Parliamentary questions
Patrick Harvie
1,454 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings ministers and officials have had with representatives of Composite Energy/Dart Energy Ltd in the last 12 months; what the dates of the meetings were; who was present, and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Officials from Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise met with representatives from Dart Energy on 31 May 2011. The company provided a general overview of their proposals for a Coal Bed Methane project in Stirlingshire.
7 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the risks involved in hydraulic fracturing are sufficiently understood to allow the use of the technique in Scotland.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The UK has a long history of onshore gas exploration and the range of techniques used in both conventional and unconventional gas extraction, including hydraulic fracturing, are understood by the relevant regulators. There is a robust regulatory, safety and e…
7 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under which category in the hierarchy of developments the planning aspects of a proposal to begin shale gas extraction by means of hydraulic fracturing would fall.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The interpretation of legislation is a matter for the planning authority in the first instance. It will be for them to consider in the circumstances of the case whether a proposal is a national, major or local development. No such projects are designated as …
29 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation it has carried out of the (a) quality and (b) effectiveness of the services that it funds that are provided by In Care Survivors Service Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As part of the grant conditions, the In Care Survivors Service Scotland (ICSSS) is required to monitor the quality and effectiveness of its service provision and provide quarterly updates to the Scottish Government. Furthermore, ICSSS is also required and has…
29 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative means exist to provide the services offered by In Care Survivors Service Scotland in the event that they are withdrawn due to lack of funding.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting survivors of childhood abuse. The In Care Survivors Service Scotland (ICSSS) provides a specialist service to a group of people who have suffered trauma of a very specific nature which is tailored to their ne…
29 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it makes available to which organisations to meet the support needs of survivors of childhood abuse in care.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government committed £750,000 to the In Care Survivors Service Scotland (ICSSS) over three years from November 2008. The final payment of £125,000 was made in April 2011. Future funding for the ICSSS is subject to further discussion. Information…
28 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business and Government Strategy is taking to ensure that government departments comply with part four of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2004, duties of public bodies relating to climate change.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government published guidance in February 2011 to assist all public bodies in complying with the duties placed upon them by Part 4 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Officials located within the Energy and Climate Change Directorate lead …
28 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance Employment and Sustainable Growth has had with ministerial colleagues to ensure that the next budget bill fully funds the implementation of the proposals in Low Carbon Scotland (The Report on Proposals and Policies).
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s action to meet statutory emissions reduction targets is a collective responsibility across all ministerial portfolios, and all Cabinet Secretaries are currently engaged in discussions in preparation for the Spending Review.
28 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business and Government Strategy has had with ministerial colleagues to ensure that the proposals in Low Carbon Scotland (The Report on Proposals and Policies) are implemented across government.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government’s action to meet statutory emissions reduction targets is a collective responsibility across all ministerial portfolios, and all Cabinet Secretaries are involved in regular and ongoing discussion on the implementation of the Report on …
25 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times in the last five years it has agreed to pay the legal expenses of a party with which it is in dispute with where it considers it to be in the public interest that the matter is determined by a court or tribunal.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish ministers have not, in the past five years, agreed to pay the legal expenses of any party with which it is in dispute where it considers it to be in the public interest that the matter is determined by a court or tribunal.
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which minister will be responsible for developing its social wage policy.
Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister made clear, on 26 May 2011, in his statement on Taking Scotland Forward that the social wage is a policy across all public services for the benefit of the people of Scotland. It manifests itself across all areas of Scottish Government activ…
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines the social wage referred to by the First Minister on 26 May 2011 (Official Report, c. 68).
Answer · John Swinney: The social wage is the pact between the politicians, public services and the people of Scotland to deliver the social and economic circumstances for everyone to flourish. This is a social wage that looks beyond salary to the range of services provided by the …
21 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers or officials held discussions with local authorities regarding school closures prior to local authorities setting their budgets and, if so, on what dates; who attended, and what the nature and content of those discussions were.
Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish Ministers and officials meet local authorities on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the school estate.
