Patrick Harvie

18 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop and deliver child safety-related legislation.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24973 on 21 July 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…

18 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop and deliver a child safety action plan.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government recognises that there are a variety of ways in which to address the issue of child safety and is fully committed to promoting the safety of all children and young people in Scotland. This means that child safety is the responsibility o…

18 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in response to the 2009 Child Safety Report Card for Scotland, which rated Scotland’s overall performance in relation to child safety as fair.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In responding to the 2009 Report Card, the Scottish Government considers development of a clear and robust evidence base on childhood injuries to be a priority. It has therefore commissioned and funded an unintentional injuries data collection pilot in order …

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the energy input/output ratio of coal extraction by opencast methods and in particular into the quantity of diesel required in the excavation, extraction and transportation of coal.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not carried out any research into this matter.</p>

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what appeal procedures exist for communities to challenge planning decisions that have been made by local authorities but will no longer be considered by the Scottish Executive.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are no appeal procedures in planning legislation which allow for communities to challenge decisions that have been made by planning authorities. However, objections and representations from consultees and the public are an essential part of the decision…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers climate change a matter of national interest in the context of Planning Circular 3/2009.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Planning applications are required by law to be decided in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Should issues related to climate change be raised in relation to a planning application, these will need to be t…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its best estimate is of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by burning one tonne of Scottish coal in a power station that does not have any form of carbon capture technology.

Answer · Jim Mather: Figures supplied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency suggest burning one tonne of coal would produce a range of between 2.5 to 2.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide.</p> <p >Coal used in power stations in Scotland comes from various geographical locations.…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it decides whether local authorities have a financial interest in opencast coal planning applications and whether this includes (a) sponsorship by coal companies of local projects or services and (b) existing contributions made by coal companies to community trusts on a levy-per-tonne…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In the first instance it is for the local authority to decide if it has a financial interest in an opencast coal application and whether an application requires to be notified under Circular 3/2009.</p>

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place with communities in regions with a concentration of opencast coal mining operations prior to the policy changes contained in Planning Circular 3/2009.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The changes to the notification procedure in no way diminish the opportunity for the public or communities to be involved in the planning process. This administrative change was therefore not subject to consultation.</p>

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice ministers received from (a) Scottish Natural Heritage and (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with regard to the removal from Planning Circular 3/2009 of environmental impact assessments as a central trigger for Scottish Executive planning notification.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: <i >Delivering Planning Reform</i> was published on 28 October 2008. It contained a range of commitments across the public and private sectors to accelerate the pace of planning reform. This included commitments from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottis…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications for opencast coal operations were referred to it between 1 July 2007 and 1 April 2009 under the terms of Planning Circular 5/2007 and how many it (a) approved and (b) rejected.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has been notified of six opencast coal operations during that period all of which were cleared back to the respective planning authorities to determine.</p>

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many opencast coal sites have been approved for new operations or expansion since May 2007, giving details of (a) site name and location, (b) new site or extension size in hectares and (c) granted coal reserves in tonnes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The British Geological Survey collect this data. The information is published at <a href="http://www.bgs.ac.uk/MineralsUK/minequar/coal/occ/home.html">www.bgs.ac.uk/MineralsUK/minequar/coal/occ/home.html</a>. Information for 2008 will be published shortly.</p…

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends formally to respond to the Energy Saving Trust report, Potential for energy efficiency loans for carbon saving measures in Scottish homes.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government commissioned the Energy Saving Trust''s report, <i >Potential for energy efficiency loans for carbon saving measures in Scottish homes,</i> to explore whether a domestic loan scheme would have any potential in Scotland to significantly…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will put in place measures and safeguards to ensure that the materials used to insulate homes through the Home Insulation Scheme will be sourced from Scottish or Scotland-based manufacturers or suppliers and, if so, what these are.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23543 on 12 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will put in place measures and safeguards to ensure that the materials used to insulate homes through the Home Insulation Scheme will be ethically sourced, low carbon in their production and supply, and reclaimed, reused or recycled wherever possible and, if so, what these are.

Answer · Alex Neil: In delivering the Home Insulation Scheme, we will aim to ensure that best practice procurement is followed to achieve value for money, balancing specification for the work with its cost effective delivery.</p>

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms will be for the significant loan measure on home insulation announced during the budget process 2009-10, specifically eligibility of both applicants and measures, repayment mechanisms and any process for repaid funds to be made available to future applicants to the scheme.

