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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.

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Question reference: S5W-21617

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 27 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2018/844.

Question reference: S5W-20719

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 26 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind turbine planning applications that it has approved in each of the last 10 years had previously been rejected by (a) a local planning authority and (b) it, broken down by the (i) local authority area and (ii) size of turbine.

Between January 2010 and December 2018 - 38 determinations have been made by Scottish Ministers on wind farms (with a capacity exceeding 50 megawatts) under Section 36 of the Electricity Act (1989) where the planning authority raised an objection. Of these, a total of 19 were approved (50%) and 19 were refused (50%). A breakdown of the 19 approved projects, by area, is provided in the following tables:

Wind Farm	Date of Consent	Local Planning authority	Height of Turbines
Baillie	12-01-2010	Highland	110m
Cairn Duhie	06-10-2017	Highland	110m
Braemore Wind farm	27-10-2017	Highland	126m
Millennium South Ext	03-02-2017	Highland	132m
Strathy South	2704-2018	Highland	135m
Muaitheabhal	14-01-2010	Western Isles	145m
Hill of Towie Extension	16-06-2017	Moray	125m
Dorenell	28-12-2011	Moray	126m
Cloich	08-07-2016	Scottish Borders Council	115m
Fallago Rig	09-11-2010	Scottish Borders Council	125m
Whitelaw Brae	29-11-2017	Scottish Borders Council	133.5m
Wester Dod (AKA Aikengall II)	01-03-2013	Scottish Borders Council	145m
Aikengall II(a)	19-10-2016	East Lothian-Scottish Borders	145m
Black Craig Hill	22-03-2011	Dumfries and Galloway	110m
Stranoch	08-07-2016	Dumfries and Galloway	135m
South Kyle	30-06-2017	East Ayrshire-Dumfries and Galloway	149.5m
Pencloe	06-12-2018	East Ayrshire	125m
Harburnhead	08-07-2014	West Lothian	126m
Black Law Extension Phase 2	17-06-2015	North Lanarkshire Council, West Lothian Council.	126.5m

Wind farms under 50 megawatts are ordinarily determined by planning authorities in the first instance. Since 2009, a total of 179 wind farm decisions have been approved, (mostly by reporters from Planning and Environmental Appeals Division) (DPEA). The total of 179 approved projects represents approximately 45% of the total of appeals determined on wind farm development (based on statistics between 2007-2018).

Wind Farms (under 50 megawatts) appeals or planning applications called-in by Scottish Ministers

N.B. details of wind turbine heights are not routinely recorded in respect of the cases referred to DPEA. Approximately 46% of the figures below relate to single wind turbine applications rather than sites with multiple turbines.

	Allowed
Council- Comhairle	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	Total
Aberdeenshire	1	0	1	2	10	7	9	1	0	0	31
Angus	0	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	4
Argyll and Bute	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	1	1	1	6
Clackmannanshire	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2
Eilean Siar (Western Isles)	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
Dumfries and Galloway	0	0	1	5	3	4	1	2	0	0	16
East Ayrshire	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	4	1	9
East Lothian	0	0	0	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	6
East Renfrewshire	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	3
Falkirk	1	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	4
Fife	0	0	0	4	1	7	3	3	1	0	19
Highland	0	0	0	1	1	2	2	3	3	0	12
Inverclyde	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	1	0	0	4
Midlothian	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1
Moray	0	1	0	2	3	1	1	0	0	0	8
North Ayrshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2
North Lanarkshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	3
Orkney Islands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	-
Perth and Kinross	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	1	5
Scottish Borders	0	0	1	0	2	0	1	1	0	3	8
South Ayrshire	0	0	0	1	2	4	1	0	1	0	9
South Lanarkshire	0	0	1	0	4	4	4	4	0	1	18
Stirling	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2
West Lothian	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	2	0	0	5
Total	2	3	5	24	31	41	32	22	11	8	179

Question reference: S5W-21618

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 February 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 26 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the implementation of the updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU) 2018/844 and the creation of strategies (a) to improve indoor air quality, (b) for renovating existing buildings to improve energy efficiency and (c) to make buildings ready for smart energy systems.

Directive implementation will be subject to a consultation as part of the review of energy standards within building regulations, which started with a call for evidence in 2018.

Our Energy Efficient Scotland Route Map (May 2018) sets out intended action to deliver improvement through the renovation of our existing building stock. The Programme recognises air quality and sought views on this issue as part of the Energy Efficient Scotland consultation in 2018. The Programme will be reviewed regularly allowing it to account for emerging technologies, including smart and local energy systems.

Question reference: S5W-20721

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 5 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis is has made of the community benefit of the wind turbine developments that are currently in place.

