Rob Gibson

7 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the Scottish Public Finance Manual and, if so, when.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Public Finance Manual is reviewed and updated as necessary on a regular basis. Substantive amendments are announced in Finance Guidance Notes published on the Scottish Government website.

7 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what occasions the Scottish Public Finance Manual has been applied to potential community land buyouts.

Answer · John Swinney: Details of individual community land buyouts are not held centrally. However, the Scottish Public Finance Manual is applicable to all bodies subject to audit by the Auditor General and any other body sponsored by the Scottish Government and they would be obli…

7 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Public Finance Manual defines best value.

Answer · John Swinney: Best Value is defined in the Scottish Public Finance Manual as continuous improvement in performance whilst maintaining an appropriate balance between quality and cost, having regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equal opportunities and sustainable d…

7 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the contents of the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has never had any formal discussions with the UK Government on the contents of the Scottish Public Finance Manual. Guidance issued by the UK Government has no application with regards devolved matters, unless expressly adopted by the S…

7 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Public Finance Manual was first issued.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Public Finance Manual was first published on the Scottish Government website at the beginning of 2002. Post-devolution financial guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers had previously been published in the form of individual Finance Guidance No…

17 Dec 2012 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reinforce sea defences following the recent severe weather.

13 Dec 2012 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on establishing a marine protected area network in Scottish inshore waters and offshore region to meet the duties in section 103 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and section 124 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Today I am laying a Report to the Scottish Parliament on progress on the development of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) network, as required under Section 103 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and Section 124 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. It report…

7 Nov 2012 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what progress it has been made on varying the species of apple trees in the Parliament garden.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body can confirm that we have planted two Scottish apple trees, one each of two varieties “James Grieve” and “Scotch Bridget”. Both these varieties of apple trees allow cross-pollination with our existing Malus “Bramley’s …

29 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how wildlife crime officers will be deployed in the new single police force.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are 109 wildlife crime officers currently in Scottish police forces and they play a critical role in the fight against wildlife crime in Scotland, bringing knowledge of the countryside and passion for their work in addition to their professional policin…

17 Sep 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether marine and onshore energy producers in Scotland will have equitable access charges to the UK grid.

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what agreement has been made for community benefit to be paid out from the lease of Forestry Commission land.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) leases areas of the National Forest Estate for a number of purposes including: renewable energy development; for private sector companies to carry out commercial activities and; to communities directly. The level of direct c…

6 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what schemes (a) have been approved and (b) are being considered for renewable energy production on Forestry Commission land.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The present position regarding renewable energy development on the National Forest Estate is that some 402MW of wind and hydro capacity is already generating electricity, 429MW is under construction, 156MW has obtained planning consent but construction has no…

3 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what land units have been (a) sold and (b) leased under the National Forest Land Scheme, broken down by (i) size and (ii) location.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since the launch of the National Forest Land Scheme in 2005 there have been 24 completed sales of land amounting to a total of 2,814 hectares to community organisations, non-governmental organisations and housing bodies - the phased purchase of land to RSPB i…

3 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what land units have been refused to communities and groups under the National Forest Land Scheme, broken down by (a) size and (b) location.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: To date no National Forest Land Scheme (NFLS) applications have been refused. There have been three community applications that have been withdrawn. The land covered by those applications continues to be managed by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and there…

3 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what land units have been conveyed to communities and groups under the National Forest Land Scheme, broken down by (a) size and (b) location.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since its launch in 2005 there have been 13 completed sales to community organisations under the National Forest Land Scheme. The following table provides a summary of those sales: National Forest Land Scheme Name Size (Hectares) Location Ordnance Surve…

3 Sep 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the National Forest Land Scheme.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government will continue to operate the National Forest Land Scheme as one of the important mechanisms to help facilitate greater involvement of communities in the management and ownership of Scotland's forests. A total of seven approved applicat…

18 Jun 2012 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what progress has been made to reduce journey time on the main rail line from Inverness to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

13 Jun 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the proposals of the Traditional Arts Working Group.

12 Jun 2012 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many carbon units will be credited to or debited from the 2011 net Scottish emissions account as a result of the operation of the EU Emissions Trading System.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Having noted the advice of SEPA, Scottish Ministers have determined that in relation to the operation of the EU Emissions Trading System in Scotland during 2011, 2,966,703 units will be debited from the 2011 net Scottish emissions account.

6 Jun 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Office of Fair Trading report, Price and Choice in Remote Communities, in relation to such communities in Scotland.

23 May 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Tenant Farming Forum will deliver timeous solutions to simplify the rent review system for the tenanted farming sector.

2 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are of the discovery of faults in Scottish Ambulance Service air ambulance helicopters.

30 Apr 2012 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the findings of the report by the Jimmy Reid Foundation, The Silent Crisis: Failure and Revival in Local Democracy in Scotland.

18 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether recipients of feed-in tariff payments for renewable electricity production and heat incentives will have their contracts honoured in the event of energy policy being fully devolved.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution that projects supported by the UK Feed-in Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive schemes will make towards our Renewables Routemap to 2020. There is no reason whatsoever that those who have invested u…

29 Feb 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities are keeping to the spirit of the order that allows charging for free events held under public entertainment licences.

22 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the green energy and climate change-related studies offered by colleges and universities and the numbers of students on these.

8 Feb 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it can take to mitigate the economic impact of high delivery charges and road fuel taxes on sparsely populated areas.

2 Feb 2012 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will review the varieties of apple trees in the Parliament garden to ensure that they cross-pollinate.

25 Jan 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to accommodate upland grazing interests and forestry development targets.

10 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it will hold regarding the operation and administration of the Coastal Communities Fund.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04915 on 20 January 2012. 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/parliamentar…