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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-03966

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 21 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the (a) costs and (b) benefits of varying council tax rates based on the energy efficiency of a property.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places a duty on local authorities to introduce a council tax discount scheme offering a minimum in-year reduction of £50 where householders undertake efficiency improvements to their home. The act means that any assessment of the costs and benefits of those discounts is the responsibility of individual councils and the Scottish Government has no formal role in developing or delivering discount schemes.

Question reference: S4W-03168

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it uses its procurement process to help deliver its 42% carbon reduction target.

The Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan provides support on how procurement can contribute towards delivery of a low carbon economy. This includes the use of Government Buying Standards as the minimum specification requirement across a wide range of key product groups.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, is providing further support by embedding The Marrakech Task Force on Sustainable Public Procurement across the wider procurement landscape in Scotland.

This internationally recognised methodology provides public sector buyers a proportionate and relevant risk based approach to deliver sustainable outcomes throughout the procurement cycle.

Question reference: S4W-03084

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the creation and operation of enterprise zones will comply with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the habitats' regulations.

Question reference: S4W-03082

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons were learned from the former Inverclyde enterprise zone and how these might influence the Scottish Government's assessment of future such sites.

The Scottish Government is aware of criticisms of the 1980s Enterprise Zone model which highlighted displacement of economic activity and jobs from elsewhere in the country to the enterprise zones and also the limited economic benefits delivered by capital based incentives focused on buildings development.

We are currently considering how best to introduce four Enterprise Areas in Scotland to maximise their economic impact and attractiveness for investment. The government is working closely with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to identify potential sites for inclusion in these Enterprise Areas and will assess sites against a rigorous set of criteria. By focusing on supporting the development of productive capacity in growth sectors and by adopting a rigorous approach to the identification of Enterprise Area sites, we will be able to maximise the scope for additional economic impact and minimise the potential for displacement.

Question reference: S4W-03085

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the potential impact of the creation of enterprise zones on (a) sites of special scientific interest and (b) designated wildlife sites

Question reference: S4W-03083

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 03 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the potential environmental impact of the creation of enterprise zones.

Question reference: S4W-03170

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 October 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 27 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the implementation of its year-on-year targets in relation to climate change and public procurement contracts.

Question reference: S4W-03074

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by sector of modern apprenticeships in the Lothians region in the last five years.

Question reference: S4W-03072

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what modern apprenticeship placements there have been in the Lothians region in the last five years.

Question reference: S4W-03073

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 26 October 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many modern apprenticeship placements have been allocated at colleges in the Lothians region in the last five years.