Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent data that shows an increase in UK emissions between 2011 and 2012, what progress it is making to ensure that the policies and proposals set out in its second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2) are being implemented to meet future Scottish climate targets.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Progress towards targets is reviewed and reported on annually by our independent advisors the UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC). In their latest progress report in March 2013 the CCC recognised that Scotland has made good progress in delivering on emission…
14 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what EU state aid issues arise from the delivery of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme, particularly in relation to assistance for ditching and draining.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following the European Commission’s acceptance of EU Regulation No. 1310/2013, on the transitional provisions on support for rural development, there are no state aids issues arising from the delivery of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme in 201…
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, whether ministers have been updated on dialogue between officials and representatives of broadcasters consulted on proposals for a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland in the last six months.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Ministers are advised as appropriate of officials’ contacts with stakeholders.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, on what occasions in the last 12 months ministers have reported to the Parliament on their engagement with broadcasters on the formation of policy on the establishment of a separate media regulator in an in…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I will be giving evidence to the Culture and Education Committee of the Scottish Parliament on 22 April 2014 for its inquiry into Scotland’s potential educational and cultural future following the independence referendum on 18 September 2014.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, whether it consulted Channel 4 on the continuation of commercial broadcast licences in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: It is longstanding Scottish Government policy that commercial broadcast licences should be continued in an independent Scotland, as set out, for example, by the First Minister in his speech at the Edinburgh International Television Festival on 24 August 2012,…
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, whether it will publish the names of BBC representatives whom it consulted on broadcasting policy prior to the publication of its white paper on independence.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has regular contact with the BBC on broadcasting policy, including with its director general, Lord Hall of Birkenhead and with the director, BBC Scotland, Ken MacQuarrie.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, whether ministers have been advised of the outcomes of each consultation meeting with stakeholders that they did not attend on the establishment of a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Ministers are advised as appropriate of officials’ contacts with stakeholders.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, which meetings with stakeholders whom it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland prior to publication of its white paper were attended by ministers.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has regular engagement with media stakeholders in developing policy, at both ministerial and official level.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, what record it holds of stakeholders that it consulted on establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland prior to publication of its white paper and whether it will publish this.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19562 on 4 March 2014. 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/parliamentarybus…
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, for what reasons the answer did not refer to discussions it has had with representatives of Channel 4 and Channel 5.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19562 on 4 March 2014. 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/parliamentarybus…
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19216 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014, for what reasons it was unable to provide a list of stakeholders that it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has regular engagement with media stakeholders in developing policy, at both ministerial and official level. It is not the Scottish Government’s practice routinely to publish records of such meetings with stakeholders.
14 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-18971 and S4W-18973 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm (a) what stakeholders it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland p…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by a range of research and discussions including with broadcasters, academics and other interested stakeholders. The Scottish Government engaged with a number of stakeholders about the medi…
13 Jan 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the availability of the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme for residents of island areas that do not have participating builders.
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18974 by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 January 2014, which specific industry stakeholders it consulted regarding coverage obligations for internet providers and when these consultations took place prior to the publication of Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Coverage obligation issues, such as those related to the recent 4G spectrum auction, have been discussed at regular meetings between Scottish Government officials and Mobile Network Operators. Officials met with EE on 17 October 2013, O2 Telefonica on 3 Octob…
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is consulting local authorities to determine the allocation of funding for free school meals.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is in the early stages of a discussion with COSLA to determine the allocation of funding for free school meals to primary 1 to 3 pupils in Scotland.
8 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the definition of “fairer” is in the Minister for Environment and Climate Change's comment to BBC Scotland that “There should be a fairer distribution of land, communities should have access to land to fulfil their aspirations.”
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government recognises that the current distribution of land is highly concentrated, given that reportedly just 432 landowners own 50% of the privately owned land in Scotland and that this concentration of ownership may lead to constraints upon fa…
18 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18742 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 December 2013, whether any delivery company was used in addition to Royal Mail to distribute the postcard in support of the white paper on independence.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No.
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which cyber security experts it consulted prior to publication of the white paper on independence.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The plans set out in Scotland's Future are based on a process of policy development by the Scottish Government that has drawn appropriately on expert advice at a number of stages.
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with internet service providers about the cyber security implications of establishing Scottish networks and IP addresses in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has regular engagement with industry stakeholders, at both ministerial and official level. These discussions have informed the approach to telecommunications in an independent Scotland as set out in Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an …
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the (a) legal implications and (b) cost for consumers of maintaining the UK International Telecommunication Union code in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland’s international dialling code will be set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) when Scotland is formally recognised as an independent country by the United Nations. As set out in Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland,…
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what industry stakeholders it consulted about coverage obligations for internet providers prior to publication of the white paper on independence.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has regular engagement with industry stakeholders, at both ministerial and official level, which informed the approach to telecommunications in an independent Scotland that was set out in Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent…
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representatives from the BBC it consulted and on what prior to publication of the white paper on independence.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by a range of research and discussions. The Scottish Government engaged with a number of stakeholders about the media in an independent Scotland and continues to do so.
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what stakeholders it consulted prior to publication of the white paper on independence about establishing a separate regulator for (a) advertising and (b) gambling in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by a range of research and discussions.Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland makes no proposals in relation to a separate regulator for advertising in an independent Scot…
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with representatives of Channel (a) 4 and (b) 5 regarding the continuation of commercial broadcast licences in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by a range of research and discussions. The Scottish Government engaged with a number of stakeholders about the media in an independent Scotland and continues to do so.
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what stakeholders it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland prior to publication of the white paper on independence.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by a range of research and discussions. The Scottish Government engaged with a number of stakeholders about the media in an independent Scotland and continues to do so.
4 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the cost of producing the white paper on independence and of the paper’s launch and subsequent advertising campaign.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the Official Report of the Meeting of the Parliament on Tuesday 26 November 2013 at column 24856. The official report is available at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/OfficialReport.aspx I also refer the member…
4 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it used the Royal Mail to deliver copies of its leaflet regarding the white paper on independence and, if not, which service it used.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Royal Mail was used to distribute the postcard as part of public information activity in support of Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.
3 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Forth Replacement Crossing project is on schedule.
Answer · Keith Brown: Following the on-schedule completion of the Fife ITS and Contact and Education Centre contracts, and the early completion of the M9 Junction 1a contract, the principal contract remains on schedule to complete by the end of 2016.
3 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timetable for the completion of each phase of the Forth Replacement Crossing project.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Fife ITS scheme was completed in November 2012. The M9 Junction 1a scheme was completed six weeks ahead of schedule in February 2013. The Contact and Education Centre was completed in December 2012. The principal contract for the Queensferry Crossing i…
3 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hours have been worked on the Forth Replacement Crossing project (a) after 7pm on Monday to Friday and (b) after 6pm on Saturday.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Code of Construction Practice allows for 24 hour working on marine works, which has and continues to take place other than planned shut downs at holiday periods and as a result of adverse weather. For non-marine works, the total number of approved hours a…