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-20493

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 April 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 24 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it will be in a position to specify a minimum distance between unconventional gas operations and residential and water-protection areas and whether it will include below-ground operations.

The Scottish Government is still considering revisions to the finalised Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) following public consultation. Following Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee scrutiny of National Planning Framework 3 and the accompanying SPP position statement, a number of the committee’s recommendations seek greater clarity on unconventional gas. I intend by June 2014 for the finalised SPP to make the Scottish Government intentions clear.

Question reference: S4O-03127

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 April 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will revise the annual greenhouse gas emission reduction targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Question reference: S4W-20064

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 20 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the national marine plan.

The Statement of Public Participation (SPP), required by Schedule 1 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and Schedule 6 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which is published on the Scottish Government’s website sets out the timetable currently anticipated.

The timetable needs to reflect the consultation and engagement required to develop a national marine plan which best achieves the balance of protecting and enhancing our marine environment, alongside growing our existing and emerging marine industries. This was highlighted in the answer to question S4O-02960 on 5 March 2014 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/OfficialReport.aspx

Should there be a requirement for the timetable to change in order to allow for this, the SPP will be reviewed, revised and republished as required by the 2009 and 2010 Acts.

Question reference: S4O-03042

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will focus more on "enhancing" rather than "protecting" certain characteristics in marine protected areas.

Question reference: S4W-19709

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the impact on the delivery of its Second Report on Proposals and Policies of the EU’s proposed 2030 targets for (a) renewable energy and (b) greenhouse gas emissions.

The Scottish Government welcomes the European Commission’s proposal on 22 January 2014 for a target of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases emissions and a 27% target for renewable energy by 2030. We have argued strongly for a 40% EU wide target with a 50% target in the context of a global agreement at the Paris, Climate Conference of the Parties in 2015 and will continue to work with our partners in the EU to make the case for high ambition on climate change. It is clear that a number of Member States are stressing that 27% should be the minimum for an EU-wide target and Germany (30%) and Portugal; (40%) are arguing for a higher level of renewables ambition. The advent of the 2030 targets for both renewables and greenhouse gas emissions will act as a driver for low carbon investment and this will help foster a supportive investment environment in Scotland also.

We want to see the EU maintain its lead on climate ambition, and will continue to work with other ambitious countries to make the case for the jobs, trade, investment and growth opportunities that the transition to a low carbon economy will deliver. In this respect, we will continue to present evidence to our European partners of the existing investments and low carbon jobs already experienced in Scotland and the potential we have to fulfil a higher level of ambition on climate mitigation, as well as the importance of taking action to support developing nations as part of our Climate Justice approach.

Question reference: S4W-19710

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 February 2014
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 11 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the EU's proposed 27% target for renewable energy by 2030, what additional measures it will introduce to ensure that the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 is delivered in full.

The Scottish Government remains on track to achieving the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 ambition of at least a 42% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2020, and at least an 80% reduction by 2050.

We expect the policy framework we have developed, the second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2), will allow us to meet our targets although Scottish Government and our partners will need to continue to refine proposals as and when appropriate to do so, given the influence of external factors and ongoing policy development work. Where we can, we will deliver more, and we will continue to seek additional ways in which we can maximise the impact of the low carbon investments we make and to influence the wider Scottish Government and public sector investment programmes. We will work closely with delivery agents and stakeholders to make sure that we have the right package in place and to iterate on our policies as new evidence emerges.

Question reference: S4O-02991

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on complementary medicines and therapies and on supporting NHS boards in their use.

Question reference: S4W-19548

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it conducts of the requirement for equine passport issuing organisations to maintain a searchable, computerised database.

Question reference: S4W-19547

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning to establish a national equine database for Scotland.

Question reference: S4O-02960

Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications for the marine environment and marine industries are of the delay to the National Marine Plan.