Patrick Harvie

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government on the impact of peak oil.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has had no specific discussions with the UK Government on the impact of peak oil. However, there is frequent contact with the UK Government on a range of energy matters. From these discussions, we are confident that global oil supplies…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has asked its Council of Economic Advisers to consider the impact of peak oil on Scotland’s economy.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Council of Economic Advisers considers a wide range of issue of relevance to the Scottish Economy. The minutes of all meetings are published within two weeks of the meetings taking place and can be found at:</p> <p align=left ><u><a href="http://www.sco…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions its Council of Economic Advisers has had on the challenge of the peak in oil production.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Council of Economic Advisers discusses a wide range of issue of relevance to the Scottish economy. The minutes of the meeting can be viewed at:</p> <p align=left ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/Meetings/2008…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in the agricultural sector to address the impact of peak oil.

Answer · Jim Mather: On a global level, there has been considerable debate about whether peak oil has occurred. It is the case that significant reserves remain in the North Sea and that the Scottish oil and gas industry, which is of enormous economic importance to Scotland, will …

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments it has made of (a) Scotland’s and (b) global oil supplies.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has made no specific assessments of Scottish or global oil supplies. However, we regularly monitor world energy markets, including future estimates of oil reserves prepared by the industry, international agencies, and the UK Government…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, into the impact of peak oil in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: On a global level, there has been considerable debate about whether peak oil has occurred. It is the case that significant reserves remain in the North Sea and that the Scottish oil and gas industry, which is of enormous economic importance to Scotland, will …

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in the transport sector to address the impact of peak oil.

Answer · Jim Mather: On a global level, there has been considerable debate about whether peak oil has occurred. It is the case that significant reserves remain in the North Sea and that the Scottish oil and gas industry, which is of enormous economic importance to Scotland, will …

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Scotland’s first national food policy will address the impact of peak oil.

Answer · Jim Mather: On a global level, there has been considerable debate about whether peak oil has occurred. It is the case that significant reserves remain in the North Sea and that the Scottish oil and gas industry, which is of enormous economic importance to Scotland, will …

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the National Planning Framework 2: Discussion Draft will help Scotland to address the impact of peak oil.

Answer · Jim Mather: On a global level, there has been considerable debate about whether peak oil has occurred. It is the case that significant reserves remain in the North Sea and that the Scottish oil and gas industry, which is of enormous economic importance to Scotland, will …

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its Government Economic Strategy will take into account the impact of peak oil.

Answer · Jim Mather: On a global level, there has been considerable debate about whether peak oil has occurred. In any event, significant reserves remain in the North Sea and the Scottish oil and gas industry, which is of enormous economic importance to Scotland, will remain a vi…

1 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations it is making to address the impact of peak oil in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3F-751 on 8 May 2008. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/bu…

11 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what way disabled peoples’ voices will be given greater prominence in the governance structures of Passenger View Scotland, in light of that body assuming the functions of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We propose to prescribe that at least three members of Passengers' View Scotland (PVS) will be disabled persons as determined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. We will shortly be inviting members of Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) a…

11 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what kind of representation disabled people have in the governance of (a) the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and (b) Passenger View Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: (a) The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland Regulations 2002 state that the convener and at least half of the total number of the committee, including the convener, be disabled persons according to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.</p> <p >(b) W…

22 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the legal basis is for any transfer of data from the General Register Office for Scotland to the Home Office.

Answer · Jim Mather: Any transfer of Scottish registration data held by the General Register Office for Scotland to the Home Office would be covered by Section 56 of the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006. Section 56 enables the Registrar…

22 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to any work being undertaken to provide access to registers held by the General Register Office for Scotland to the UK Identity and Passport Service (IPS), who in the IPS will have access to these data; what information will be provided, and for what purposes.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Registrar General has had preliminary discussions with the UK Identity and Passport Service (IPS) on how Scottish registration data might be provided to the IPS using the powers of section 56 of the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services…

22 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking, or has undertaken, to provide online access to the registers of births, marriages and deaths for Scotland for the UK Identity and Passport Service.

