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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-23001

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14009 by Michael Matheson on 18 April 2013, whether it will provide an update on the European Food Safety Authority’s review of caffeine risk.

Question reference: S4W-23002

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought regarding the potential health risks of combined energy drink and alcohol consumption.

The Scottish Government asked the Food Standards Agency in Scotland (FSAS) to carry out a review of the current international evidence on the effects of mixing alcohol and caffeine on health and behaviour in 2010. Advice from the FSAS concluded that the majority of studies from the available literature on caffeine and alcohol suggest that caffeine would not exacerbate the adverse effects of alcohol. The FSAS continues to monitor any new emerging scientific evidence in this area.

Further, the Committee on Toxicity advised in 2012 that the current balance of evidence does not support a harmful toxicological or behavioural interaction between caffeine and alcohol.

The Scottish Government is aware that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is currently reviewing the existing scientific data on the potential link between caffeine intakes from all sources, including in combination with alcohol, and possible adverse health effects. This work is expected to be completed by April 2015 and we will be considering it in detail. EFSA intends to undertake a public consultation on its draft opinion in the next few months and details will be available on the EFSA website in due course.

We have consistently said that we will keep an open mind on this issue and should sufficient evidence be brought forward, we remain open to act upon it.

Question reference: S4W-23003

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Food Standards Agency in Scotland should have the power to introduce limits on the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children.

Question reference: S4F-02392

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 10 November 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on underground coal gasification and whether any licences have been granted for exploration.

Question reference: S4O-03700

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many journeys between mainland Scotland and London were made by road, rail, coach and air in the last year for which figures are available.

Question reference: S4O-03631

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to meet the opposition parties to discuss the reform of local government taxation.

Question reference: S4W-22611

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 7 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, if a proposed open cast coal mine is considered environmentally unacceptable, even with planning conditions, how much potential local or community benefit it would have to demonstrate to outweigh the environmental concerns.

It is for the planning authority to consider the material considerations to be taken into account in determining applications, and how much weight to attach to any such considerations.

Consent should only be granted for surface coal extraction proposals which are either environmentally acceptable (or can be made so by planning conditions) or provide local or community benefits which clearly outweigh the likely impacts of extraction.

Policies and decisions should give due weight to net economic benefit.

Question reference: S4W-22612

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 7 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Planning Policy requires that all proposals for open cast coal mines should have an independent financial guarantee that will ensure that any restoration is fully funded by the developer.

Yes. Scottish Planning Policy states “Planning authorities should, through planning conditions and legal agreements, ensure that a high standard of restoration and aftercare is managed effectively and that such work is undertaken at the earliest opportunity. A range of financial guarantee options is currently available and planning authorities should consider the most effective solution on a site-by-site basis.”

Question reference: S4W-22610

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 7 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what level of coal extraction is compatible with the vision set out in the (a) Scottish Planning Policy to support the transition to a low-carbon economy and (b) National Planning Framework to support a limited amount of thermal generation.

Neither National Planning Framework 3 nor Scottish Planning Policy specify a level of coal extraction required to support the transition to a low carbon economy.

Scottish Planning Policy recognises the national benefit of indigenous coal in maintaining a diverse energy mix and improving energy security. It encourages the safeguarding of workable resources.

The Electricity Generation Policy Statement 2013 informs the approach taken in National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy. It anticipates that a minimum of 2.5 gigawatts of thermal generation (progressively fitted with carbon capture and storage technology) will be required as part of the electricity generation mix.

Question reference: S4W-22608

Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 7 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of statutory obligations under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, how planning authorities should take into consideration climate change issues when reviewing applications for open cast coal mining and what (a) support and (b) guidance is available to them to assist with this.

Open cast mining proposals over 25 hectares require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 2011. Open cast mining proposals of under 25 hectares may require an EIA where it is considered that the development is likely to have significant effects on the environment.

In addition, where an EIA is required under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, the applicant is required to submit an environmental statement. This must include a description of the aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the development including, where relevant, climatic factors.

In all cases the policies of the development plan apply and Scottish Planning Policy could be a material consideration in the determination of the planning application. Meeting our emissions reductions targets is part of the Scottish Planning Policy subject policy ‘A Low Carbon Place’.