Parliamentary questions

Patrick Harvie

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

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will expand the remit of its privacy working group to examine all aspects of privacy and to consider possible changes to legislation.

Answer · John Swinney: The Expert Group has been wound up as their work has finished and a public consultation paper will be published in due course.

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-violent political campaigners came under surveillance in the last 12 months.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not available. Surveillance is undertaken on the basis of necessity and proportionality; not on the basis of individual political motivation. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 provides that surveillance ma…

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to carry out an assessment of the role of surveillance in society.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are no plans to conduct such an assessment.

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to safeguard the right to protest.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Existing law safeguards and permits lawful protest. In doing so it strikes a balance between protecting the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly with the rights of the wider community to go about their daily lives safely and withou…

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns about the operation of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 and, if so, what concerns.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 provides a framework for the authorisation and regulation of the use of investigatory powers by public authorities in Scotland. It seeks to balance the protection of individual civil liberties with th…

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take in light of reports that officers from Strathclyde Police offered to pay a member of the protest group, Plane Stupid, as an informant.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The use of police informants is an established part of policing and is overseen by the independent Office of the Surveillance Commissioner. Individual operational decisions are a matter for the relevant police force.

24 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it considers appropriate to manage spatial conflict in the marine environment and whether those measures should include the provision of financial compensation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine planning should provide the main mechanism for managing spatial conflict in the marine environment. In general it would not be expected that financial compensation would be paid as part of the process of resolving conflict.

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it has been informed by the Health and Safety Executive about a loss of cooling incident at the high level radioactive liquid storage tanks at the Sellafield nuclear power plant on 1 April 2009, given the proximity of the plant to Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government officials are notified of any formally reportable events at all Scottish civil nuclear sites and also for incidents at Sellafield. Scottish Government officials were notified of this particular event on 2 April 2009.

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhen and where the next meeting of the British-Irish Council is expected to be held and what will be on the agenda, with particular reference to energy issues.

Answer · Michael Russell: The next summit meeting of the British-Irish Council is scheduled to take place in October in Jersey; however the agenda is yet to be determined.

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat discussions it has had with the Isle of Man Government regarding nuclear power, given the proximity of the Sellafield nuclear power plant.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure & Climate Change attended the British-Irish Council meeting of 17 April 2009, at which the Irish and Manx governments were present, and during which the issue of the Sellafield nuclear power plant was raised.…

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it has received a copy of the report by the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Consequences in Norway of a hypothetical accident in Sellafield, and whether it intends to commission a similar study.

Answer · Shona Robison: While nuclear safety is reserved and a matter for the Health and Safety Executive, consequence management for issues arising from any off site releases is devolved. We understand the Health and Safety Executive has discussed the issue with the Norwe…

16 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of sites on the Cumbrian coast opposite Dumfries and Galloway being included on the list of potential sites for nuclear reactors announced by the UK Government on 15 April 2009 and with a consultation period of one month, whether it intends to respond to the consultation or prov…

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has no plans to respond to this consultation as it relates to sites in England and Wales only. The Scottish Government has made clear our position that we do not need or want new nuclear power stations in Scotland. However, the we will…

15 Apr 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what issues were raised during the First Minister’s recent visit to China.

Answer · Michael Russell : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm">http://www.scott…

1 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the provisions in its forthcoming draft housing Bill will improve energy performance in the domestic sector.

Answer · Alex Neil: The draft housing Bill will be launched for consultation shortly.

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: The Council of Economic Advisers is currently considering how to take this study forward.

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will be commissioned to carry out the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: The Council of Economic Advisers is currently considering how to take this study forward.

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms of reference will be for the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: The Council of Economic Advisers is currently considering how to take this study forward.

19 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government concerning the need for anti-discrimination protection for the Scottish Gypsy/Traveller community and whether it would support legislation in this area.

Answer · Alex Neil: On 26 June 2007 the Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, wrote to the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly, on this issue, seeking to open the debate and suggested that the UK Government takes the opportunity of the …

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the new routes for traffic joining the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing will have on air quality in South Queensferry and Kirkliston and on noise pollution and the quality of life of residents.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Detailed analysis of environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation is currently underway and will be reported in an Environmental Statement later in 2009.

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether uncertainty about the future strength of the Forth Road Bridge cables due to corrosion remains the sole reason for the construction of an additional crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21614 on 17 March 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/…

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Forth Road Bridge will be able to remain open to HGV traffic beyond 2021 if the Forth Estuary Transport Authority chief engineer is correct in his assessment of the effectiveness of the cable drying.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: If the dehumidification process is successful, the requirement for weight restrictions would need to be assessed to take account of the deterioration to the cables that has already occurred. However, the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) has a number of maintenance pro…

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers share the positive view of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority chief engineer of the effectiveness of the cable-drying system being applied to the Forth Road Bridge.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Information from the Forth Estuary Transport Authority is that the dehumidification process is progressing in line with expectations. We will not know whether the process has been successful until the cables are re-inspected in 2011-12.

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish a draft energy efficiency action plan.

Answer · Jim Mather: The provision in the Climate Change Bill for a Scottish Energy Efficiency Action Plan will require Scottish ministers to prepare and publish the action plan no later than 12 months after the legislation comes into force, and to report on the implementation of…

25 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the Nuclear Industry Association’s application to justify new nuclear power stations, either in accordance with justification regulations or otherwise and, if so, what response it has made or intends …

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Government officials are in regular discussions with officials from the Department of Energy and Climate Change on the justification process and are being kept updated on its progress. The position of the Scottish Government with regard to n…

29 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how scrutiny and other services in relation to the NHS would be protected in the proposed merger of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland and the Care Commission.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are committed to ensuring that the new body provides robust assurance and scrutiny for both NHS and independent health care services, and also continues to play a significant role in supporting service improvement.

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of the funds it administers are specifically allocated to support the development of marine renewables and what the likely value is of each of these funds to marine developers over the current comprehensive spending review period.

Answer · Jim Mather: The £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) is fully subscribed and has awarded grants to eight wave or tidal developers. We also intend to introduce in April, the most generous revenue support scheme in the UK through the Renewables…

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what date it expects the £10 million being made available under the Saltire Prize to be awarded.

Answer · Jim Mather: The £10 million Saltire Prize is expected to be awarded by 31 March 2015.

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide additional funds under the Marine Energy Fund, which was announced by the then Deputy First Minister on 24 October 2006, beyond the £13.15 million confirmed by 2 February 2007.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to extend the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) which is fully subscribed. However, the recently reconvened Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) Marine Energy Group will …

8 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what barriers prevent asylum seekers from accessing further and higher education.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0108-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…

16 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the steering group set up to review the national concessionary travel scheme has considered extending access to the scheme to individuals in receipt of a War Disablement Pension.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, announced on 4 July 2008 that he wanted to ensure that the eligibility criteria of the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People is extended so that injured veterans …