Answer · Jim Mather: The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) has provided the UK Identity and Passport Service (IPS) with limited online access to the registers of births, marriages and deaths for Scotland. Between 2000 and 2004, as part of work to detect identity theft, …

22 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what access the UK Identity and Passport Service has to registers held by the General Register Office for Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: The UK Identity and Passport Service at present has no access to the registers held by the General Register Office for Scotland.</p>

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response would be if the European Commission decided to nullify the award of the contract for the M74 northern extension to Interlink M74 under Section 2 of Article 81 on restrictive agreements and practices.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We carried out an internal review of the procurement process which concluded that the procedures were properly conducted. We will consider our response to the Commission when they come to a decision on the complaint.</p>

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers would place the contract award process for the M74 northern extension on hold if the European Commission moves to a formal investigation of the tender process.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-2320 on 21 February 2008. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.u…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what external advice was taken during the review of the tender process for the M74 northern extension about its legality under EU competition law.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: None.</p>

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used to review the tender process for the M74 northern extension.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: An internal review considered all aspects of the tender process to ensure compliance with European and UK Procurement Regulations.</p>

12 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the performance of Historic Scotland, in particular in relation to its involvement with the planning system.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Yes. Historic Scotland achieved nine of the ten key performance targets set by Scottish ministers in 2006-07. In relation to listed building and conservation area consent cases, 99.57% were resolved within 28 days against a target of 97%.</p>

12 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the remit and role of Historic Scotland are clear.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Yes. The role and remit are set out in Historic Scotland''s Framework Document 2004.</p>

5 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the efforts being made by local authorities to maintain an accurate and complete list of common good assets.

Answer · John Swinney: In 2007 the Scottish Government wrote to all Scottish local authorities to remind them of their responsibilities under accounting codes of practice, best value guidance, grant conditions and statute to maintain accurate records of all common goods assets held…

5 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the comments recently made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing regarding the proposed Go Ape facility in Pollok Park represent government policy in respect of this particular planning application.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Any comments made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in connection with this issue were made solely and appropriately in her capacity as constituency MSP.</p>

5 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications were called in for consideration by ministers in 2007 and, of these, how many were (a) called in due to the local authority having a vested interest in the outcome, (b) subsequently approved and (c) subsequently rejected.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Nineteen planning applications were called by Scottish ministers during 2007. Of these, three had been notified to Scottish ministers because of local authority interest.</p> <p >Of the 19 applications called-in, planning permission was granted in two cases …

5 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to determine local authority planning applications called in for consideration by the Scottish Government.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Some planning applications by local authorities are notified to Scottish Ministers under the terms of the Town and Country Planning (Notification of Applications) (Scotland) Direction 2007, which is contained within Scottish Executive Planning Circular 5/2007…

4 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve current provision made for suitable pitches for Gypsies/Travellers.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Local authorities are responsible for the provision of official Gypsies/Travellers Sites in their area. In 2005-08 the Scottish Government is providing grant funding totalling £3.5 million to assist local authorities to improve their facilities for Gypsies/Tr…

4 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how ministers intend to build on the findings of the October 2007 Gypsy Traveller Site Grant Funding Study and the work of the previous administration’s strategic group on Gypsies/Travellers.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The recommendations from the Gypsies/Travellers Strategic Group have helped to inform the Scottish Government''s National Statement and Action Plan on Race Equality.</p> <p >The evaluation of the Gypsies/Travellers Site Grant was a survey on the use made by …

4 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Gypsy/Traveller communities can expect to benefit from its policy intention of creating sustainable, mixed communities, as set out in Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland, and whether a race impact assessment of the report’s potential impact on Scottish Gypsy/Traveller …

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The proposals within <i >Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland</i> are intended to promote a housing system which meets the accommodation need of all of Scotland''s communities, including minority groups. The proposals will be subject to an Equa…