Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,646 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Apr 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the engine failure of the MV Hamnavoe, what contingency plans are in place to maintain the lifeline ferry service on the Pentland Firth.
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on a moratorium on the use of pesticides containing neonicotinoids, in light of the House of Commons' Environmental Audit Committee report, Pollinators and Pesticides, which was published on 5 April 2013.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government adopted a precautionary approach and supported restrictions to neonicotinoid use, whilst allowing further research to be undertaken to clarify whether these neonicotinoids harm bees in the field. The European Appeals Committee met on …
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-12317 and S4W-12330 by Richard Lochhead on 25 January 2013, whether it will review its responses, in particular its comment that “studies conducted under realistic field conditions have not identified any unacceptable risk at field population leve…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The science in relation to neonicotinoids and bees in field conditions is still very unclear. However, on 28 April 2013, whilst supporting a precautionary approach and Europe’s proposed restrictions for the use of neonicotinoids, I said that given the lack of…
26 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S4W-12316 by Richard Lochhead on 25 January 2013, whether it has received the UK Advisory Committee on Pesticide’s advice.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes, the Scottish Government has received ACP’s advice and it helped inform the Government’s position, which I announced on 28 April 2013, on the European Commission’s restrictions on neonicotinoids.
23 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13890 by Fergus Ewing on 22 April 2013, whether ministers have seen the economic assessments for each project supported by the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund and, if so, whether they will seek their publication by the relevant agencies.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The economic impact assessments relating to projects supported by the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund (N-RIF) are undertaken independently of Scottish Ministers. The economic impact assessments are held by Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands …
23 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13889 by Fergus Ewing on 22 April 2013, whether it will provide an estimate of the date on which it will make available the names of the three recipients of support from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The details of the first recipients of investment from REIF should be announced within the next few weeks
23 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13555 by Fergus Ewing on 22 March 2013, whether it will provide details of the outcome of the economic assessment of each project receiving support from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14409 on 8 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…
23 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-13555 and S4W-13888 on 20 March 2013 and 22 April 2013 respectively, whether it will set out the details of the outcome of the economic assessment for each project supported by the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Investment decisions by REIF are made following consideration of a range of commercially sensitive information and analysis. The economic assessment is part of the investment decision making and due diligence process, the details of which are not disclosed du…
23 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-13559 and S4W-13887 by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2013 and 22 April 2013 respectively, whether it will state what estimate it has made of net jobs for each project receiving funding support from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Investment decisions by REIF are made following consideration of a range of commercially sensitive information and analysis. This includes the net jobs estimated for each project which will not be divulged on a project by project basis but will form part of t…
15 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Orkney Islands Council and other stakeholders about the implications of Ortak going into administration.
12 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the waste from Scotland’s nuclear reactors that is currently stored in England would be returned if Scotland became independent and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14255 on 7 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…
12 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland would have to pay toward continuing to store the waste from its nuclear reactors that is currently stored in England if Scotland became independent and, if so, how much, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14255 on 7 May 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…
12 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the arrangements for sending waste from nuclear reactors to England for storage will remain in place if Scotland becomes independent and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The management of radioactive waste is a devolved matter and, as such, is already the responsibility of the Scottish Ministers. The management of spent nuclear fuel and other nuclear materials is reserved to the UK Government. Radioactive waste is not sent t…
21 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13549 by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2013, what private sector investment was leveraged into each of the projects.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The private sector investment leveraged into each project has been provided in my earlier response to question S4W-13548 on 9 April 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which …
21 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-13550 and S4W-12998 by Fergus Ewing on 20 and 5 March 2013 respectively, whether it will publish the funding packages and name the "other ports".
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The "other ports" being referred to in the response to S4W-12998 were Westway, Inchgreen and Hunterston. Details of the funding package and private sector investment leveraged have previously been provided in response to question S4W-13548 on 9 April 2013. A…
21 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13547 by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2013, whether it will publish the assessed economic impact for each project supported by the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Economic Impact Assessment for each of the approved projects is held by either Scottish Enterprise or Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with provision made for the protection of commercially sensitive information.
