- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 12 October 2012
To ask the Scottish Government how many people are employed on zero-hours contracts, broken down by gender and expressed as a percentage.
Answer
It is not possible to give an estimate for the number of people in Scotland who had a zero hours agreed work arrangement during April to June 2012, as the data is unreliable. This is due to the small sample size of this cohort in Scotland.
Note:
1. The question in the LFS on special working-hours arrangements is only asked during the April to June and October to December quarters on the Labour Force Survey. The information is, therefore, not available on the Annual Population Survey (as the question is not asked in every quarter).
2. A zero hours contract is where a person is not contracted to work a set number of hours, and is only paid for the number of hours that they actually work.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what action can be taken regarding tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes located outwith designated sites.
Answer
Planning permission is required for constructing hill tracks, including all tracks accessed by the public. At present certain private enterprises - such as agricultural and forestry operations - have permitted development rights, which enable hill tracks to be constructed without the need to apply for a formal grant of planning permission.
It is for planning authorities to determine whether or not a particular track is in breach of planning control and to take enforcement action if they consider it necessary.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what the maximum length and width is for tracks for agriculture or forestry purposes that can be laid without the need for planning consent.
Answer
In order to benefit from permitted development rights tracks must meet the requirements set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. There is no maximum length or width set out in the Order.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government whether tracks laid for renewable energy, recreation or tourism purposes can benefit from permitted development rights and, if not, what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
Specific permitted development rights apply only to the construction of agricultural or forestry tracks which meet the criteria set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992; there are no specific permitted development rights for the construction of tracks used for other purposes.
The Scottish Government is considering proposals to restrict the current permitted development rights in relation to agricultural and forestry tracks. Responses to public consultation on these, and other, proposed amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 have now been analysed and we are considering how to proceed in this matter.
The analysis is published on the Scottish Government website and can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/3943. A summary of the key findings is also available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/2886/0.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that tracks laid for agriculture or forestry purposes could have adverse environmental impacts and, if so, what these are.
Answer
Any inappropriately located development can potentially have an impact on the environment.
The Scottish Government is considering whether to amend permitted development rights for agricultural or forestry tracks. An analysis of responses to a public consultation on proposed amendments to permitted development rights has been published and the Scottish Government is considering options for change.
The analysis is published on the Scottish Government website and can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/3943. A summary of the key findings is also available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/2886/0.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will remove permitted development rights for tracks laid for agriculture and forestry purposes.
Answer
The Scottish Government recently consulted publicly on a number of proposed amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. The consultation included proposals to remove permitted development rights for new tracks and for widening or lengthening existing tracks. Permitted development rights for repairing existing tracks would be retained.
Responses to the consultation have been analysed by an independent consultant. The analysis of responses has been published. The Scottish Government is considering the arguments put forward by respondents to the consultation.
The analysis is published on the Scottish Government website and can be viewed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/3943. A summary of the key findings is also available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/2886/0.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 20 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the findings of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) Banding Review.
Answer
The Scottish Government response was announced to the Parliament on 13 September 2012 .The details are available on the Scottish Government website.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2012
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce waiting times for people who have been referrred for psychological therapies.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2012
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is considering to increase the number of companies that can install solar water heating.
Answer
Over the last two years, the number of businesses based in Scotland registered to install solar water heating under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme has increased from 46 in January 2010 to 112 as of July 2012. A further 187 UK companies operate in Scotland.
This demonstrates the growth in the market and the Scottish Government’s is supporting continued development, as set out in the Microgeneration Strategy for Scotland published on 22 June 2012. Alongside the Strategy, we announced an increase of £5 million in our Home Renewables Loans scheme targetted at renewable heat, with an increase in the loans available for heat technologies, such as solar water heating, to £10,000. Loans are also available to small and medium sized business to help them with the capital costs of technologies such as solar water heating.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 August 2012
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 September 2012
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to small businesses considering installing solar water heating on their premises.
Answer
Our Small Business Loan Scheme, managed by the Energy Saving Trust (EST), provides loans to businesses to install energy efficiency and renewables measures. Since the scheme was introduced in late 2008, 26 loans totalling £256,311 have been paid for solar water heating in business premises.
The Scottish Government also sponsors EST to deliver the Small Business Advice service in Scotland, providing advice and recommendations on energy efficiency and renewables measures. A total of 4,347 businesses have received advice since 2006-07 and the most recent evaluation indicates growing interest in renewables, with two thirds of businesses advised by EST receiving recommendations on renewables in 2010-11, up from 38% in 2008-09.
