Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish Enterprise’s feasibility study into the use of tax increment financing in Aberdeen will be completed.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to reply to you.</p>
29 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the potential use of tax increment financing for city centre regeneration projects in Aberdeen.
Answer · John Swinney: There have been initial discussions with Aberdeen City Council regarding the potential use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in Aberdeen.</p> <p >The Scottish Government is open to innovative ways of encouraging local economic growth and enabling infrastruct…
29 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Enterprise regarding the use of tax increment financing for city centre regeneration projects in Aberdeen.
Answer · John Swinney: There have been no discussions with Scottish Enterprise regarding the use of Tax Increment Financing for city centre regeneration projects in Aberdeen.</p>
11 Feb 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS Grampian patients have been treated by plastic surgeons following illness or injury in each of the last three years.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not held centrally in the form requested. However, figures provided by NHS Grampian from its Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR) data indicate that total inpatient and day case attendances for plastic surgery at all hospital sites in the NHS Gr…
1 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projects have not yet received all of the funding allocated under the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme.
Answer · Jim Mather: The following projects have not drawn down their total funding allocated under the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES):</p> <p >ScottishPower Renewables (previously known as CRE Energy)</p> <p >Ocean Power Technology</p> <p >Scotrenewables Marine …
1 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-17457 and S3W-26834 by Jim Mather on 14 November 2008 and 8 September 2009 respectively, what projects have received grants under the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme to date; how much each project has received, and on what date each funding al…
Answer · Jim Mather: Six projects have received grant payments to date totalling £2,196,080. These are as follows:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=168 nowrap > <p align=center >Name of Developer</p> </td> <td width=120 …
26 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what aspects of the national scoliosis service are under consultation as part of its review.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The review group will explore all aspects of the current scoliosis service.</p>
26 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will make a statement to the Parliament following the review of the national scoliosis service
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The findings of the review of the national scoliosis service will be published in autumn 2010. A decision about the need for a parliamentary statement will be taken at that time.</p>
26 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the national scoliosis service will be completed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The review of the national scoliosis service will be completed in autumn 2010.</p>
12 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 8 January 2010, Step forward for renewables, from what budget any remuneration to John Sturrock QC will be taken.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to the question S3W-30638 on 21 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/…
12 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 8 January 2010, Step forward for renewables, whether payment has been offered to John Sturrock QC for his role as facilitator.
Answer · Jim Mather: Professor John Sturrock QC will receive the standard fee, as negotiated with Core Solutions, for his services as facilitator of the Energy Session on transmission charging, held on 18 January 2010. This will be met out of the Scottish Government Energy Policy…
12 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 8 January 2010, Step forward for renewables, whether John Sturrock QC will be retained following his role as facilitator.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-30634 and S3W-30635 on 21 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.pa…
12 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 8 January 2010, Step forward for renewables, to whom John Sturrock QC will report on his involvement as facilitator.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30635 on 21 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…
12 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 8 January 2010, Step forward for renewables, whether John Sturrock QC will complete a report on the discussions held on 18 January 2010 and whether his role as facilitator will extend beyond his participation in the meeting.
Answer · Jim Mather: A summary report of the discussion on the 18 January 2010 has been prepared and published on the Scottish Government website: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Infrastructure/TransmissionCharging">http://www.scotlan…
12 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 8 January 2010, Step forward for renewables, what the remit of John Sturrock QC will be as facilitator.
Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish ministers are working to find productive ways forward on the issue of locational transmission charging for use of the electricity grid system by Scottish generators. We are determined to deliver a more equitable and transparent charging regime and wh…
11 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Enterprise’s 2009-10 budget is for the City Square Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.</p>
11 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its 2009-10 budget is for the City Square Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Alex Neil: The City Square Project in Aberdeen is a local development proposal and as such there is no provision for this project in our 2009-10 budget.</p>
11 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Enterprise (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff are seconded to the City Square Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.</p>
11 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Enterprise staff are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time on the City Square Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.</p>
11 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Enterprise has spent on the City Square Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.</p>
11 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on the City Square Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Alex Neil: I can confirm that we have had no financial involvement with the development of proposals for the City Square Project in Aberdeen.</p>
11 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its agencies have been involved in the City Square Project in Aberdeen.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Enterprise''s involvement is detailed in responses provided to S3W-30629, S3W-30630 and S3W-30631 on 20 January 2010. And I am aware that Historic Scotland held pre-application discussions with Aberdeen City Council in May last year, when various opt…
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), what additional delays to the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade it expects as a result of conditions to the consent.
Answer · Jim Mather: I do not anticipate any additional delays as a result of the conditions of consent, although the exact timing will depend on what is proposed by the developers.</p>
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), whether new planning consents will be required as a result of the conditions attached to the consent for the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade.
Answer · Jim Mather: I do not anticipate any new planning applications as a result of the conditions, however until proposals from developers for mitigation plans have been agreed in line with the consent conditions, this cannot be definitively ruled out.</p>
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), which conditions attached to the consent for the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade will require significant adjustment to the developers’ existing plans.
Answer · Jim Mather: Until proposals from developers for the various mitigation plans have been agreed in line with consent conditions, it is not possible to determine which conditions attached to the consent will require significant adjustment to the developers'' existing plans.…
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), whether consultations with an environmental liaison group and a tourism, cultural heritage and community liaison group will lead to a delay in the start o…
Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish and Southern Energy have already indicated they intend to begin their public engagement at an early stage. The developers'' engagement will include consultation with the Environmental Liaison Group and Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Community Liaison…
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22408), how many kilometres of the 86.5 kilometres of existing wirescape ministers will require developers to place underground.
Answer · Jim Mather: Plans submitted to Scottish ministers to mitigate the wirescape in five distinct locations, as required by conditions, must include proposals for undergrounding, removing or mitigating a total of 86.5km of overhead line. It is therefore not possible to provid…
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), how many kilometres of the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade ministers will require the developers to place underground.
Answer · Jim Mather: As I said in my statement to Parliament on 6 January 2010 and to the Enterprise Energy and Tourism Committee on 13 January 2010, under Section 37 of the Electricity Act, under which the Beauly to Denny application was submitted, I have no powers to require th…
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), when it expects construction work on the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade to be completed.
Answer · Jim Mather: The consent conditions require that all works, including construction of the new line and dismantling of the existing line, be completed within 10 years. However, renewable energy development imperatives exist for the developers to complete work much sooner.<…
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement by the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism on 6 January 2010 (Official Report c. 22407), when it expects construction work on the Beauly to Denny power line upgrade to start.
Answer · Jim Mather: The consent conditions require construction to begin within four years, although Scottish and Southern Energy have indicated they hope to begin work on the project in 2010.</p>