Parliamentary questions
Patrick Harvie
1,454 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether plutonium waste will be transported by rail from Dounreay to Sellafield and, if so, what assessment has been made of the (a) safety and (b) security risks.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: On 21 November 2011 the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority announced that it plans to transport Dounreay Fast Reactor breeder material, which contains plutonium, from Dounreay to Sellafield by road and rail for reprocessing. This plutonium is not considered to…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the additional volume of nuclear waste that will be created if a lifespan extension is granted at (a) Hunterston B and (b) Torness nuclear power stations to 2021 and 2033 respectively.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: To illustrate the impact of power station lifetime changes, the 2010 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory estimates waste volumes from one year's operation of the different types of power stations. A copy of the Inventory can be found at http://www.nda.gov.uk/ukinv…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to stop the transportation of nuclear warheads in Scotland.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scotland Act 1998 reserves the control of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction to the UK Government. The Scottish Government therefore has no competence in relation to nuclear weapons.
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the Ministry of Defence to discuss the risk of accidents and radioactive leaks from nuclear submarines at Rosyth as a result of UK Government reductions in defence spending.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is for SEPA, the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator to satisfy themselves that there are no environmental or safety risks from the decommissioned and defuelled nuclear powered submarines currently berthed at Rosyth. Nev…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safety assessment it has carried out in relation to extending the lifespan of existing nuclear power stations, following the nuclear incident at Fukushima.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The UK Government and the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for commissioning safety assessments of nuclear power stations in Scotland. The Scottish Government has no plans to undertake safety assessments of the existing nuclear power stations in Sc…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce legislation to outlaw the transportation of nuclear warheads on Scottish roads.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scotland Act 1998 reserves the control of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction to the UK Government. The Scottish Government therefore has no competence in relation to nuclear weapons and the introduction of any legislation aimed at the p…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on its policy in relation to nuclear power if Torness were granted a life extension similar to that proposed for Hunterston B.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s energy generation policy position was set out in its Draft Electricity Generation Policy Statement published in November 2010. The statement confirmed our opposition to new nuclear and also recognised that life extensions to existing…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce a timeline for nuclear shutdown in Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is up to the station operator to propose any life extension and for the UK Government Office of Nuclear Regulation and its agencies to decide, subject to advice on health, safety and environmental issues.
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland’s renewable energy targets and expertise in the industry place it in a good position to phase out nuclear power plants.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are committed to enhancing Scotland's generation advantage based on renewables, thermal with carbon capture and storage as well as energy efficiency as the best long term solution to Scotland's energy security. We recognise the need for possible life exte…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the UK Government to discuss a timescale for removing nuclear weapons from Scotland.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government has set out clearly its firm opposition to nuclear weapons and has on several occasions called on the UK Government to commit to the withdrawal of Trident and to cancel plans for its replacement. The Scottish Government has not howeve…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on providing a public subsidy for the nuclear power industry.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Providing a public subsidy for the nuclear power industry is a reserved matter for the UK Government. However, the Scottish Government does not support new nuclear development and recognises the need for a balanced approach to encouraging the development of a…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on closing Scotland's nuclear power stations.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03994 on 24 November 2011. 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/parliamenta…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will write to the UK Government to oppose a lifespan extension at Hunterston B and Torness nuclear power stations.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has no current plans to write to the UK Government to oppose life extensions at Hunterston B or Torness nuclear power stations.
28 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on plans for an environmental court, as proposed in the 2011 SNP manifesto.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As part of the wider work to implement civil courts reform following the recommendations of the Scottish Civil Courts Review, an options paper on establishing an environmental court will be published during this administration.
28 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will launch the consultation on the codification of rules of court on Protective Expense Orders, which was due to start in summer 2011.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has been working toward consulting on proposals for court rules on Protective Expenses Orders alongside the other UK jurisdictions. Scottish Ministers are currently considering the detail of proposals for consultation and intend to sub…
28 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a new test of sufficient interest, as recommended by the Supreme Court.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Provision is already made by Scottish Statutory Instrument to widen standing for any non-governmental organisation bringing a case within the scope of the EU Public Participation Directive (2003/35/EC). We are currently considering the judgment of the Suprem…
26 Oct 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce legislation on same-sex marriage in 2012 following completion of its current consultation.
20 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase reporting of homophobic and transphobic hate crime.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are a range of actions that have been and that are being taken forward. I attended the launch of the ACPOS Hate Crime Guidance Manual. This manual was launched by ACPOS in September 2010 and provides operational guidance to the police service on all as…
20 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to mark the International Day Against Hate Crime on 28 October 2011.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I delivered a speech on homophobic hate crime at a vigil organised by the NUS Scotland LGBT Campaign. The vigil was to mark International Day Against Hate Crime and it was held outside Edinburgh City Chambers on the evening of 28 October 2011.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeenshire Council regarding compliance with the planning conditions that the Scottish Government has imposed on the granting of outline planning permission to Trump International Golf Links, Scotland on land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Monitoring and enforcement of planning conditions are matters for the relevant planning authority. The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with Aberdeenshire Council regarding enforcement matters relating to this development.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what communication it has had with Aberdeenshire Council regarding whether works proposed or being carried out at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire in relation to the Trump International Golf Links could result in significant environmental effects as defined in the Town and Country Pla…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: None.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that works proposed or being carried out at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire in relation to the Trump International Golf Links could result in significant environmental effects as defined in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: It is a matter for Aberdeenshire Council, as planning authority, to consider all significant environmental effects likely to arise from the proposed development and ensure the requirements of the regulations are complied with prior to the grant of any plannin…
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would take enforcement action to ensure that the conditions imposed on the granting of outline planning permission to Trump International Golf Links, Scotland on land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire were complied with.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Enforcement action is primarily a matter for the relevant planning authority.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are available to ensure that Aberdeenshire Council monitors and enforces any planning conditions that it has placed on planning consents granted for land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Planning enforcement is primarily the responsibility of the planning authority within whose area development takes place. Monitoring and enforcement of planning conditions are therefore matters for Aberdeenshire Council as the relevant planning authority.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what breaches of regulatory consent, other than planning consent, there have been in relation to works taking place under the outline planning permission, or subsequent related planning permissions, granted to Trump International Golf Links, Scotland on land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aber…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Any breaches of regulatory consents are a matter for the relevant consenting authority.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, or other parties associated with the developer, regarding compliance with the planning conditions that the Scottish Government has imposed on the granting of outline planning permission on land at Menie House, Balm…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I am not aware of any such discussions as the monitoring of planning conditions is a matter for Aberdeenshire Council.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any breaches of planning consent associated with the outline planning permission granted to Trump International Golf Links, Scotland on land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire and, if so, what action has been taken to address them.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Monitoring and enforcement of planning conditions are matters for the relevant planning authority. The Scottish Government does not hold centrally information on breaches of planning control.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been put in place to monitor compliance with the planning conditions that it has imposed on the granting of outline planning permission to Trump International Golf Links, Scotland on land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The monitoring and enforcement of those planning conditions is a matter for Aberdeenshire Council as planning authority.
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are available to ensure that the planning conditions that it has imposed on the granting of outline planning permission to Trump International Golf Links, Scotland on land at Menie House, Balmedie, Aberdeenshire are complied with.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: There are a wide range of enforcement powers available to planning authorities under The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended by the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006) to enable them to ensure compliance with planning control and to remedi…
14 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what national and local accountability mechanisms there will be to prevent the politicisation of the proposed national police force.