Parliamentary questions
Angus MacDonald
470 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that high speed fibre optic broadband is rolled out in rural areas of Falkirk district.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The two regional projects to deliver superfast broadband infrastructure across Scotland are now well underway. These represent two of the largest next generation broadband investments in Europe, totalling over £410 million of public and private sector invest…
11 Nov 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are of the common agricultural policy budget settlement in light of the UK Government's decision not to pass on the immediate uplift in Scotland’s budget allocation.
5 Nov 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training and advice the Scottish Prison Service gives staff regarding pensions entitlement and contributions.
3 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will examine the long-term consequences for Scotland of the recent mackerel quota agreement.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: As indicated in the answer to S4W-18079 on 15 November 2013, the first round of talks to determine 2014 mackerel quota took place in London on 23 and 24 October 2013 but concluded without a deal. Talks will resume in Clonakilty, Ireland, on 18 November 2013. …
3 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the quota breakdown arising from the EU mackerel quota agreement is for (a) the EU, (b) Scotland, (c) Norway, (d) Faroe Islands, (e) Iceland, (f) Russia and (g) Greenland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The first round of talks to determine 2014 mackerel quota took place in London on 23 and 24 October 2013 but concluded without a deal. Talks will resume in Clonakilty, Ireland, on 18 November 2013. It is therefore too early to comment on the shape of any agr…
3 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on EU plans to phase out bottom trawling and bottom set gill nets in the north east Atlantic deep water fishery.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government strongly supports the overall objectives of this proposal: to ensure the sustainable exploitation of deep sea species and minimise the impact of deep sea fishing on the marine environment. However, the commission’s original proposal w…
29 Oct 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcomes were of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s recent trip to Estonia.
Answer · Alex Neil: I had a very productive trip to Estonia last week. It was clear to me that Scotland and Estonia have much to learn from each other. I met senior ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials, and had fruitful discussions on matters of common interest whic…
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many grants Scottish Natural Heritage has awarded to woodland schemes in the central belt between 2007 and 2014.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This is an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage, and I have asked the organisation’s chief executive to respond directly to you and to copy the response to me also for my portfolio interest.
23 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed changes to planning policy for extracting onshore unconventional oil and gas will apply (a) to applications that are currently under consideration and (b) retrospectively to applications that have been previously approved.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) published in 2010 sets out the Scottish Government’s current policies for the onshore extraction of oil and gas. SPP is currently under review but the 2010 SPP will continue to apply until the revised SPP is finalised and pu…
15 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers Bòrd na Gàidhlig has to ensure that local authorities implement Gaelic language plans and what sanctions are available should the targets in the plans not be met.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 Bòrd na Gàidhlig can notify a Scottish public authority to produce and implement a Gaelic Language Plan. All public authorities with an approved Gaelic Language Plan are asked to submit an annual progress report …
10 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government where it has sourced the (a) cabling, (b) steel and (c) other materials for the (i) Borders railway and (ii) Forth replacement crossing project.
Answer · Keith Brown: (i) Borders Railway Network Rail is responsible for constructing the Borders Railway on behalf of Scottish Ministers and to date has not ordered any cabling or any large quantities of steel. If these materials are required they will all be sourced by Networ…
10 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications it has received from INEOS for financial assistance in each year since 2007, and how many were approved, broken down by (a) amount requested, (b) funding stream and (c) purpose for the request.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Between 2007 and 2011 the Scottish Government received one application from INEOS for financial assistance under the regional selective assistance (RSA) scheme. However, since 2011 responsibility for the RSA scheme has been administered by Scottish Enterprise…
6 Oct 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with INEOS and Unite the Union regarding the dispute at the Grangemouth plant.
23 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to improve teacher employment.
18 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average response time is of the Scottish Ambulance Service to (a) an emergency call and (b) a medical request for patient transfer between hospitals, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Alex Neil: The average response times for (a) emergency calls for the last three years are set out in the following table. NHS Board Area 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Cat A (mins) All (mins) Cat A (mins) All (mins) Cat A (mins) All (mins) Argyll and Clyde 6.…
17 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made toward funding the A801 River Avon gorge crossing.
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on the Scottish economy, whether it will participate in the second round of talks on the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in Brussels in October 2013.
