Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which new initiatives or programmes implemented since May 2007 have reduced or limited greenhouse gas emissions, also showing the estimated tonnage of carbon saved by each.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-4254 on 21 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures to encourage energy efficiency and energy conservation it inherited from the previous administration and what new or additional measures are contained in its draft budget.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Governmentis committed to encouraging energy efficiency and energy conservation and supportsa number of measures to achieve these aims.</p><p>It intends to continueand improve programmes delivered under the previous administration, including: sup…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be carbon neutral.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Glasgow 2014 CandidateCity File (CCF) set out the environmental plans for the games. The CCF made specificcommitments that all new and refurbished games associated buildings will be no orlow carbon, to low emission zonesaround games venues, car-free venue…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what amendments to planning legislation it is considering to tackle climate change.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The role of the planningsystem in tackling climate change is already addressed in several Scottish PlanningPolicies including those on flooding, renewable energy and housing. It will alsobe addressed in the second National Planning Framework. The Planning etc…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what target it will set for its buildings or those of its agencies to reduce their carbon footprint by 2011, expressed as a reduction in (a) percentage and (b) tonnage of carbon terms.
Answer · John Swinney: The informationrequested in respect of the buildings on the core estate of the ScottishGovernment is provided in the <i>Scottish Government Environmental PerformanceAnnual Report for 2006-07</i> which was published in December 2007, copies ofwhich are availab…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the carbon footprint is for each of (a) its and (b) its agencies’ buildings in which more than 100 people are employed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmentcurrently only records the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions relating to the energy use atthe buildings on it’s core estate. The emissions during 2006-07 in respect of thosebuildings in which over 100 people are employed are as follows:</p><tabl…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it will set for new buildings to reduce their carbon footprint and when it anticipates that these targets will be met.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:</p><p>Targets and timescalesfor reducing the carbon footprint of new buildings are currently under consideration.We appointe…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which capital projects in its draft budget contribute to reducing carbon emissions over the period of the spending review and what is the best estimate of the amount, expressed in tonnage of carbon, by which emissions will be reduced by each such initiative over 2008-11.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In line with our commitmentto consult on a Scottish Climate Change Bill, including a long-term target of an80% reduction in emissions by 2050, we are taking steps to refine our approach toassessing the effect on emissions of new policy measures and capital pr…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which initiatives or identified programmes in its draft budget contribute to reducing carbon emissions over the period of the spending review and what the best estimate is of the amount, expressed in tonnage of carbon, by which emissions will be reduced by each such initiative over 2008-1…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answers to questions S3W-6404 on 29 November 2007, and to S3W-425 on 21 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahr…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in carbon emissions is estimated to be achieved by 2011 under each of the new measures that the Scottish Government has identified as measures intended to deliver carbon savings in the spending review announced on 14 November 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4254 on 21 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations have been made to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or other appropriate authority under the 2007 spending review to prepare for the implementation of the EU floods directive.
Answer · Michael Russell: As a result of thisyear’s Spending Review, SEPA will receive additional Grant in Aid provision of £19.8million over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. This settlement reflects the ScottishGovernment’s acknowledgement of the range of unavoidable new duties, includ…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations have been made under the 2007 spending review for demonstration projects on sustainable flood management.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Governmenthave made available £4.8 million over the spending review for flood prevention andcoast protection research purposes.</p>
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to allocate the capital grant for flood defences to local authorities and what mechanism will be used for distribution of the available resources between authorities.
Answer · Michael Russell: Under the concordatagreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, the ring-fence around the floodprevention and coast protection will be removed from 1 April 2008, with the fundingbeing absorbed into the main local government settlement.</p><p>The Scottish Gove…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how any underspend from the capital grant allocations to local authorities for flood defence schemes will be used.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Governmentwill be providing local government in Scotland with recordlevels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vastmajority of the funding, including the funding for flood prevention and coastprotection, will be…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the capital grant allocated to local authorities for flood defence schemes will be ring-fenced.
Answer · Michael Russell: No.</p>
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the capital grant allocated to local authorities for flood defence schemes will be spent on sustainable flood management, in accordance with declared government policies.
