Parliamentary questions

Patrick Harvie

1,454 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

15 Dec 2014 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the agreement that was reached at the climate change talks in Lima.

11 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide substantive answers to questions S4W-20451 and S4W-20452, which received holding answers on 28 April 2014.

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the announcement by Ineos of its intended investment in shale gas extraction in Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government endorses, the robust regulation of onshore drilling techniques associated with the extraction of shale gas, such as fracking. The Scottish Government approach is underpinned by the principle that the highest levels of environmental pro…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding licensing for unconventional gas extraction.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers have not held discussions with the UK Government regarding licensing for unconventional gas extraction. However, the member will be aware that The Smith Commission has recommended the devolution of licensing powers over onshore oil and gas …

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with Ineos over the last six months and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers have met with INEOS on one occasion in the last six months, which was requested by INEOS to discuss matters relating to recent announcements from the company.

30 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason fuel used by Marine Scotland when carrying out surveillance has been excluded from its carbon reduction targets.

Answer · John Swinney: Paragraph three of the ‘conclusions and summary of findings’ section of the Scottish Government Carbon Management Plan 2014 explains the reasons behind surveillance activities being excluded from our target setting: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/201…

20 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be opportunities for people who have been trafficked to be involved in the development, implementation and review of its proposed anti-trafficking strategy.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is the intention that Scottish Ministers will work with all relevant agencies to prepare, implement and review an anti- trafficking strategy. As part of this process we will engage closely with those organisations who provide assistance and support to pote…

20 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed human trafficking bill will provide independent and statutory arrangements for decisions on (a) the formal identification of, (b) assistance for and (c) monitoring of outcomes in relation to people who have been trafficked.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The competent authority for decisions on the identification of individuals as potential victims of trafficking is through the UK wide National Referral Mechanism. Identification through this process affords victims access to support services which is provided…

20 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its proposed human trafficking bill will ensure a legal right to assistance for people who have been trafficked.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government commitment, given on 17 March 2014, to bring forward a human trafficking bill confirmed that specific provisions would be included within the bill to enhance the rights of victims to access support and assistance. This will build on t…

1 Oct 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of the lack of funding affecting the Men's 10k event in Glasgow run by the Men's Health Forum Scotland and what it can do to secure the future of the event.

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risk of restoration and aftercare liabilities at operational open cast coal sites falling to the public sector if the operators go into liquidation.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities. Restoration and aftercare arrangements including financial guara…

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total level of independent financial guarantees in place for restoration and aftercare of operational open cast coal sites.

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the total aftercare and restoration liabilities of open cast coal operators for operational open cast coal sites.

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many operational open cast coal sites there are in Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are currently twelve open cast sites in Scotland that are operational. Of those sites, nine are still producing coal and three are carrying out restoration and care/maintenance activities. In some cases it is the continuation of coaling which facilitate…

15 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Men's Health Forum Scotland regarding the future of the Men's 10k, which may close due to lack of funding, and what its response is to the petition on Change.org calling for investment in the future of the event.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government have not been approached by the Men’s Health Forum Scotland (MHFS) regarding the future of the Glasgow Men’s 10k run. We recognise the importance of promoting men’s health and that’s why we provided over £500,000 to Men’s Health Forum…

18 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15595 by Richard Lochhead on 24 June 2013, whether it will provide an update on its position on regulating pub companies.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Over the last year Scottish Government officials have discussed this issue with various interests both for and against the introduction of regulating pub companies and have called for empirical evidence to support any possible change. To date, the contributio…

28 Jul 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what legacy it expects to see from Pride House at the Commonwealth Games.

15 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland concerning Operation Lingle; whether it approved plans to extend surveillance of the general public under Operation Lingle, and what consultation was carried out prior to Police Scotland's proposal that members of the public be encouraged …

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. While Scottish Government officials have had strategic discussions with Police Scotland about how they could link in with NHS board sexual health services, the Scottish Government had no role in approving or …

30 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it appropriate for (a) the Department of Energy and Climate Change to issue licences or (b) planning consent to be granted for works related to the exploration and production of onshore oil and gas in (i) national parks, (ii) sites of special scientific interest, (ii…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The power to issue licences for the extraction of petroleum is currently reserved to Westminster. However, with independence, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government would be accountable for all policies in relation to unconventional oil and gas. …

30 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the acceptability of companies running pipelines under land for the exploration and production of onshore oil and gas without the permission of the landowner or resident or other occupier of the land.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Proposals for onshore oil and gas in Scotland will be considered through the normal planning process and the appropriate regulatory regimes, including the local authority, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Health and Safety Executive. Only once all…

30 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on devolved areas of responsibility of the proposals in the Department for Energy and Climate Change's Consultation on Proposal for Underground Access for the Extraction of Gas, Oil or Geothermal Energy.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government looks forward to considering the draft provisions that are to be included in the UK Government’s Infrastructure Bill, which may follow from the Department for Energy and Climate Change's consultation. However, we are clear that any dev…

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding the legality of Imperial Tobacco's Smoke Spots campaign.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We are in contact with colleagues in Department of Health about a range of issues. They are aware of the Smoke Spots campaign.

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that Imperial Tobacco's Smoke Spots campaign is likely to have the effect of promoting tobacco use and, if so, whether it considers that it is in breach of Article 13 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Article 13 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control places an obligation on Parties to “undertake a complete ban of all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship”. The purpose of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotions Act…

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of Imperial Tobacco's Smoke Spots campaign and whether it has had correspondence with local authorities or other organisations regarding whether it breaches the provisions of the Tobacco Advertising and Promotions Act 2002.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We have been made aware of the Smoke Spots campaign. The Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) and Glasgow City Council Trading Standards are also aware of the campaign.

18 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will produce the final version of its guidance on relationships, sexual health and parenthood education and whether the right to be properly informed with the knowledge to make safe, healthy and positive choices will be an integral part of the document.

11 Jun 2014 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what prices it will set for the proposed pilot of commercial access to the Parliament, and whether these will be reduced for non-profit or charitable organisations.

11 Jun 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the single intelligence agency it proposes to create in an independent Scotland would protect citizens from unjustified surveillance.

10 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the introduction of opt-out hepatitis C tests for all prisoners as part of the prisoner induction process.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A study led by the University of the West of Scotland, and published in 2012 (Hepatitis C Prevalence and Incidence among Scottish Prisoners and Staff Views of its Management, Taylor et al), provided information on the availability of hepatitis C services to p…

10 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the inclusion of hepatitis C testing in Keep Well checks.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Keep Well checks are mainly focussed on heart disease and its main risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking and diabetes, including wider lifestyle issues. Some NHS boards offer hepatitis C testing as part of the Keep Well check based on iden…

10 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the inclusion of hepatitis C testing in the opt-out routine antenatal testing.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not currently support the inclusion of hepatitis C testing for all women as part of routine antenatal testing. The Scottish Government takes advice on screening programmes from the UK National Screening Committee (NSC). Current N…