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-29461

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 22 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 4 February 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what content on (a) human rights law and (b) its human rights obligations is included in the induction and professional development programmes for its civil servants who (i) are engaged in policy development and (ii) provide legal services for ministers.

All new staff recruited by the Scottish Government participate in a corporate induction programme that introduces them to the core values of the Scottish Government and gives them the opportunity to explore how these values, including our commitment to human rights, are translated into the development and implementation of policy. This is supplemented by locally-led induction and by spending time with colleagues and stakeholders to build subject-specific knowledge and understanding. As an organisation, we encourage all staff to discuss and plan their learning and development on an on-going basis with their line manager. Our learning support is designed to help people develop their skills and knowledge through experiential learning, classroom based learning and coaching or mentoring support.

Staff providing legal advice have an in-depth professional knowledge of the law of Scotland, including the important human rights dimension to the devolution settlement. Skills, knowledge and awareness are further developed through a combination of on-the-job training and supportive supervision by experienced colleagues, as well as through personal learning which, for example, ranges from the use of regular human rights case updates for Scotland, the UK and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to participation in internal and external seminars and workshops.

Question reference: S4W-29350

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 26 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the new chairperson of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Question reference: S4W-29235

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 26 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comments by Aileen McLeod on 9 June 2015 that “the Cabinet has agreed to embed climate change in this autumn’s budget process” (Official Report, c. 59) and 27 October 2015 that “we will ensure that climate change is a top priority through a Cabinet agreement to embed it in the autumn budget process”, (Official Report, c. 24), which spending commitments in the Draft Budget 2016-17 embed climate change.

The Draft Budget 2016-17 embeds climate change within relevant portfolios, including support for renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable travel, waste reduction and natural carbon capture. The principal spending commitments were published in Draft Budget 2016-17: Details of funding for climate change mitigation measures, available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/climatechange/DraftBudget2016-17. In addition, as highlighted in the Infrastructure Investment Plan, we are making significant multi-million pound investments in new and more energy efficient schools, colleges, health centres and hospitals.

Question reference: S4W-29227

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the independent review of underground coal gasification (UCG) that is to be conducted by Professor Campbell Gemmell will include (a) public stakeholder workshops and consultation and (b) an assessment of the impact of UCG on (i) public health, (ii) transport, (iii) decommissioning and aftercare, (iv) seismic activity and how this is monitored, (v) the economy and (vi) climate change.

The independent examination of the issues and evidence surrounding UCG, led by Professor Campbell Gemmell, will draw on published sources of information, expert input and community views to help the Scottish Government formulate future policies or actions. To support the review, Professor Gemmell will establish an advisory group and/or other stakeholder forum(s) to provide expert and stakeholder input on issues such as environmental issues and regulation, public health, spatial planning, climate strategy, community engagement, industry, geosciences, and energy.

Information on the independent review of UCG can be found on the Scottish Government website at

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/onshoreoilandgas.

Question reference: S4W-29228

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 21 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the timetable for the (a) moratorium on underground coal gasification (UCG) and (b) independent review of UCG that is to be conducted by Professor Campbell Gemmell.

The Scottish Government announced a moratorium on UCG on 8 October 2015. The moratorium will create the opportunity to take forward a period of evidence-gathering. The independent examination of the issues and evidence surrounding UCG which is being led by Professor Campbell Gemmell will help the Scottish Government formulate future policies or actions. The independent review is expected to report its findings in summer 2016.

Information on the independent review of UCG can be found on the Scottish Government website at

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/onshoreoilandgas.

Question reference: S4W-29223

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 15 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether the operation of the (a) West Coast Main Line and (b) Lamington Viaduct was included in its winter resilience planning.

Question reference: S4W-29224

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 January 2016
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 15 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with ScotRail Alliance and Transport Scotland to confirm the structural integrity of bridges on trunk roads and main rail lines as part of winter resilience planning.

Question reference: S4O-05288

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed social care with the City of Edinburgh Council.

Question reference: S4F-03153

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 January 2016
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 January 2016

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will conduct a review of flood defences in conjunction with local authorities in light of this winter’s flooding incidents.

Question reference: S4W-28713

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2015
Current Status: Answered by Annabelle Ewing on 9 December 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) college courses and (b) apprenticeship places specialise in training for the (i) energy efficiency and (ii) low-carbon sector.

Data on the number of college courses specialising in training for the (i) energy efficiency and (ii) low-carbon sector is not held centrally. The Scottish Funding Council is responsible for collecting data on college students and courses in Scotland. I will ask the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to write to you with the information you have requested.

The main energy efficiency and low carbon Modern Apprenticeship (MA) frameworks are wind turbine, gas and energy efficiency. Please see the table below for the figures for 2015-16 quarter two for these frameworks.

Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Sector Frameworks Quarter Two (1 April to 21September 2015)

Frameworks	Starts	In Training	Completion
Gas Heating and Energy Efficiency	16	16	0
Wind Turbine Tech	2	35	2

While the above are the main low carbon and energy efficiency specific frameworks, some individuals on other MA frameworks, such as construction or plumbing may then go on to take industry/vendor specific courses that allow them to specialise in low carbon or energy efficiency units. For example, a fully qualified roofer might then go on to be trained to install solar panels. However, as these are delivered outside MA frameworks, Skills Development Scotland does not track who has completed these units, and as such cannot provide figures for this.