Answer · Michael Russell: As agreed in theconcordat, there will be a move towards a Single Outcomes Agreement with each localauthority. This will be based on the agreed set of national outcomes (underpinnedby agreed national indicators), and local outcomes to take account of local pri…
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will appoint a Bill team leader for a flooding Bill.
Answer · Michael Russell: There is already ateam in place that deals with flooding policy and prevention matters and this teamare progressing the Flooding Bill.</p>
23 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards the production of a draft Bill on flooding.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Governmentwill be consulting fully on its proposals in the early New Year.</p>
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is contained in the Scottish spending review to reduce the carbon footprint of the Scottish administration and what the expected reduction will be.
Answer · John Swinney: Around £5 milliona year is allocated within the administration budget for maintenance and developmentof the Scottish Government estate. Measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the Scottish Government estate will be met from this budget.</p><p>Decisions hav…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new measures announced in the Scottish spending review on 14 November 2007 will result in carbon savings by 2011.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Our spending reviewensures that public spending across portfolios contributes to the action neededto help mitigate climate change so that we meet the measurable statutory targetsto be set through a Scottish Climate Change Bill.</p><p>There are a numberof spec…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what existing measures will result in carbon savings by 2011.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Existing measuresexpected to result in carbon savings by 2011 build on the devolved policy measuresdetailed in Annex E of <i>Scotland’s Climate Change Programme</i>, a copy of whichis available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39288)…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis allocations to local authorities for zero waste will be made, whether any other allowance has been made for expenditure on waste management in funding allocated to local authorities, and on what basis any additional funding would be allocated.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As outlined in the Scottish Budget Spending Review document, the zero waste budget will be used toassist implementation of the National Waste Plan. This will include support forprogrammes to develop markets for recyclate, waste minimisation, waste awareness,s…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis allocations to local authorities for flood protection and coastal erosion will be made; whether any other allowance has been made for expenditure on waste management in funding allocated to local authorities, and on what basis any additional funding would be allocated.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Spending Reviewdocument confirmed that policies and initiatives across all portfolios will takefull account of our ambitions for a Greener Scotland, and that we are committedto introduce carbon impact assessments for policy options.</p><p>Measures taken f…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the impact on carbon emissions in each year to 2010-11 of its rural affairs and the environment programme set out in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The SpendingReview document confirmed that policies and initiatives across all portfolioswill take full account of our ambitions for a Greener Scotland, and that we arecommitted to introduce carbon impact assessments for policy options.</p><p>Measures takenfo…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the impact on carbon emissions in each year to 2010-11 of its housing programme set out in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Budget:Spending Review 2007 sets out our intention to invest £1.44 billion in increasingthe supply of good quality, sustainable housing over the period 2008-11. The detailswill be published in due course. Communities Scotland is commissioning res…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the impact on carbon emissions in each year to 2010-11 of its transport programme set out in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish BudgetSpending Review 2007 sets out our Transport investment plans including our commitmentto invest in public transport, providing £840 million/£917 million/£897 millionon rail and tram services and projects in Scotland, £3 million a year on tra…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of reduction of carbon emissions in each year to 2010-11 would be consistent with achieving the climate change target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government’s consultationon the proposed Climate Change Bill will include a target of reducing emissionsby 80% by 2050. The levels of reduction required in each year to 2011 have not yetbeen determined. We believe that independent, expert advice …
26 Sep 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure continuation of West Dunbartonshire Council¿s Early Intervention Initiative and what plans it has to roll out the programme across Scotland.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I am encouraged bythe progress that West Dunbartonshire Council has made in addressing illiteracythrough early intervention. I know through the work Learningand Teaching Scotland have undertaken that there is a lot of good practice out therewhich they are hel…
19 Sep 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to deal with illegal drug use, in light of its decision not to establish a Scottish drugs commission, promised in the SNP manifesto, at the moment.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Developinga new drugs strategy and building consensus around that is a key priority forthe Scottish Government. We have not ruled out setting up a Drugs Commission inthe future, but we do not want to delay making progress on this important issueby setting up …
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider increasing core funding for Planning Aid for Scotland to allow the establishment of regional offices accessible to the public.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Planning Aid for Scotland already provides a national service of training and advicewith volunteers from across Scotland.</p><p>The case for a regionalnetwork of offices has never been put to the government. Should such a case be made,we would carefully consi…