A voluntary register of community benefits payments is maintained by Local Energy Scotland under the Scottish Government's Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). All developers of renewable energy developments and local communities in receipt of community benefit payments are encouraged to use the register. The following information is recorded: Name of Developers, Name of Development, Location, Capacity and Details of the Community Benefit Package.

In the last 12 months over £16 million has been paid out in community benefits at an average rate of £5k per MW. The Register can be viewed at http://www.localenergyscotland.org/view-the-register/ .

Question reference: S5W-20692

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to set a fisheries landings target.

The Scottish Government remains committed to increasing the amount of fish landed into Scottish ports and to improving the competitiveness of the seafood supply chain.

The Scottish Government has consulted widely on proposals for new economic link arrangements and the results of that consultation will be published in due course.

Any new policy measures will ensure that a fair and real economic link exists with all Scottish vessels working from our ports, which will provide long term benefits to our Scottish fishing communities.

Question reference: S5O-02793

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how Transport Scotland supports and promotes tourism.

Question reference: S5W-20715

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 16 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how much The Moray Council has received in (a) revenue support /general revenue grant, (b) non-domestic rate income and (c) specific revenue grants in each of the last 10 years, also expressed in real terms.

Total revenue funding split by general revenue grant, non-domestic rate income and specific revenue grants provided by the Scottish Government to Moray Council in each of the last 10 years, is set out in a document that has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, Bib number 60402.

It should be noted that funding for Police and Fire transferred out of the local government finance settlement with effect from 1 April 2013. As a result the years before 2013-14 and the years from 2013-14 are not comparable.

The figures for the years 2009-2018 are all final outturn figures, for 2018-19 the figures are near final and for 2019-20 they are budget figures.

The real terms figures were calculated using the November 2018 GDP deflators.

Question reference: S5W-20720

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 15 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government how many wind turbine planning applications it is currently considering, also broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) size of turbine.

The Scottish Government’s Energy Consents team, who are responsible for managing applications made to Scottish Ministers for wind farms exceeding 50 megawatts, currently has 27 applications under consideration for new, extended or varied wind farms. Further details can be found at www.energyconsents.scot The following table provides a breakdown of those applications;

Wind Farm	Type	Local Planning Authority	Height
Glendye	New Wind Farm	Aberdeenshire	149.9m
Airigh	New Wind Farm	Argyll & Bute	149.5m
Blarghour	New Wind Farm	Argyll & Bute	136.5m
Killean	New Wind Farm	Argyll & Bute	149.9m
Tangy IV	Re-Powering	Argyll & Bute	149.9m
Upper Sonachan	New Wind Farm	Argyll & Bute	136.5m
North Lowther Energy Initiative	New Wind Farm	Dumfries and Galloway	149m
Sandy Knowe Wind Farm	New Wind Farm	Dumfries and Galloway	125m
Shepherds Rig	New Wind Farm	Dumfries and Galloway	149.9m
Stranoch 2	New Wind Farm	Dumfries and Galloway	175m
Windy Standard III	Extension	Dumfries and Galloway	177.5m
Enoch Hill	New Wind Farm	East Ayrshire	130m
Corriemollie	S36 Consent only	Highland	125m
Drum Hollistan	New Wind Farm	Highland	140m
Glenshero	New Wind Farm	Highland	135m
Golticlay	New Wind Farm	Highland	130m
Limekiln	New Wind Farm	Highland	139m
Strathy Wood	New Wind Farm	Highland	145m
Clash Gour	New Wind Farm	Moray	176m
Pauls Hill II	Extension	Moray	149.9m
Dulater Hill	New Wind Farm	Perth and Kinross	125m
Fallago Rig	Extension	Scottish Borders	126.5m
Crystal Rig IV	Extension	Scottish Borders/East Lothian	200m
Viking Variation	Variation	Shetland Islands	155m
Hagshaw Hill	Re-Powering	South Lanarkshire	200m
Harry Burn	New Wind Farm	South Lanarkshire	149.9m
Kype Muir	Extension Variation	South Lanarkshire	220m

Question reference: S5W-20716

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the delivery of reduced fares on Orkney ferry services.

The Scottish Government is engaging with the European Commission following a complaint made on 8 June 2018 regarding our plans to reduce ferry fares to the Northern Isles.

Scottish Government Officials met with European Commission officials in Brussels on 12 November 2018. The Scottish Government are awaiting a formal view from the Commission regarding the next steps in addressing the complaints.

The Scottish Government remains committed to pursuing all legally complaint avenues to deliver reduced fares for Orkney and this point has been communicated to Orkney Islands Council.

Question reference: S5W-20714

Asked by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 December 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 10 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what savings could be made from Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s plan to centralise air traffic control towers.