21 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13554 by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2013, whether it will name the three projects given support and state the amount of private sector investment leveraged into each.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Details of investments by the Renewable Energy Investment Fund will be announced following financial closure and in accordance with the individual legal and commercial agreements.
21 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13555 by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2013, what the result was of the economic assessment for each project supported.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Applications are assessed for their additional socio economic impact through consideration of the scale and nature of the benefits, the extent to which these benefits are additional, the supply chain benefits, the concentration of benefits with Scottish busin…
21 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-13559 by Fergus Ewing on 20 March 2013, what net jobs assessment was made for each project receiving support from the Renewable Energy Infrastructure Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Applications are considered on a project by project basis and net jobs are an important factor in the socio assessment made for each project. A proportionate and appropriate assessment is undertaken for each project
19 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to promote the registration of local authorities for the UK Junior Individual Savings Accounts for children in care scheme.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: In December 2012, the Scottish Government issued guidance to local authorities promoting registration in the Junior Individual Savings Accounts scheme for looked after children. That guidance stated that participation in the scheme is regarded as a core fu…
19 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many looked-after children in each local authority area have set up Junior Individual Savings Accounts.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: As of 10 April 2013, a total of 225 children, have had Junior Investment Savings Accounts set up, with an initial contribution of £200 each from the UK Government. These children are looked after by the 3 Scottish local authorities who have provided data to e…
19 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many local authorities offer Junior Individual Savings Accounts to looked-after young people in their area.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: As of 10 April 2013, 21 Scottish local authorities have registered with The Share Foundation, confirming that they wish to offer Junior Individual Savings Accounts to looked after children in their area. The list is available at: www.sharefound.org. The Sco…
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons the SSE power station on South Uist is subject to the provisions of the Water Environment (Oil Storage) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 but the Shore Street fuel depot in Kirkwall is not.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The oil stored at the SSE Power Station Loch Carnan is used on site, and as such is subject to the requirements of the Water Environment (Oil Storage) (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The Kirkwall Fuel Depot is an oil storage facility used for the onward distrib…
14 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it determines which fuel storage sites are subject to the provisions of the Water Environment (Oil Storage) (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Regulations 4 to 6 of the Water Environment (Oil Storage) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 set out the criteria to determine which oil storage facilities are subject to the provisions of the Regulations. The Regulations can be found at the following link: http://w…
11 Mar 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many adults in the NHS Orkney area are on a waiting list to be registered with a NHS dentist.
7 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it determined that delaying spending from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund will not harm efforts to develop renewable energy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The phasing of expenditure on the REIF will reflect the needs of industry and community developers. Scotland is enjoying record activity and investment in renewable energy. We exceeded our interim target to generate 31% of our energy requirement by 2011 by so…
7 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has estimated the number of jobs that will be delivered by projects receiving support from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Applications are considered on a project by project basis and net jobs are an important factor in the socio- economic assessments conducted for each project.
7 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic benefit gained by moving £15 million from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund to other projects as a result of the Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill passed on 6 February 2013 and what these projects are.
Answer · John Swinney: The funding for renewable energy projects through the Renewable Energy Investment Fund has been re-profiled to reflect industry needs. In line with the overall economic strategy set out within the Draft Budget, the assessment was that the maximum benefit to t…
7 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it determines that projects awarded support from the Renewable Energy Investment Fund deliver additionality.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13555 on 20 March 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
7 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what changes there have been to the expected spending profile of the Renewable Energy Investment Fund as a result of the Budget (Scotland) (No.2) Bill, passed on 6 February 2013.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The fund will disburse £103 million over the spending review period; with flexibility on the annual spend to reflect industry needs. The indicative allocation for 2012 -13 was £16 million, based on the prospect of a significant investment in the marine sector…