Parliamentary questions

Jamie McGrigor

1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

3 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Forestry Commission Scotland considers that its timber production forecast is based on reliable statistics.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18700 on 18 December 2013. 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/parliamenta…

3 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what annual area of planting or replanting of spruce tree crops Forestry Commission Scotland estimates is required to maintain the timber processing industry.

3 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the level of conifer planting on the public forest estate over the last five years is capable of maintaining the current level of sawmilling.

3 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what annual production Forestry Commission Scotland considers can be sustained in (a) 25 and (b) 50 years' time.

3 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what Forestry Commission Scotland's forecast is of the annual spruce timber production from the crops planted over the last five years on the public forest estate.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Forestry Commission’s 25 year forecast of maximum potential softwood availability was published in 2012 and covers both the national forest estate and the private sector. The reports, which set out availability in five, five year periods to 2036, can be f…

20 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for the roll-out of 3D-scanners for use in vehicle accident investigations and when they will be available for each trunk road in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland and Police Scotland have been investigating measures to improve clear up times following accidents on the trunk road network. 3D laser scanners are one proposal currently being considered, although no decision on whether to proceed has yet …

14 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18076 by Keith Brown on 13 November 2013, whether it has conducted an economic impact assessment of the impact of trunk road closures on tourism and other business in the Highlands and Islands and, if not, whether it will do so.

Answer · Keith Brown: Trunk road closures for serious accidents are a matter for Police Scotland. The trunk road operating companies make every effort to minimise the resulting disruption by implementing diversion routes and Traffic Scotland provides up to date traffic and travel …

1 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Lord Advocate's role has been in advising on road accidents and consequent investigations causing closure of the (a) A82, (b) A83 and (c) A85 roads and whether accidents on these roads have been reduced following the investigations necessitating closures on these roads, in the l…

Answer · Keith Brown: Although the Lord Advocate is head of the system of investigation of deaths and prosecution in Scotland, the matter of road closures for the investigation of road traffic accidents is an operational matter for Police Scotland.

1 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many times and (b) for how long on average the (i) A82, (ii) A83 and (iii) A85 have been closed as a result of crime scene investigation of accident sites in the last three years, and for what reasons these roads cannot be reopened for managed traffic flow more quickly in such ca…

Answer · Keith Brown: The A82, A83 and A85 have, respectively, been closed for 97, 43 and 46 times over the last three full calendar years. In this period, there were 11 fatal reported personal injury accidents on the A82, 5 fatal accidents on the A83 and 11 fatal accidents on the…

1 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many thefts of quad bikes and other agricultural equipment from farms there have been and how many prosections for these thefts, in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information on thefts at the level of detail requested is not held centrally.

1 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle the theft of fuel, quad bikes and agricultural equipment from farms.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. Each local authority area in Scotland has a local policing plan. Police Scotland is now engaging with communities across Scotland to ensure their views are reflected in the local policing plans. I would enc…

30 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Food Standards Agency Scotland's position is on the potential impact on the takeaway food sector of the proposal to introduce a charge on carrier bags.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Food Standards Agency’s remit in this respect is concerned with providing advice on the potential risk to food safety. The Food Standards Agency’s position regarding the potential for the transfer of pathogens between raw foods (such as raw meat and vege…

30 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed any potential risk of food contamination arising from the use of used carrier bags in the takeaway sector as a consequence of its proposed charge on carrier bags.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials have held discussions with the takeaway food sector as part of the on-going consultation on our draft carrier bag charging regulations. We are also taking advice from the Food Standards Agency on this issue, drawing on experience…

11 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17356 by Keith Brown on 3 October 2013 and in light of the Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022) not making a commitment toward such spending on the Dunoon-Gourock route, whether it will allocate extra capital funding for the route in 20…

Answer · Keith Brown: The vessel replacement plan, as set out in Appendix 1, of the Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan 2013 -2022 was based on future known requirements at the time of publication. The ferries plan makes clear that for the Gourock to Dunoon town centre service…

11 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the MV Coruisk will be deployed on the Gourock-Dunoon route; how much this will cost; whether it will sail to the timetable specified in the 2011 tender document; whether the Dunoon-Gourock route will take preference over the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay route, and whether the MV Coruisk wil…

Answer · Keith Brown: The MV Coruisk is due to enter service on the Gourock-Dunoon route on 19 December 2013. The cost of the MV Coruisk providing additional relief cover as a passenger only vessel, over the course of the winter, is currently unknown as the full operational cost…

8 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what studies it has undertaken of the impact on sandeels and sandeel habitats of offshore renewable developments.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland Science have been working with developers of renewable energy projects on the east coast of Scotland, providing advice and guidance on suitable methodologies for surveying sandeels within these areas. This is to ensure that information is avai…

