Parliamentary questions
Neil Bibby
1,029 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether future carbon capture and storage demonstration projects will be funded (a) entirely via general taxation or (b) by consumer levy and whether the Department of Energy and Climate Change has clarified the role of the Scottish Government in determining fut…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have confirmed that the allocation of £1 billion set aside for Longannet would now be applied to the following projects as a capital grant, in tandem with EU funding under the New Entrants Reserve and the proposa…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether work with the UK Government to assess Scottish projects that have bid for the EU New Entrants Reserve in 2011-12 has (a) progressed or (b) been completed and what conclusions have been reached.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Yes, progress has been made. All the Scottish based projects under the CCS and Renewables themes of the EU New Entrants Reserve have progressed through an initial assessment stage led by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and are currently bei…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Government discretion has been agreed with the UK Government in respect of its energy market reform proposals for long-term financial support for carbon capture and storage deployment.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is working closely with the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change on the detail of the reforms set out in the Electricity Market Reform White Paper, Planning our electric future: a White Paper for secure, affordable and low-carbon…
10 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its Electricity Generation Policy Statement will be reviewed in light of the decision not to proceed with the Longannet carbon capture and storage demonstration plant and the potential impact on the targets in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to decarbonising electricity generation by 2030, in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change, through a combination of renewable electricity and fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage. The El…
3 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-03390 by Fergus Ewing on 2 November 2011, where it believes the 52 megawatts of capacity will be deployed; whether the 50p per annum projected cost to consumers is based on spreading the Renewables Obligation cost over a UK or Scottish consumer base,…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The location of marine renewables projects around Scotland will be a matter for developers, subject to their obtaining both a site lease and the necessary marine license from the Scottish Government. The estimated additional cost incurred by this forecast cap…
3 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-03387 by Fergus Ewing on 3 November 2011, what proportion of the 2020 renewables target it expects will be delivered by (a) tidal, (b) wave and (c) offshore wind energy, expressed in megawatts of projected demand; what percentage of (i) domestic and …
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Renewables Routemap estimates that we will need some 16 GigaWatts (GW) of capacity from across a wide range of renewable sources, but we have not published nor have we forecast targets for individual technologies. As things stand, however, lease awards a…
3 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it made to the European Commission regarding its consultation on a new fund to replace the air route development fund cancelled in 2007 and what response it received.
Answer · Keith Brown: The European Commission is currently reviewing responses to its consultation on the review of the Community guidelines on financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines departing from regional airports. The Scottish Government’s response can be found at: …
19 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many subjects can be taught as highers and how many as advanced highers.
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the planned improvements to the A737 at the Head Street and Barrmill Road junctions in Beith and the Den realignment outside Dalry to be completed.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Head Street scheme has completed the statutory process; the Den realignment scheme is currently in preparation and construction of both schemes is dependent on the availability of funding and the competing priorities of other schemes on the network. At B…
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the national planning framework to remove support for a new coal-fired power plant at Hunterston.
Answer · John Swinney: We intend to publish a National Planning Framework Monitoring Report shortly. An announcement on the revision of the National Planning Framework will be made at that time.
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the 2020 renewables target will be delivered by (a) tidal, (b) wave and (c) offshore wind energy, expressed in megawatts of projected demand; how it calculates these figures; when generation will start, and what the growth rate will be.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We have not set targets for individual technologies as part of our overall renewable electricity target for 2020. However, we do expect offshore renewables to play a major role in meeting that target, and are making every effort to deliver the support and the…
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average non-domestic rates bill will be in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15 and what it was in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07, (iii) 2007-08 and (d) 2008-09.
Answer · John Swinney: Information is not held centrally and the requested data cannot be compiled on a comparable basis.
