- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 5 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of sites on the Cumbrian coast opposite Dumfries and Galloway being included on the list of potential sites for nuclear reactors announced by the UK Government on 15 April 2009 and with a consultation period of one month, whether it intends to respond to the consultation or provide comment by another means.
Answer
The Scottish Government has no plans to respond to this consultation as it relates to sites in England and Wales only. The Scottish Government has made clear our position that we do not need or want new nuclear power stations in Scotland. However, the we will be consulted by the UK Government on the impact of new nuclear reactor developments in England as part of existing contingency arrangements.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 30 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will expand the remit of its privacy working group to examine all aspects of privacy and to consider possible changes to legislation.
Answer
The Expert Group has been wound up as their work has finished and a public consultation paper will be published in due course.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 23 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what issues were raised during the First Minister’s recent visit to China.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 22 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how the provisions in its forthcoming draft housing Bill will improve energy performance in the domestic sector.
Answer
The draft housing Bill will be launched for consultation shortly.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 15 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.
Answer
The Council of Economic Advisers is currently considering how to take this study forward.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 15 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms of reference will be for the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.
Answer
The Council of Economic Advisers is currently considering how to take this study forward.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 15 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive who will be commissioned to carry out the independent assessment of the energy options open to Scotland, as recommended in the First Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.
Answer
The Council of Economic Advisers is currently considering how to take this study forward.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 19 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government concerning the need for anti-discrimination protection for the Scottish Gypsy/Traveller community and whether it would support legislation in this area.
Answer
On 26 June 2007 the Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, wrote to the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly, on this issue, seeking to open the debate and suggested that the UK Government takes the opportunity of the Single Equality Bill to establish Scottish Gypsies/Travellers as a minority ethnic group. Scottish ministers have not yet received a response to this letter. During 2008 this issue was discussed with UK Government officials.
Equalities and discrimination legislation is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Government recognise Gypsies/Travellers as a distinct ethnic group and have confirmed as much in a number of published documents including the Scottish Government Race Equality Scheme.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the new routes for traffic joining the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing will have on air quality in South Queensferry and Kirkliston and on noise pollution and the quality of life of residents.
Answer
Detailed analysis of environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation is currently underway and will be reported in an Environmental Statement later in 2009.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Forth Road Bridge will be able to remain open to HGV traffic beyond 2021 if the Forth Estuary Transport Authority chief engineer is correct in his assessment of the effectiveness of the cable drying.
Answer
If the dehumidification process is successful, the requirement for weight restrictions would need to be assessed to take account of the deterioration to the cables that has already occurred. However, the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) has a number of maintenance problems which are worsened by the presence of HGV traffic. It is clearly not certain that the FRB will provide a reliable and resilient crossing for the current weight of traffic in the long-term.