Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 1616 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-11389

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government’s definition of a good quality combined heat and power station as one that reaches a minimum efficiency level of 35%.

<>Stations located anywhere in the UK and which wish to accredit as combined heat and power (CHP) schemes for the purposes of demonstrating eligibility for the additional Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) which are available for renewable CHP schemes must meet the criteria as set out in Guidance Note 44 of the CHP Quality Assurance Standard , available at: www.chpqa.com.

These criteria enable the calculation of a quality index for CHP schemes, based upon the heat efficiency and power efficiency of the station in question. The calculation also takes into account the electrical capacity of the station and its fuel/technology type.

The criteria are designed to ensure that all CHP stations larger than one Megawatt (MW) electrical capacity deliver a primary energy saving of at least 10% compared to separate generation of heat and power from the same fuel in order to fully qualify as good quality CHP for all of their output. The 35% overall efficiency requirement is an additional, secondary requirement for stations with an electrical capacity of more than 25 MW, intended to ensure that a minimum quantity of heat (as well as power) is supplied by qualifying stations.

However, the Scottish Government is aware of, and welcomes, plans for a forthcoming consultation aimed at strengthening these criteria and ensuring that stations seeking accreditation and CHP status deliver the required energy savings and supply a significant proportion of heat energy.

Question reference: S4W-11356

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with the UK Government in the last year regarding Chalara fraxinea.

Over the past year the Scottish Government (through Forestry Commission Scotland and the SG Plant Health Team) has communicated with the UK Government on Chalara fraxinea, and various other tree health issues, by participating in the Forestry Commission Biosecurity Programme Board and the UK Plant Health Strategy Board. This includes the development of emergency legislation that introduced a prohibition on the import and movement of ash within Great Britain.

The Scottish Government has participated in the COBR meetings regarding the Chalara outbreak and the ongoing UK Outbreak Management Team on Chalara. It is also working closely with the UK Government on developing a control plan for Chalara and in sharing data regarding the spread of the disease across the British Isles.

In addition, the Scottish Government, through FCS, has a close working relationship with the DEFRA funded Forest Research team based at Roslin, Midlothian, who have been playing an important role in providing scientific support to FCS and Ministers as the Scottish Government responds to the emergence of Chalara in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-11358

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 4 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10759 by Paul Wheelhouse on 12 November 2012, whether the Forestry Commission Scotland's awareness raising work with staff and stakeholders raised the issue of Chalara fraxinea.

Question reference: S4W-11355

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09443 by Richard Lochhead on 14 September 2012, whether it has held a meeting with the fishing industry and the main retailers regarding the suspension of Scottish mackerel’s Marine Stewardship Council certificate.

A meeting between the fishing industry and the main retailers was scheduled for 5 November. However, since discussions on the mackerel stock between the European Fisheries Commissioner, Maria Damanaki, and the Icelandic, Norwegian and Faroes Fisheries ministers are still on-going, we agreed with the fishing industry and the retailers to postpone the meeting and convene in the new year once those discussions have progressed.

Question reference: S4W-11357

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 4 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10759 by Paul Wheelhouse on 12 November 2012, with which stakeholders the Forestry Commission Scotland undertook awareness raising work.

Forestry Commission Scotland works with Forest Research to undertake awareness raising work through Forest Health Days, which are open to forest managers, local authority and National Park staff, community groups and others with an interest in woodland management. Since September 2010 there have been eight Forest Health Days in different parts of Scotland. Presentations on tree health have also been made at professional meetings such as the Institute of Chartered Foresters 2012 annual conference. In addition, Forestry Commission Scotland participates in the work of the Forestry Commission’s Biosecurity Programme Board, along with stakeholder representatives from the UK Forest Products Association, Confor, the Timber Trades Federation, the Woodland Trust and the Arboricultural Association.

Question reference: S4W-11493

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis there has been of the people who might be affected by the removal of jury trials from Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court and what information it has on the percentage of people attending the court in the last three years who were (a) receiving benefits and (b) in employment.

Question reference: S4W-11492

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many criminal trials have been adjourned at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court because of (a) a crown motion, (b) a defence motion, (c) failure to appear by an accused, (d) failure to appear by a witness, (e) lack of court time and (f) any other reason in the last three years.

Question reference: S4O-01555

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many convictions there have been since 2009 for proxy purchasing of alcohol in Fife.

Question reference: S4O-01557

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Scottish Enterprise to decide on the location of the Areva turbine site.

Question reference: S4W-10997

Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 08 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 22 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how its definition of sustainable economic growth takes account of the five principles of sustainable development as set out in the UK shared framework for sustainable development.