Chamber and committees

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: S4W-27730

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 5 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason its recently-launched consultation on air quality plans to meet EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide does not include scrutiny of the Low Emission Strategy.

The Low Emission Strategy is an important element of Scotland’s contribution to the overall UK air quality action plan for securing compliance with the EU limit values for nitrogen dioxide. It has already been subject to extensive stakeholder input and scrutiny during its development. In particular the Scottish Government has worked closely on this development with Transport Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, local authorities and a wide range of other organisations in the public and private sectors, including members of the Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership and the Scottish Urban Air Quality Group.

In addition to formal consultation the process has involved a series of collaborative workshops to help inform content of the draft strategy, a formal consultation on this draft, establishment of several expert working groups focusing on key areas of the strategy, a series of telephone interviews with targeted individuals and organisations to gather in depth views and an online questionnaire for those who wished to contribute in a less formal way.

Post consultation, the draft strategy has been extensively redeveloped and, at each stage of this process, many of those organisations which contributed to the earlier stages have provided further feedback. The final strategy will be published before the end of 2015.

Question reference: S4W-27726

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 5 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to analyse the number of deaths each year that are attributable to (a) nitrogen dioxide and (b) other sources of particulate matter; what the latest information is; how much funding it provides to tackle this, and, in light of evidence to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that the number of annual deaths across the UK could be double previous estimates, whether it plans to increase this funding and, if so, by how much.

For reasons of statistical quality, sub-UK statistics as to mortality caused by air quality are not routinely collected.

The Scottish Government provides funding totalling £2 million a year to support local authorities in undertaking their statutory air quality responsibilities, which focus on improving human health through better air quality. Work undertaken directly by the Scottish Government and partner organisations such as Transport Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Health Protection Scotland also contributes to tackling the impacts of air pollution on health. These specific schemes are in addition to other policies and initiatives, such as active travel, that contribute to promoting air quality.

Future funding plans will be considered in the context of future budget decisions.

Question reference: S4W-27727

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 25 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 5 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-04596 by Aileen McLeod on 16 September 2015, whether the final Low Emission Strategy will include (a) a timetable for key actions, (b) estimates of each planned improvement to air quality and (c) details of how much money will be needed to fund low-emission zones in each local authority area.

The final Low Emission Strategy will include a timetable for key actions. The contribution of each action to air quality improvements cannot be estimated in isolation as there is a strong degree of complex interaction between the various actions. As the process of implementing the actions proceeds, ways in which this can be meaningfully related to air quality improvements in specific areas will be considered.

Detailed assessment of the requirements for low emission zones in specific areas will be required before any estimates of monetary costs can be made as any zone will need to be designed and developed in terms of the specific issues that are causing any air quality concerns. This work will commence following the launch of the strategy which will set out the low emission zone framework. The creation of any low emission zone will be a decision for individual local authorities.

Question reference: S4O-04656

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 30 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its position in supporting Palestinian refugees.

Scotland has a strong record in welcoming, supporting and integrating refugees from across the globe. Our strategy New Scots: Integrating Refugees in Scotland’s Communities provides the framework for supporting refugees who have made a home in Scotland.

In July 2014 I wrote to the Home Secretary calling on the UK to help ease the refugee crisis in Gaza and the West Bank at that time, and confirming that Scotland would be willing to accept Palestinian refugees.

Question reference: S4W-27180

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what its ecological monitoring strategy is for features protected by nature conservation marine protected areas and marine special areas of conservation.

The Scottish Government is working with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and other partners on a program of work identifying biodiversity monitoring needs to fulfil a range of obligations, duties and commitments. Part of this program will be to incorporate ecological monitoring of the new nature conservation marine protected areas into the ongoing program of work to determine the status of existing protected areas in Scottish waters including marine special areas of conservation.

Question reference: S4W-27179

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 24 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what process will be introduced to identify the need for financial assistance for diversification or decommissioning for fishers who will be displaced because of the recently proposed marine conservation orders for nature conservation marine protected areas and fishing orders for special areas of conservation, and how it will support applications for such assistance.

The management of marine protected areas and some particular special areas of conservation has not yet been finalised and, in any case, that management remains subject to parliamentary scrutiny. Possible mitigation measures that may be required are currently under consideration by Marine Scotland. The intention is that appropriate mitigation arrangements will be in place as management measures come into force.

Question reference: S4O-04636

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many small businesses have successfully bid for local authority contracts in the last year.

Question reference: S4W-27228

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how carbon emissions or savings from wind developments are calculated and included in its annual carbon statistics.

The Scottish Greenhouse Gas Inventory is used to inform Scotland’s annual greenhouse gas statistics. It considers emissions within Scotland. The operation of the wind farms will however also have impacts on the power sector across the UK. For that reason a separate calculator has been produced to consider the full carbon impact of new wind farms.

This can be found using the attached link:

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-sources/19185/17852-1/CSavings

Emissions arising from any wind farm manufacturing, transport and construction activity taking place within Scotland will be included in the relevant sections of the inventory and Scottish emissions from the energy sector will be lower as a result of displaced thermal generation.

Question reference: S4W-27229

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when SEPA will have completed the upgraded carbon calculator tool and made it available.

Question reference: S4W-27230

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how it considers carbon emissions in decisions under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 while the carbon calculator tool is being upgraded by SEPA.