Parliamentary questions
Ross Finnie
558 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took to ensure that local communities that would be affected by national developments put forward in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 (NPF2) were aware that such designation in the NPF2 would establish the need for the development and that any subsequent exami…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The role of the National Planning Framework (NPF) in establishing the need for national developments was set out in the NPF Participation Statement, newsletters and the Discussion Draft NPF, and also explained at the regional participation events held in 2007…
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it took to ensure that local communities that would be affected by proposed national developments were aware of the proposals before they were confirmed in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The steps taken to engage with the public and communities on the second National Planning Framework for Scotland (NPF2) are set out in the NPF2 participation statement a copy of which is available online at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/212…
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there was adequate consultation with local communities before the proposed new coal power station at Hunterston was included as part of a national development in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It would be inappropriate to comment on an issue which relates to matters before the Court of Session.</p>
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with local communities that would be affected by the proposed new coal power station at Hunterston before including the proposal as part of a national development in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: If any proposal in relation to a new coal power station at Hunterston were to be submitted, it would be expected that the applicant would engage with local communities. I understand that no such discussions have yet taken place.</p>
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with the developers or their agents regarding the proposed new coal power station at Hunterston before including the proposal as part of a national development in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Proposals for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston were discussed at meetings attended by Scottish Government officials and representatives and agents of Clydeport Plc on 14 February and 16 October 2008. Records of these meetings are available online …
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the proposed new power station and transhipment hub at Hunterston in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 scored 0/+ (neutral/positive) for significant contribution to climate change, renewable energy and waste management targets in the assessment matrix, with no…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It would be inappropriate to comment on an issue which relates to matters before the Court of Session.</p>
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain the reasoning behind its decision to include a new power station and transhipment hub at Hunterston as a final national development in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 despite that development having obtained an overall score in the assessment matrix …
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It would be inappropriate to comment on an issue which relates to matters before the Court of Session.</p>
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the assessment matrix used to score potential national developments was published after the proposed National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 (NPF2) had been laid before the Parliament and after the close of the call for evidence to the Local Government and Communities C…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As we informed the Convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee on 25 June 2009, the need to take account of the conclusions of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) on transport projects precluded earlier publication of the assessment …
18 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 Strategic Environmental Assessment, the proposed new coal-fired power station at Hunterston was assessed and scored as if it would be an unabated plant and, if not, what level of abatement was considered.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It would be inappropriate to comment on an issue which relates to matters before the Court of Session.</p>
16 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it acceptable for an NHS board to dispense with public consultation when considering a reconfiguration of services provided by external providers.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0924-01.htm">http://www.scott…
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the restrictions on new coal power stations in other European countries, including Denmark where the Danish Government owns 75% of DONG energy, which is currently involved in the proposal for a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston.
Answer · Jim Mather: All Member states are bound by the same EU Directives such as EU Directive 2009/31/EC on the Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide and the EU Large Combustion Plant Directive (2001/80/EC) as well as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. We will bear the wider EU po…
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money would be required for (a) development and (b) ongoing operation of the new coal-fired power station proposed by Ayrshire Power at Hunterston.
Answer · Jim Mather: Investment decisions on fossil fuel power stations are a matter for the private sector within the context of the regulatory framework operated by OFGEM.</p>
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the social and environmental implications of coal production in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: Coal will continue to form an important part of the energy mix in Scotland for some years. However, it must go hand in hand with the development of clean coal technology. Such technologies, including Carbon Capture and Storage, have the potential to both tran…
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the social and environmental implications of the production of biomass for energy production in the countries from which biomass has been imported to Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: A Biomass Sustainability Working Group is being established and co-chaired by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). This will be a forum to identify and share good practice and …
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the countries from which biomass for energy production is imported to Scotland, showing how much was imported from each country in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27224 on 23 September 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/Ap…
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much biomass for energy production was (a) imported to and (b) exported from Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Forestry Commission has figures on wood biomass and publishes information on wood imports and exports at a UK level based on data compiled by HM Revenues and Customs. This can be found on their website <a href="http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.…
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the social and environmental implications of coal production in the countries from which coal has been imported to Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: We do not hold information centrally on the countries from which coal has been imported to Scotland.</p> <p >The Scottish Government recognises that emissions resulting from the combustion overseas of coal which originated in Scotland contributes to global …
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the coal used in Scotland was produced in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Mather: Information on the production of coal in Scotland can be found on the British Geological Survey website at <u><a href="http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/minequar/coal/occ/home.html">http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/minequar/coal/occ/home.html</a></u>.</p> <p >…
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the countries from which coal imported to Scotland was produced, showing how much was imported from each country in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on how much coal was imported to or exported from Scotland, England or Wales.</p>
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the climate change implications of coal exported from Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government recognises that emissions resulting from the combustion overseas of coal which originated in Scotland contributes to global emissions of greenhouse gases. Reducing global emissions requires global solutions and the Scottish Government …
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the countries to which coal was exported from Scotland, including England, Wales and Northern Ireland, showing how much was exported to each country in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on how much coal was imported to or exported from Scotland, England or Wales.</b></p>
11 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list how much coal was (a) imported to, (b) exported from, (c) produced in and (d) used in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not hold information centrally on how much coal was imported to or exported from Scotland.</p> <p >However, information on the production of coal in Scotland can be found on the British Geological Survey website at <u><a href="h…
4 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for drugs to aid weight loss have been dispensed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested can be found under the heading data source at <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4635.html">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4635.html</a>.</p>
4 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivehow many prescriptions for drugs for the treatment of alcohol dependence have been dispensed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: The following table provides the number of prescriptions dispensed for Disulfiram and Acamprosate Calcium. The data is provided in financial years.</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p alig…
2 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the proposals by Diageo for its operations in Kilmarnock and Glasgow to be consistent with the principles of sustainable economic growth.
Answer · John Swinney : <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0910-01.htm">http://www.scot…
7 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, codes (a) Y60.0, (b) Y61.0, (c) Y62.0, (d) Y65.2, (e) T81.2 and (f) T81.5 have occurred in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A detailed response to this question is available from the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 48993).</p>
31 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Planning Policy relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest applies to sites notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 but not subsequently renotified.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: References to Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Scottish Planning Policy cover all such sites including those notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and those notified under subsequent legislation.</p>
31 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the sites designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 that were not renotified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Details are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >SSSI Name</p> </td> <td valign=top > <p align=center >Local Authority</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr > <td …
14 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how often the use of the Scottish Drug Misuse Database is reviewed.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The use of the Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) is reviewed periodically within Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland. New data collection forms were introduced in 1995, 2000, 2006 and 2008 to improve the utility of the database. </p> <p >ISD''s…
14 Jul 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the efficacy of the use of the information and data held on the Scottish Drug Misuse Database.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Drug Misuse Database (SDMD) has a number of important uses including:</p> <p >Monitoring problem drug use;</p> <p >Helping to identify, or confirm, trends;</p> <p >Informing discussion about service provision;</p> <p >Providing data to lo…