Patrick Harvie

25 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an air quality assessment is required to comply with EU regulations on new road developments and whether such an assessment has been carried out in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The requirement for assessment of air quality impacts is set out in Schedule 4 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations and Annex IV of Council Directive 85/337/EEC as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC.</p> <p >Full details of the as…

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the health and safety implications of the various options for the future of the current Forth Road Bridge when a replacement crossing has been opened and, in particular, whether any option might constitute a hazard to any shipping using the Forth.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3813 on 20 September 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has taken on the value of the land associated with the current Forth Road Bridge, its approach roads and of the materials constituting the bridge and whether the value of these assets could be realised when a replacement crossing has been opened.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Road Bridge is a Grade A listed structure and is managed and maintained by FETA.</p><p>Advice has not beensought on the value of the associated land, its approach roads or the material constitutingthe bridge.</p><p>The future of theForth Road Bridge…

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what options have been considered for the future of the current Forth Road Bridge when a replacement crossing has been opened and what the cost and environmental implications are of each option.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3813 on 20 September 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the current Forth Road Bridge when a replacement crossing has been opened.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A range of optionsare potentially available for the existing Forth Road Bridge, including supplementing the multi-modal uses of the Forth Crossings. Theseare being looked at carefully in the context of the urgent need for a replacementcrossing and ensuring bo…

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for decisions to be made on each wind farm proposal that has been referred to ministers through public inquiries or under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Answer · Jim Mather: Under Section 36of the Electricity Act 1989, Scottish ministers are responsible for thegranting or refusal of applications for consent for electricity generation.There is no published timetable set for Scottish ministers to make thesedecisions, however, they …

1 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ask a body independent of Transport Scotland, such as Audit Scotland, to carry out reviews of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and the M74 extension.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no specificreview planned for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route orthe M74 extension project.</p><p>Transport Scotland continues to monitor all projects to ensure proper financialcontrol and management as well as to deliver value for money for Sc…

1 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific guidance it has given to Transport Scotland on the remit and scope of the reviews of major transport infrastructure projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotlandreviews its portfolio of major road and rail projects on a quarterly basis and providesupdates to ministers. Transport Scotland operates withinits Framework Document, Corporate Plan and the requirements of the <i>Scottish PublicFinance Manua…

1 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Transport Scotland financial review of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project will (a) begin and (b) be completed and what the terms are of the review.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1348 on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will abide by the findings of a public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The findings of aPublic Local Inquiry are the statement of facts from the reporter.</p><p>Scottishministers will consider the recommendations made in the report of any Public LocalInquiry before making a decision.</p>

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money has been spent on purchasing land and property in preparation for the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: To date, £1.69 millionhas been spent purchasing two residential properties.</p>

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) homes and (b) acres of land have been compulsorily purchased in preparation for the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No homes or land haveat this stage been compulsorily acquired for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.</p>

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any European regulations or legislation have affected the timescale for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and, if so, whether it will provide details of such regulations or legislation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Compliance with Europeanregulations and legislation have been factored into the timetable for deliveringthe Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.</p>

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering the remit of a public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and, if so, whether it will ensure that climate change implications and effects on congestion levels are included as part of the inquiry.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is being promoted under the terms of the Roads(Scotland) Act 1984. A Public Local Inquiry is requiredto be held in certain circumstances prescribed in the act to hear evidence in relationto objections lodged against the d…

27 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the current regulatory regime for renewable electricity generation takes full account of Scottish circumstances.

Answer · Jim Mather: Ofgem’s transmissioncharging regime works against the development of renewable energy resources in Scotland. This government wants Ofgem to set charging regimeswhich support rather than work against environmental objectives. The First Ministerintends to meet …

27 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with Ofgem regarding the development of proposals on zonal transmission loss charging.

Answer · Jim Mather: I wrote to Ofgem on31 July 2007 on the Executive’s concerns over Ofgem’s proposalsto introduce zonal transmission loss charging. A copy of the letter has been madeavailable in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43475).</p><p>The First Min…

26 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that biometric systems are necessary for the exercise by education authorities of their functions under the provisions of section 8 of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 or for the exercise of any other functions.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The ScottishExecutive does not consider the use of biometric systems by educationauthorities to be necessary. Section 8 of the Schools (Health Promotion andNutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 will require educationauthorities to take reasonable steps to protect th…

26 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its response to each regional transport strategy currently under consideration.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The ScottishGovernment response to each <i>Regional Transport Strategy </i>will be publishedon the Executive website. It will be a matter for each individual Regional TransportPartnership to decide whether and how to publish the response it receives.</p>

26 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-387 by Stewart Stevenson on 11 June 2007, which regional transport strategies were approved or returned within the three-month period stated in Scotland’s Transport Future: Guidance on Regional Transport Strategies.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: None was approvedor returned within three months. I am currently examining the <i>Regional TransportStrategies</i>. They are complex documents that deserve careful consideration. Itis my intention to complete that consideration before Parliament resumes.</p>

26 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-387 by Stewart Stevenson on 11 June 2007, what the current timetable is for consideration of each submitted regional transport strategy.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I am currently examiningthe <i>Regional Transport Strategies</i> in detail. They are complex documents thatdeserve careful consideration. It is my intention to complete that considerationbefore Parliament resumes.</p>

26 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what other potential targets were assessed in advance of setting the target for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2433on 14 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

26 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the target for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 21 June, was set at 80%.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The 80% emissionstarget proposed is in line with the manifesto commitment and sets out the ScottishGovernment’s level of ambition. We are setting in place research, immediate engagementwith stakeholders and a formal consultation in order to inform the nature …

26 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reports or other evidence it took account of when drawing up its target for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 21 June 2007

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2433on 14 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…

6 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has participated in discussion, either through the UK Government or directly at EU level, on the development of the economic partnership agreements currently being negotiated between the European Commission and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, or whether it expects…

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government hasnot participated in discussions on the development of the economic partnershipagreements between the European Commission and the African, Caribbean andPacific countries. This is an issue that I will consider raising in futurediscuss…

27 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it responds to allegations that Scottish airports have been used for rendition flights and what action it intends to take to prevent their future use for such flights.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Executivetreats these allegations very seriously and has stated its opposition to renditionflights. Civil Aviation is a reserved matter and so is the responsibility of theUK Government but attempts to commit or to conspire to commit torture are c…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the provision of services to enable women to exercise the right to choose whether and how to control their own fertility, including access to safe termination services.

Answer · Shona Robison: Yes. Scotland’sNational Sexual Health Strategy contains recommendations which aim to improveaccess to sexual health advice and services for the people of Scotland.</p><p>The strategy contains aspecific recommendation for lead clinicians within each NHS board …

30 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made, including any related, initial or previous research, of the possible costs of (a) dualling the A9, (b) dualling the A96, (c) dualling the A77, (d) building the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, (e) building the M74 and (f) building a second crossing over the …

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have been no detailedcost estimates made of dualling the A9, A96, or A77. Any future investment inthese routes will emerge from the StrategicTransport Projects Review which is due to report in summer 2008. Details of the current investment programme, in…

30 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of funding requirements for bridge maintenance and repairs on the Forth and Tay road bridges.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with both the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) and theTay Road Bridge Joint Board (TRBJB).</p><p>The prospective discussionsthat we shall be having with those bodies on removing the tolls will include,amongs…

30 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address any increased traffic levels as a result of scrapping tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are discussing theprogrammes of the regional transport partnerships with them, to see what can bedone to reduce traffic levels, and encourage modal shift and car sharing.</p>

30 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the removal of tolls from the Erskine Bridge has had on traffic levels across it.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-308 on 8 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…