Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,646 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its spending review plans include funding to deliver an increase in the funded annual provision from 475 hours of pre-school education for three and four-year-olds to a minimum of 600 hours of early learning and childcare for three and four-year-olds and looked-after two-year-old…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13067 on 8 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…
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will give to local authorities to deliver an increase in the funded annual provision from 475 hours of pre-school education for three and four-year-olds to a minimum of 600 hours of early learning and childcare for three and four-year-olds and looked-after two-year-olds.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13067 on 8 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…
11 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cost of increasing the funded annual provision from 475 hours of pre-school education for three and four-year-olds to a minimum of 600 hours of early learning and childcare for three and four-year-olds and looked-after two-year-olds.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: A financial memorandum is being developed in collaboration with stakeholders, including Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities and will include estimated costs of implementing legislative proposals on early learning and childcare. It will be introduced alon…
7 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the release of £15 million from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund for other projects on the fund’s ability to help deliver (a) 28,000 jobs and (b) £7.1 billion to the economy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise remain committed to supporting the development of locations that will attract offshore wind supply chain. The National Renewables Infrastructure Fund remains £70 million. Investment in projects will be …
7 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial benefit to the economy resulting from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: National Renewables Infrastructure Fund is one of the linchpins to the Scottish Government’s effort to develop an offshore wind sector in Scotland. Initial economic assessment indicates that a cumulative gross value added of £7.1 billion would be achievable i…
7 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jobs have been created by projects that have received support from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: When National Renewables Infrastructure Fund (NRIF) was set up the overall assessment of the potential scale of the offshore wind industry was 28,000FTE. The purpose of NRIF is to support the development of the supply chain that creates these jobs. This sits …
7 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate why demand for financial support from the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund has been lower than expected.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The offshore wind industry has enormous potential, and to realise this potential it is essential that investors have confidence. The proposals outlined to date in the UK Energy Bill and Electricity Market Reform programme lack the measures to give investors t…
7 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund it expected in each year of the fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The call for Expressions of Interest had an initial deadline of 10 December 2010, but there remains a continuing open call.
7 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been to the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Applications to the fund are in the form of Expressions of Interest. To date Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have received 42 Expressions of Interest, with the call remaining open.
7 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund it expected to spend in each year of the fund.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The National Renewables Infrastructure Fund is not split out on an annual funding basis. Funding awards are made in response to the open call for Expressions of Interest.
7 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund has been spent in each year; what projects have received funding, and how much private finance each project has received.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: To date, Scottish Enterprise (SE) has spent £2,567,935 to support the development of a range of N-RIF projects at various Scottish locations, namely Port of Dundee, Port of Leith, Rosyth, Methil, Hunterston, Inchgreen and Westway. To date Highlands and Islan…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of energy consumption (a) is being met and (b) will be met in 2020 by combined heat and power plants.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The most recent data published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) shows that in 2011 Scottish Combined Heat and Power (CHP) schemes generated 2,864 GWh of electricity (up 3.1% from 2010) and 6,813 GWh of heat (up 1.7% from 2010). We do not…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new combined heat and power plants have been brought online since 2009 and how many will have been brought online by 2020.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The most recent data published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) shows that between 2009 and 2011, the number of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plants in Scotland increased by 31, to 116. This includes both renewable and fossil fuel systems…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it is allocating in the 2013-14 budget to support the development of combined heat and power plants.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12930 on 5 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…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is implementing to support the development of combined heat and power plants by (a) communities and (b) public sector institutions.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The uptake of CHP depends upon the availability of markets for heat. The Scottish Government is working with local authorities to help them identify suitable locations and support planning for CHP and district heating through its Heat Mapping Programme. The h…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will allocate to support the development of combined heat and power plants in the current parliamentary session.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Support is available for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) from a number of sources. The main direct support mechanisms for renewable Combined Heat and Power (CHP) are the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) and the UK Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive. The Ren…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities are undertaking modern apprenticeships.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not collect this information. Skills Development Scotland do not routinely collect information on whether apprentices have been in care. However, the Employer Recruitment Incentive which is available to support disadvantaged youn…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of people undertaking modern apprenticeships are care leavers or have (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities.
Answer · Angela Constance: Monitoring levels of apprentices with a disability relies on self declaration by individuals to employers or training providers, either when applying for apprenticeship opportunities, or when they start training. Skills Development Scotland advise that 0.4% …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of people in post-16 education, employment and training comprises care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning …
Answer · Angela Constance: No data is held centrally regarding the employment status of all care leavers. The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides estimates of employment across Scotland; however the only data available for those specific conditions requested covers those who have …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of people in employment comprises care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities.
Answer · Michael Russell: No data is held centrally regarding the employment status of all care leavers. The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides estimates of employment across Scotland; however the only data available for those specific conditions requested covers those who have …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of further education students comprises care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Funding Council produces statistics for further education students in colleges. The latest detailed data on students in further education is for the academic year 2010-11. Data on care leavers are not currently available from the SFC. The Scotti…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of higher education students comprises care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) produces statistics for higher education students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The Scottish Funding Council produces statistics for higher education students in colleges. The latest detailed data on…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities are in post-16 education, employment and training.…
Answer · Michael Russell: No data is held centrally regarding the employment status of all care leavers. The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides estimates of employment across Scotland; however the only data available for those specific conditions requested covers those who have …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities are in employment.
Answer · Michael Russell: No data is held centrally regarding the employment status of all care leavers. The Annual Population Survey (APS) provides estimates of employment across Scotland; however the only data available for those specific conditions requested covers those who have …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities are in higher education.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) produces statistics for higher education students in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) produces statistics for higher education students in colleges. The latest detailed d…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many and what percentage of care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties and (e) learning disabilities are in further education.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) produces statistics for further education students in colleges. The latest detailed data on students in further education is for the academic year 2010-11. Data on care leavers is not currently available from the SFC. The S…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties into employment.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting all young people with additional support needs who want to work, and it is our ambition that with the right support, they are able to find work in mainstream employment, taking account of their specific needs…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to widen access to further and higher education for care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council support a number of programmes which meet the cost of learning support and other reasonable adjustments required to accommodate students with additional support needs. Working with Buttle UK, the Scotti…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support care leavers and people with (a) autism spectrum disorders, (b) Asperger syndrome, (c) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and (d) social, emotional behavioural difficulties into further and higher education.
Answer · Michael Russell: With the support of the Scottish Funding Council, a number of colleges and universities in Scotland have achieved, or are working with Buttle UK to achieve, the Buttle Quality Mark. This accreditation programme recognises the provision of systems of support r…
29 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the heat produced at the Steven's Croft Biomass Power Station in Lockerbie is used and how much is vented.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: E.ON, the operator of the Steven’s Croft station, reports that last year it exported approximately 21 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of heat from Steven’s Croft to neighbouring customers. The remaining heat is used within the steam turbine to generate electricity.