21 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether indications or reassurances were given to local authorities that ministers would not call in proposed school closures that complied with the law.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (the 2010 Act) sets out the process to be followed if a local authority decides to close a school. This includes the Ministerial call in procedure, which is set out at section 15 of the 2010 Act. Under section 17…
16 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Head of Courts and Legal Services Reform's letter to the Public Petitions Committee of 11 February 2011 regarding petition PE1372, when it plans to bring forward the primary legislation to replace the current tests of title and interest with a single and simpler test.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As stated in the response to PE1372, the Scottish Government agrees with Lord Gill’s recommendations in the Scottish Civil Court Review to replace the current tests of title and interest with a single and simpler test. The Scottish Government intends to take…
16 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult on the proposed changes to the rules of court regarding protective expenses orders and, if so, when this consultation will take place.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government intends to consult on changes to the rules of court regarding protective expenses orders during the course of summer 2011.
9 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it intends to make to the UK Government’s contribution to the United Nations Earth Summit 2012 and whether there will be a role for civil society to help shape this input.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is giving active consideration to how best Scotland can make an input to this summit. Details have not yet been determined but we would be happy to provide the member with an update in due course.
9 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be participating in the United Nations Earth Summit 2012 and, if so, whether it will be represented by ministers or officials.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is giving active consideration to Scotland’s involvement in this summit, but a decision has not yet been taken as to Ministerial representation at the event. We would be happy to update the member in due course.
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been produced to assist judges in sentencing aggravated offences underthe Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009 (the 2009 Act), which came into force in March 2010, ensures that, where it can be proven that an offence has been motivated by malice or ill-will based on the victim’s actual or presumed sexual orie…
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of aggravated offences under the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009 have received a (a) community or (b) custodial sentence.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: On 18 May 2011, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) published a report on Hate Crime in Scotland 2010-11, which provides details of the initial decisions taken on how to proceed with hate crime charges. The publication includes information …
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted of aggravated offences under the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: On 18 May 2011, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) published a report, Hate Crime in Scotland 2010-11, which provides details of the initial decisions taken on how to proceed with hate crime charges. The publication includes information on…
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of disability-related hate crime have been reported to police since March 2010.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The information requested is not held centrally. Currently, the only information held centrally on hate crimes recorded by the police is that of racist incidents. Data on hate crimes is held by each of the eight Scottish police forces.
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the development of alternative economic indicators as a replacement for or supplement to GDP.
Answer · John Swinney: Over the past two years, the Scottish Government have developed a new range of quarterly economic statistics for Scotland. In addition to the output-based GDP measure, income and expenditure components have been estimated and are presented alongside the outpu…
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on a review of the regulation of letting agents.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government acknowledges that there is a need to look at the regulation of letting agents, and will consider this issue as part of the development of a strategy for the private rented sector this year. The strategy will be conducted in partnership…
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use procurement policy as an incentive to the private sector to provide a living wage to all employees.
Answer · Alex Neil: Low pay is an issue that the Scottish Government takes very seriously and we support the principles of the living wage campaign. The Public Sector Pay Policy for Staff Pay Remits 2011-12 published by the Scottish Government requires employers covered by the p…
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide funds to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport for the refurbishment of the Glasgow subway.
Answer · Keith Brown: In addition to our ongoing capital grant to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), the Scottish Government has agreed to make a substantial capital contribution for modernisation of the Glasgow subway. Initial funding will be applied in the current fina…
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with First ScotRail to ensure the provision of wi-fi services on its trains.
Answer · Keith Brown: Yes, and work is already on-going. The ScotRail franchise agreement included an option in which Scottish ministers required ScotRail to arrange for the production of a detailed report for the introduction of wi-fi on ScotRail Express routes. This report has …
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it will take to improve independent scrutiny of its record on sustainable development in the absence of the Sustainable Development Commission.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The arrangements for independent scrutiny of sustainable development performance were set out in the answer to question S3W-37829 on 25 November 2010. I will reiterate the main points here. The Scottish Parliament and its Committees scrutinise Scottish Gover…
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop a peak oil policy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are already taking action to reduce our dependence on oil. We are committed to implementing an extensive set of actions to reduce carbon dependency in Scotland to support the delivery of the Scottish Government's emissions reduction targets. Our low carbon…
18 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on same-sex marriage and the registration of civil partnerships.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We recognise the range of views on same-sex marriage and registration of civil partnerships. We will therefore begin a process of consultation and discussion of these issues as soon as practicable.