Land acquisition for new planting on the national forest estate is financed through the repositioning programme (under which areas of lo…
25 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it made at the Climate Group States and Regions meeting in Paris on 4 March 2010.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: At the federated states and regional governments conference held in Paris on 4 March 2010, the Scottish Government supported the joint Paris Statement to EU leaders put forward by the conference hosts, The Climate Group and the President of Ile de France. A c…
25 Mar 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will produce its annual progress report on tackling antisocial behaviour as promised in the framework set out by Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland, published in March 2009.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The<i> Promoting Positive Outcomes Implementation Plan</i> was published at the end of October 2009 and the first annual report on implementation will be presented in the autumn.</p>
2 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30104 by Stewart Stevenson on 15 January 2010, what arrangements have been made for the First Minister to visit the Maldives.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As set out in the answer to question S3W-30104, no arrangements have been made.</p>
2 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30106 by Stewart Stevenson on 15 January 2010, what measures it has undertaken to develop and deepen the relationship between Scotland and the Maldives.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Co-operation on the partnership has made good progress and a further announcement will be made at the earliest suitable opportunity. </p>
2 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30106 by Stewart Stevenson on 15 January 2010, what progress it has made in working together with the Government of the Maldives to communicate the urgency of global action to tackle climate change, as stated in the joint statement on climate change …
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister met the Maldives President''s Envoy for Science and Technology in Edinburgh on 11 December 2009 and then met President Nasheed of the Maldives in Copenhagen on 15 December 2009 during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Chang…
2 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30106 by Stewart Stevenson on 15 January 2010, what progress it has made in recognising the potential of the low-carbon economy of the future, as stated in its joint statement on climate change with the Government of the Maldives
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers are committed to the low carbon economy and the world-leading targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 provide certainty for businesses and communities to plan for the low carbon future. The Scottish Government is showing t…
2 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30107 by Stewart Stevenson on 15 January 2010, what support has been given to its climate change programme with the Government of the Maldives by the (a) Business, Enterprise and Energy, (b) Climate Change and Water Industry and (c) Culture, External…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials from The Scottish European Green Energy Centre in Aberdeen, Business, Enterprise and Energy Directorate, the Energy Technology Partnership and Culture and External Affairs Directorate have all had direct contact and discussions with representatives …
2 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it first considered a partnership with the Government of the Maldives to tackle climate change.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30105 on 15 January 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/Apps…
2 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what details it can provide of meetings between ministers and officials and representatives of the Government of the Maldives.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister met the Maldives President''s Envoy for Science and Technology in Edinburgh on 11 December 2009 and then met President Nasheed of the Maldives in Copenhagen on 15 December 2009 during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Chang…
2 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what details it can provide of meetings between ministers and officials regarding its joint statement on climate change with the Government of the Maldives.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials from the Scottish European Green Energy Centre in Aberdeen, the Business, Enterprise and Energy Directorate, the Energy Technology Partnership, the Climate Change and Water Industry Directorate and the Culture, External Affairs and Tourism Directora…
17 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it had with City of Edinburgh Council regarding the news release issued on 5 October 2009 by the council on behalf of Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance (DEMA) Ltd.
Answer · Jim Mather: Once the Scottish Government was made aware of Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance''s intention to buy The Gathering 2009 Ltd, officials had a number of discussions with officials from the City of Edinburgh Council about the council''s plans. As usual, t…
17 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with City of Edinburgh Council to discuss the options available to secure the future of The Gathering 2009 Ltd.
Answer · Jim Mather: The First Minister and officials met with representatives of the City of Edinburgh Council, VisitScotland and a third party organisation on 12 October 2009 to discuss the possibility of that third party organisation buying The Gathering 2009 Ltd in order to s…