Parliamentary questions
Sarah Boyack
2,373 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what way establishing Marine Scotland as a branch of the Scottish Government rather than as a non-departmental public body will promote the fishing industry.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Integrating responsibility for fisheries policy and management alongside other marine management responsibilities within a single organisation will mean that Marine Scotland can bring to bear the necessary range of experience, expertise and policy interests. …
13 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what way establishing Marine Scotland as a branch of the Scottish Government rather than as a non-departmental public body will promote marine nature conservation.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland will lead on measures to achieve good environmental status in Scottish waters and we believe there are benefits in integrating within the same organisation lead responsibility relating to policy, science and delivery arrangements for marine na…
13 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for establishing Marine Scotland as a branch of the Scottish Government.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21890 on 23 March 2009. 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/…
13 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for establishing Marine Scotland as a branch of the Scottish Government rather than as a non-departmental public body.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Establishing Marine Scotland as a delivery-orientated directorate of Scottish Government means it can deliver better integrated policy, science and other marine management functions than would be possible through a non-departmental public body. Combining mari…
13 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for not establishing Marine Scotland as a non-departmental public body.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21890 on 23 March 2009. 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/…
13 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for establishing Marine Scotland before the passage of the Marine Bill.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is wide support for the establishment of such a body and for the improved marine management arrangements it will deliver. Awaiting the passage of the Marine Bill would have meant substantive delay in establishing new delivery arrangements. Establishing …
13 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for not using the Marine Bill to establish Marine Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Legislation is not required to establish Marine Scotland. The Marine Bill will create new functions for Scottish ministers, which Marine Scotland will deliver on their behalf.</p>
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it plans to implement to improve energy efficiency before the passage of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is making important progress in improving energy efficiency. Measures that are currently being implemented include:</p> <p >The introduction of a new requirement, from 1 December 2008, for all houses put on sale to require a Home Rep…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop a strategy to improve the energy efficiency of existing building stock.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government will be producing an Energy Efficiency Action Plan which will set out the policies and programmes being undertaken to improve the energy efficiency of all sectors, including the existing building stock.</p>
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what draft secondary legislation it expects to make available to the Transport Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee to aid its Stage 2 consideration of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · John Swinney: The draft regulations which have not been subject of detailed research or scrutiny to support the provisions of Section 50 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill [as introduced] will be provided to the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee at …
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it remains opposed to allowing local authorities to offer local fiscal incentives to encourage the uptake of micro-generation and energy efficiency technologies.
Answer · Jim Mather: This government remains fully committed to replacing the unfair council tax with a fairer tax based on ability to pay. Legislation will now be brought forward following elections in 2011.</p> <p >There are already a number of measures available to encourage …
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to introducing permitted development rights for the installation of renewable technology for non-domestic buildings.
Answer · John Swinney: Research published in early 2007 recommended that permitted development rights distinguish between domestic and non-domestic buildings. We have given priority to domestic buildings. The research recommended that the same rights apply to all non-domestic build…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to address the level of skill in carbon assessment linked to the implementation of planning regulations.
Answer · John Swinney: Officials are in discussion with the Improvement Service about a range of training and development matters associated with planning modernisation.</p>
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to put in place to ensure that local authorities fully implement Scottish Planning Policy SPP 6: Renewable Energy.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6, Renewable Energy (March 2007) is a non-statutory document. It is for planning authorities to apply the policy as they deem appropriate.</p> <p >The Scottish Government has put in place a number of measures to assist planning…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the research into micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps will be carried out at the same time given the different issues raised by the decision to delay the granting of permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps.
Answer · John Swinney: A single study will look at the issues relating to the introduction of permitted development rights for domestic wind turbines and air source heat pumps.</p>
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the brief for the research to be carried out into permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps.
Answer · John Swinney: The normal procedures for procuring research include:</p> <p >Advertising the project on the Scottish Government website and requesting Expressions of Interest from organisations.</p> <p >Issuing the specification to organisations which have been shortlis…
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it envisages for carrying out research on permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps.
Answer · John Swinney: Recommendations are expected before the end of 2009, with the intention that, if applicable, a further Amendment Order could be laid within 12 months of the original coming into force.</p>
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still committed to removing the need for planning permission for micro wind turbines.
Answer · John Swinney: The government is committed to this objective but a decision on removing the need for planning permission for micro-turbines will depend on the recommendations of the study, which will look at all the relevant issues.</p>
12 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it envisages for the drafting and implementation of recommendations on permitted development rights for micro wind turbines and air source heat pumps.
Answer · John Swinney: The drafting of recommendations will take place as part of the study and any timescale for implementation will depend on the content of those recommendations.</p>
11 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to respond to the outcome of the consultation, Climate Change and the National Forest Estate - Consultation on forestry provisions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We announced our response on 13 March 2009.</p>
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed to conduct research into (a) nuclear fusion, (b) biodiversity, (c) marine biodiversity and (d) opportunities to install hydroelectric facilities for electricity generation.
Answer · Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland’s higher target for the development of renewables compared with the rest of the United Kingdom will produce more than 10% of the estimated number of UK jobs to be created in the renewables industry over the next decade.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government considers that Scotland''s enormous potential renewable energy resource, its energy infrastructure and skills, opportunities in sectors like carbon capture and storage, combined with the scale of our ambitions for the energy sector mea…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 2 February 2009, whether it will outline the (a) types of jobs, (b) industries and (c) exact number of jobs in each industry that constitute the 16,000 renewable energy-related jobs to be created over the next decade.
Answer · Jim Mather: The estimate is based on analysis by the UK Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform of the potential expansion in centralised renewable electricity generation, renewable microgeneration, and in domestic biofuel feedstock and refinery activ…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement in a press release of 2 February 2009, how it calculated that 16,000 jobs are to be created in the renewables industry over the next decade.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20460 on 3 March 2009. 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/B…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages amending procurement plans to require public transport providers to purchase low emission vehicles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. A Scottish sustainable procurement action plan to support the public sector''s move to more sustainable behaviour is currently in development. The EU Energy Services Directive and forthcoming Cleaner and More Efficient Vehicles Directive will require pub…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policies it has in place to promote the use of low-carbon vehicles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21476 on 21 April 2009. 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/…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policies it has in place to promote the use of electric vehicles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21476 on 21 April 2009. 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/…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policies it has in place to promote the uptake of low-carbon vehicles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21476 on 21 April 2009. 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…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policies it has in place to promote the uptake of electric vehicles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21476 on 21 April 2009. 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/…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policies it has in place to promote the development of low-carbon vehicles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21476, on 21 April 2009. 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…