Answer · John Swinney: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) taking place on 7 – 11 October 2013, is negotiated by EU Commission through the EU Trade Policy. The EU Commission has sole power to negotiate on behalf of all Member States through close co-operation …
12 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it requires in order to determine whether compensatory measures under regulation 49 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) are sufficient.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Regulation 53 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) provides for compensatory measures to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected. In this context, the information required will vary on a case-by-case …
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information is required by competent authorities wishing to consent plans or projects in cases where adverse impacts on European wildlife sites cannot be ruled out, and whether it will issue guidance on this matter.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In keeping with the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (“the Habitats Regulations”) set out certain procedural requirements which competent authorities must apply when considering plans or proj…
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10368 by Keith Brown on 31 October 2012, under what circumstances a harbour authority wishing to carry out dredging operations (a) requires and (b) does not require powers to dredge under the Harbours Act 1964 in addition to licences issued under th…
Answer · Keith Brown: Harbour authorities generally have a power to dredge within their local legislation as part of their obligations as a statutory undertaker to maintain their harbour, however dredging may be carried out by any interested party within or out with harbour areas …
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09952 by Keith Brown on 24 October 2012 and the findings in the report of the public inquiry into the proposed Rosyth international container terminal, whether it will receive advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on the implications of confirming t…
Answer · Keith Brown: Before taking the decision to proceed with the order, I received advice from SNH on the terrestrial elements of the project to enable an appropriate assessment to be undertaken. No works can commence until a Marine Licence has been issued and SNH will provide…
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09947 by Keith Brown on 24 October 2012 and the findings in the report of the public inquiry into the proposed Rosyth international container terminal, what action will be required if the order is confirmed but adverse impacts on the Firth of Forth …
Answer · Keith Brown: Works authorised by the order cannot commence until a Marine Licence is issued for the marine elements. The assessment by Marine Scotland of possible impacts on the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area will be based on information provided in support of tha…
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it needs in advance of confirming the harbour revision order for the proposed Rosyth international container terminal in order to determine that there will be no adverse impact on the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area and how it will obtain this information.
Answer · Keith Brown: No further information is required to allow the Harbour Revision Order to be considered by Parliament. Marine Scotland will determine what further information is required to assess the marine elements when considering a marine licence application and that in…
11 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the A801 River Avon Gorge crossing is to be part-funded through Falkirk Council's £67 million tax incremental financing scheme.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Falkirk and West Lothian Councils are responsible for the delivery of the A801 Avon Gorge upgrade. The Scottish Government has approved a Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) business case from Falkirk Council. The business case envisages a £6.67 million contribu…
1 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support has been provided since 2007 by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Scottish Development International to firms seeking to enter the Turkish energy sector.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: In 2007, Scottish Development International (SDI) commissioned reports into energy in key markets including Turkey. Parallel to this, SDI worked to raise interest in the Turkish energy market among Scottish companies. Since 2007, most of SDI’s annual trade …
1 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many trade delegations to Turkey have been promoted by (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Scottish Development International in each year since 2007.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2007 there have been a total of seven trade missions to Turkey, one each year.
31 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that new container capacity on the Forth remains a national priority in light of the findings of two recent independent studies into the Scottish container market commissioned by Scottish Enterprise and the Freight Transport Association.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Main Issues Report for the third National Planning Framework proposes that Additional Container Freight Capacity on the Forth be retained as a national development. All the responses to the consultation on the Main Issues Report are being considered, and …
31 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that providing funding for the upgrading of rail facilities in the vicinity of the proposed Rosyth international container terminal to enable the terminal to function multimodally would constitute state aid.
Answer · Keith Brown: There are currently no plans to provide Scottish Government funding for such upgrading works. We would take a view on any potential state aid issue on a case by case basis.
31 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a process in place to ensure a binding requirement on the developers of the proposed Rosyth international container terminal to undertake any mitigation measures identified in the associated environmental impact assessment.
Answer · Keith Brown: The harbour revision order currently before Parliament contains a Schedule relating to mitigation measures. The harbour authority must comply with the provisions of that Schedule in taking forward the project.
31 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a process in place to ensure delivery of multimodal capability at the proposed Rosyth international container terminal and whether it will publish details of the (a) process and (b) associated timescales.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16917 on 10 September 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/Apps2/Busi…