3 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08998 by Keith Brown on 21 August 2012 and in light of the incident on the A83 at the Rest and be Thankful on 3 October 2013, what action it is taking to prevent landslips at vulnerable areas, and what specific contingencies it will introduce at the…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government fully appreciates the effect of landslips on the A83 to the communities of Argyll. However, landslips are a natural result of the topography and climate of Scotland and cannot be prevented. We can reduce the effects of landslips on the…

23 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve (a) radio and (b) mobile phone reception on the A82.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Radio reception falls under the reserved policy area of broadcasting, which is regulated by Ofcom. Improving radio reception would rest with the UK Government in discussion with the BBC and the commercial radio sector. Last year, the UK Government announced …

20 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the extra capital funding allocated for ferries in 2015-16 is specifically for the Dunoon-Gourock route.

Answer · Keith Brown: Decisions on which projects will be funded from the capital allocation for 2015-16 will be taken in consultation with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and David MacBrayne Ltd and in the context of the commitments set out in the Scottish Government’s Ferries Pla…

17 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take between now and 2020 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the reported 16.3% necessary to meet the interim target of 42% by 2020 compared with the 1990 base year.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2013-2027, published on 27 June, sets out the policies and proposals that can deliver a 42% reduction in emissions by 2020. The Scottish Government will be implementing and developing these policies…

17 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there was an increase or decrease in the amount of waste being sent to landfill between 2010 and 2011 and, if so, by how much.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT WRITTEN ANSWER 9 October 2013 (Holding Reply Issued 2 October 2013) Index Heading: Enterprise & Environment Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether ther…

10 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16819 by Keith Brown on 9 September 2013, whether it will involve local ferry action groups in the tendering process for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract for 2013-16.

Answer · Keith Brown: No tender process has occurred for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service for2013-2016 as a contract extension for this period has been directly awarded. The tender for the next Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, post 2016, is set to commence in Autum…

3 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many households have received support under the energy efficient discount scheme set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, broken down by local authority.

Answer · John Swinney: Under section 66 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, the Scottish Government has a duty to report to Parliament on the operation and uptake of energy efficiency discount schemes. The following table has been taken from Annex A in the first annual repo…

28 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16515 by Keith Brown on 21 August 2013, how many cancellations there were during the period due to (a) weather disruption and (b) technical breakdown as this information is not available on the website links provided.

Answer · Keith Brown: The detailed information requested has been collated and a copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 55207).

22 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16541 by Keith Brown on 21 August 2013, whether it will provide the information requested regarding whether it will involve action groups for other ferry services in a similar way.

Answer · Keith Brown: Further to the answer to S4W-16541, we will involve action groups regarding other ferry services as and when appropriate. The level and type of involvement for such groups can be considered by ministers on a case by case basis.

29 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter dated 1 July 2013 to the Gourock Dunoon Ferries Service Steering Group from the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, what (a) level and (b) type of involvement it envisages for the group in meeting with potential operators and whether it wil…

Answer · Keith Brown: In her letter dated 1 July 2013, to the Gourock Dunoon Ferry Services Steering Group, the Deputy First Minister explained the steps that would be taken following the publication of the MVA feasibility report. Transport Scotland will be engaging with potentia…

25 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much subsidy Argyll Ferries was contracted for in 2012-13; how much it received, and what the reason was for any difference.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08559 on 19 July 2012 which details the annual subsidy payable to Argyll Ferries in respect of the six-year public service obligation contract for the passenger-only service between Gourock and Dunoon. All ans…

25 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) scheduled sailings, (b) actual sailings and (c) sailings cancelled due to adverse weather conditions there were on each route operated by CalMac Ferries and Argyll Ferries in each month between October 2012 and June 2013.

Answer · Keith Brown: CalMac Ferries Limited and Argyll Ferries Limited regularly publish information on scheduled sailings, actual sailings and sailings cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, on a route by route basis on their own websites. These can be accessed by followin…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recommendation in the report of the feasibility study by MVA Consultancy on the Dunoon-Gourock town-centre ferry service that Transport Scotland should contact potential ferry operators, in light of claims by some ferry operators that they already provided the…

Answer · Keith Brown: The study sets out a wide-ranging analysis, drawing on a variety of information and stakeholder views. The Deputy First Minister has requested that Transport Scotland engage with potential operators to gauge market interest in the route, in the light of the f…

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland officials requested that MVA Consultancy not include information provided by Western Ferries and potential ferry operators who were contacted during the investigation stage of the feasibility study by MVA Consultancy on the Dunoon-Gourock town-centre ferry serv…

Answer · Keith Brown: The terms of reference for the study required the consultants to gather data from potential operators. This information was used to inform the analysis and findings as set out in the final report.