Answer · Alex Neil: Proposals for a significant loan mechanism for domestic energy efficiency measures are under development and will be announced in due course.</p>

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publicise and promote the funding and services available from existing and complementary insulation funds and schemes from other providers when publicising and promoting the Home Insulation Scheme.

Answer · Alex Neil: In the delivery of the Home Insulation Scheme, reference may be made to complementary provision, where appropriate.</p>

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to link the operation, promotion and delivery of the Home Insulation Scheme with existing and complementary schemes from other providers to avoid duplication of effort and to maximise partnership and joint working.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Saving Trust, which is the managing agent for the Home Insulation Scheme, the Energy Assistance Package and the Energy Saving Scotland advice network will play a key role in working with local partners to maximise partnership and joint working.</p>…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contributions to the Home Insulation Scheme are expected from external bodies, including local authorities, power companies, through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target or other means, and housing associations, and how the value of these contributions is expected to be broken down.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is committing £15 million of investment to the Home Insulation Scheme in 2009-10 and is seeking £15 million of complementary investment from other sources. These sources could, for example, include local councils and housing associatio…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected total householder contribution will be to measures part-funded by the Home Insulation Scheme in 2009-10.

Answer · Alex Neil: The total householder contribution to measures part-funded by the Home Insulation Scheme in 2009-10 will depend on factors such as the eligibility criteria agreed and the areas selected.</p>

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new jobs are expected to be generated as a result of the Home Insulation Scheme over the duration of the scheme and how that information is calculated.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23536 on 12 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new jobs are expected to be generated as a result of the Home Insulation Scheme in 2009-10 and how that information is calculated.

Answer · Alex Neil: We estimate that the Home Insulation Scheme will create or sustain up to 900 jobs in this sector. These estimates have been calculated using the Scottish Government''s Input-Output model and include direct, indirect and induced jobs.</p>

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated carbon emissions reduction will be from the operation of the Home Insulation Scheme over the duration of the scheme and how that reduction will be calculated.

Answer · Alex Neil: The carbon emission reductions arising from the operation of the Home Insulation Scheme will depend on the nature of the future roll-out of the scheme. The implementation of the first phase of the Home Insulation Scheme will be evaluated with a view to inform…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated carbon emissions reduction will be from the operation of the Home Insulation Scheme in 2009-10 and how that reduction will be calculated.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has made an initial estimate that the Home Insulation Scheme could save in the region of 24,250 tCO₂e in 2009-10. The actual emission savings achieved will depend on a range of factors including the characteristics of the ar…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households the Home Insulation Scheme will take out of fuel poverty in 2009-10 and what proportion of households in fuel poverty in each selected area this represents.

Answer · Alex Neil: The proportion of fuel poor households within each area that will benefit under the Home Insulation Scheme will depend on the characteristics of the areas selected.</p>

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the work under the Home Insulation Scheme in 2009-10 is expected to cover hard-to-treat properties.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Home Insulation Scheme will focus on the provision of the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures such as loft and cavity wall insulation in properties that are able to take such measures. However, all households in each area, including those in pr…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households will be eligible to receive reduced-cost insulation measures under the Home Insulation Scheme in the areas selected in 2009-10 and what proportion of households in those areas this represents.

Answer · Alex Neil: The number of households eligible to receive reduced cost insulation measures under the Home Insulation Scheme in the areas selected in 2009-10 will depend on a range of factors including the eligibility criteria agreed and the characteristics of each area.</…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households will be eligible to receive free insulation measures under the Home Insulation Scheme in the areas selected in 2009-10 and what proportion of households in those areas this represents.

Answer · Alex Neil: The proportion of households within each area that will be entitled to free insulation measures will depend on a range of factors including the eligibility criteria agreed and the characteristics of that area.</p>

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the £15 million allocated to the Home Insulation Scheme will be spent on (a) insulation materials, (b) labour costs to install insulation, (c) publicity and promotion and (d) administration.

Answer · Alex Neil: Aspects of the Home Insulation Scheme are still under development and it is therefore not possible to finalise such a breakdown at this stage.</p>

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a target date by which it aims for all homes in Scotland to be insulated and, if so, to what minimum standard and by what date.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23524 on 11 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bu…