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that increasing the west coast haddock total allowable catch quota beyond EU-suggested limits would reduce discards and not remove sustainable stocks and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government believes that the TAC (Total Allowable Catch) for all fish stocks should be set in line with scientific advice. Despite both ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) and STECF (Scientific Technical and Economic Comm…
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on inshore fisheries controls on the River Clyde and the extension of no-catch zones.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Clyde Inshore Fisheries Group is nearing completion of its draft fisheries management plan and will soon submit it to Ministers for approval. The Scottish Government will consider the priorities and management measures proposed in the plan with a view to …
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is to consumers in Scotland of transmission losses from Scottish electricity generators to the rest of UK.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The costs of transmission losses are not allocated to the consumer. They are dealt with through the Balancing Mechanism used by the National Grid as a means of balancing power flows on to and off of the electricity Transmission System in Great Britain. The co…
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been drawn down by successful applicants for Wave and Tidal Energy: Research, Development and Demonstration Support, and how many jobs it supports.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The projects that have secured funding through the Wave and Tidal Energy: Research, Development and Demonstration Support (WATERS) programme have to date drawn down £795,000. The data collected as part of the project assessment process highlighted that the s…
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on domestic electricity prices will be of 100% demand being met from renewable sources and how it calculates this.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The proposed introduction of a new market mechanism for renewable electricity from 2014, whose details and support levels are yet to be established, means that it isn’t possible yet to estimate the costs of meeting our 2020 renewable electricity target. Howev…
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact would be on electricity prices for consumers in Scotland of paying the subsidy to meet the additional costs associated with Renewables Obligation Certificates.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The costs associated with Renewables Obligation Certificates are passed on to consumers by electricity suppliers. The method and extent to which they pass those costs on to their industrial, business and domestic consumers is a matter for the suppliers in que…
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the need for an investigation by the Competition Commission into the gas and power market.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: As part of its Retail Market Review, Ofgem has made a number of proposals to make the market work better for consumers, including simplification of tariffs and enhancing liquidity in the wholesale market by requiring the big six energy companies to auction up…
14 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of multiple Renewables Obligations Certificates for marine energy generation will be to electricity consumers, based on its estimate of the growth in this sector.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Analysis carried out in connection with the current consultations on the Renewables Obligation (RO) for wave and tidal stream technologies – based on a deployed capacity of 52 MW during the period to 2017 – estimates a peak cost to consumers through their ele…
12 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made in the draft budget to extend the road equivalent tariff ferry fares pilot in the Western Isles to the Clyde and in what timescale.
Answer · Keith Brown: The budget for RET in 2012 to 2013 is £4.5 million. This will allow Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) to continue on the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree for all passengers and traffic other than larger commercial vehicles. It will also allow RET to be rolled out to …
10 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to (a) support, (b) grow and (b) prevent decline in airline routes from Glasgow airport and for what reason it has not reinstated an air route development fund to support an increase in air traffic at Scottish airports.
Answer · Keith Brown: We continue actively to support air route development for new and existing routes through direct engagement with airlines and the provision of market and route analysis. The European Commission’s current restrictive guidelines on start-up aid to airlines rema…
10 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the sale of Glasgow or Edinburgh airport by BAA.
Answer · Keith Brown: Following the announcement on 19 October that Edinburgh Airport is to be sold, we will continue to build on our constructive working relationship with BAA at its three Scottish airports (Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow), while also seeking to develop and buil…
10 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has encouraged the Bank of England to adopt quantitative easing measures to stimulate growth in the Scottish economy and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that, in principle, a carefully managed programme of quantitative easing can provide a timely boost to the economy when growth is fragile and monetary conditions are conducive to such a course of action. However, monetary pol…
10 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the prospects for (a) growth and (b) inflation in the (i) Scottish and (ii) UK economy during the current spending review.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government uses a range of independent forecasts of growth to help inform the outlook for the Scottish economy. These are set out in the Chief Economist’s State of the Economy presentation which is available on the Scottish Government website: ht…
10 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a threat to growth in the Scottish economy caused by weak demand and what measures it is taking to stimulate demand.
Answer · John Swinney: As a small, open economy, Scotland cannot expect to be immune from the fragile economic conditions that currently exist in the global economy. As set out in the Government Economic Strategy the Scottish Government is taking forward a range of actions to supp…
30 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is an age limit set centrally for vehicles used as private hire taxis.
Answer · Keith Brown: There are no age criteria detailed within legislation applicable to vehicles licensed to operate as a private hire car or as a taxi.
30 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what standards have to be met by vehicles used as private hire taxis.
Answer · Keith Brown: The requirements for licensing private hire taxis are set out in Section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. In addition, local authorities have a wide range of discretion over the conditions and standards expected of vehicles licensed to operate …
21 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the role, value and potential of sport in Scottish society.
Answer · Shona Robison: Sport has a significant contribution and can deliver a far reaching impact on our nation, economy, culture, international standing and reputation. This and helping to prolong life, improve physical strength and protect mental wellbeing is why this government …
14 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act (2003).