Parliamentary questions
Jenny Marra
379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement will be required in the mean National Home Energy Rating of homes to ensure that no households live in fuel poverty by 2016, assuming that prices and incomes remain at present levels.
Answer · Alex Neil: Fuel poverty is determined by the relationship between income levels, fuel prices and energy efficiency at a household level. In order for any individual household to be fuel poor they would have to spend more than 10% of their income to heat their home to a …
17 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many households it expects to be in fuel poverty in each year to 2020, also expressed as a percentage.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recently announced a review of fuel poverty. Scottish Government analysts are working closely with the Fuel Poverty Forum to scope out the analytical requirements that can be delivered in support of the review. The Scottish Government…
17 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have been lifted out of fuel poverty by (a) stage 1 of the Energy Assistance Package, (b) stage 2 of the Energy Assistance Package, (c) stage 3 of the Energy Assistance Package, (d) stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package, (e) the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target and…
Answer · Alex Neil: Information is not held on this basis. Fuel poverty is affected by a combination of fuel prices, individual household incomes and the energy efficiency of the home and the impact on the fuel poverty level of a household cannot be attributed to each of these f…
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who it consulted before publishing its most recent report on progress on ending fuel poverty, as required by section 88(6) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires progress to be reported at least every four years. The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum was consulted before publication of the most recent progress report of 25 November 2010. The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum includes repre…
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its next report on progress on ending fuel poverty, as required by section 88(6) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires progress to be reported at least every four years. The last progress report published under this requirement was on 25 November 2010. The next report will be published no later than November 2014.
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it published its most recent report on progress on ending fuel poverty, as required by section 88(6) of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02970 on 24 October 2011. 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/parliamentaryb…
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-01206 by Alex Neil on 22 July 2011, when it will appoint the new chair of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01206 on 5 October 2011. 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…
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum last met and it will next meet.
Answer · Alex Neil: The last meeting of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum was in April 2011. Following the confirmation of the new chair and vice chair the forum will next meet on 26 October 2011.
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take against public bodies and agencies that do not apply the principles of inclusive communication developed by a sub group of the Independent Living in Scotland Core Reference Group.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Public bodies and agencies are under a direct duty under the public sector equality duties in UK equality legislation to take action to eradicate discrimination and to pro-actively promote equality of opportunity. How they do that is a matter for each public …
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what accountability measures it will put in place to ensure that all public bodies and agencies apply the principles of inclusive communication developed by a sub group of the Independent Living in Scotland Core Reference Group.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As a matter of good practice, public bodies and agencies should already be using principles of inclusive communication where appropriate. The new publication will help them consider how they communicate with people with visual or hearing impairments and peopl…
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote independent living so that all disabled people, not only those who are members of or are involved in disability organisations, are aware of it.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Many of our policies across community care, health and housing have promoted independent living for disabled people and people with learning disabilities over many years. These include home care, Self Directed Care, housing support, The same as you? review of…
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to apply the principles of inclusive communication developed by a sub group of the Independent Living in Scotland Core Reference Group across its directorates.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government already use the principles of inclusive communication where appropriate in working with people with learning disabilities and people with visual or hearing impairments. We have just published Principles of Inclusive Communication - An …
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote nationally the principles of inclusive communication developed by a sub group of the Independent Living in Scotland Core Reference Group.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Communication Forum Scotland has agreed to take forward work that will promote nationally the Principles of Inclusive Communication - An information and self-assessment tool for public authorities.
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Deaf British Sign Language users completed the 2011 Census.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The General Register Office for Scotland (now part of National Records of Scotland) made every effort to ensure that those who may have difficulty in completing the census questionnaire were provided appropriate help and guidance. Where possible householders …
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to review the harmonised disability question.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The harmonised disability question was agreed earlier this year and is in the process of being adopted by official Scottish population surveys. It is not intended that this question will be reviewed before 2015.
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to stop using the medical model of disability when referring to hearing loss.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to the social model of disability. When hearing loss is first assessed, therefore, it is important that the individual, and their parents and carers, have access to the appropriate intervention that can best meet their nee…
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who have acquired profound hearing loss completed the 2011 Census.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The General Register Office for Scotland (now part of National Records of Scotland) made every effort to ensure that those who may have difficulty in completing the census questionnaire were provided appropriate help and guidance. Where possible householders …
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who are deafblind completed the 2011 Census.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The General Register Office for Scotland (now part of National Records of Scotland) made every effort to ensure that those who may have difficulty in completing the census questionnaire were provided appropriate help and guidance. Where possible householders …
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who are hard of hearing completed the 2011 Census.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The General Register Office for Scotland (now part of National Records of Scotland) made every effort to ensure that those who may have difficulty in completing the census questionnaire were provided appropriate help and guidance. Where possible, householders…
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies carry out surveys using the harmonised disability question.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a matter for individual public bodies. The information is not held centrally.
14 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use the social model of disability when referring to hearing loss.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed to the social model of disability. When hearing loss is first assessed, therefore, it is important that the individual, and their parents and carers, have access to the appropriate intervention that can best meet their nee…
7 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to boost the Dundee economy through investment to increase tourism.
31 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its 2020 renewable electricity target will come from biomass plants.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Draft Electricity Generation Policy Statement 2010 sets out the Scottish Government's latest position on the role of renewable electricity and fossil fuel thermal generation (coal, gas, oil) in Scotland's future energy mix and is currently being updated t…
31 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to manage the projected availability of biomass sources with the projected use of biomass plants.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government has a policy to support the deployment of biomass in heat-only or combined heat and power plants, particularly off gas-grid, and to a scale which maximises heat use and local supply. Clearly with a limited resource, maximum efficiency nee…
31 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out studies on the global supply of biomass sources.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Studies into Global biomass resource have been carried out at a UK level. The UK and Global Bioenergy Resource study was published in March this year. It was produced by AEA on behalf of the UK Government. The AEA figures suggest that if all currently planne…
31 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce details of its review of renewable obligation certificates for large scale electricity-only biomass plants.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is planning to issue a consultation on the Renewables Obligation Scotland Banding Review by the end of September. The consultation will seek views on proposed changes to support for large scale electricity-only biomass plants.
31 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its projected proposals for biomass plants compares to the Wood Fuel Task Force's estimate of the availability of biomass sources.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Wood Fuel Task Force previously recommended that the development of the biomass industry in Scotland follows the approach adopted by the Scottish Government, prioritising the use of biomass for renewable heat at a scale appropriate to local supply. The t…
24 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish (a) details of the bidding process and (b) the information that local authorities will be required to provide in any bid for the proposed national football academy and the national indoor football centre, and when this information will be communicated to local authori…
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02342 on 21 September 2011. 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…
24 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timeframe has been put in place for local authorities to bid for the proposed national football academy and national indoor football centre.
Answer · Shona Robison: I will shortly announce the appointment of a chair who will lead a steering group whose remit will be to help take forward this exciting and ambitious project. Full details of the specification for the proposed facility including the bidding process, and tim…
27 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress will be made over the next five years on expanding nursery education.
Answer · Angela Constance: We will continue to work with our local government partners so that we continue to enhance and improve pre-school education.