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: S4O-03587

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 October 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to local authorities to ensure that there is suitable accommodation to deal with the projected increase in school rolls.

Question reference: S4W-22372

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that offshore wind energy project consenting decisions are being made in the light of the best scientific knowledge and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Offshore wind energy projects undergo a full and thorough consultation and consideration is given to all assessment methods that are suggested by consultees. Marine Scotland ensures that decisions on the impacts of potential offshore wind projects are made in light of the best scientific knowledge and expert opinion, using peer reviewed outputs where possible. Where peer reviewed outputs are not practical, Marine Scotland utilises the best available scientific advice in conjunction with the most suitable assessment methods, which are, where possible, informed by outputs from specifically targeted and focussed scientific projects and research.

Question reference: S4W-22371

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received from the (a) Marine Scotland Science Advisory Board, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage Scientific Advisory Committee and (c) Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland regarding the assessment methods used by Marine Scotland to consider the implications of offshore wind energy projects on seabirds.

Question reference: S4W-22374

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government at what stage uncertainty as to the absence of adverse effects on the integrity of a European wildlife site constitutes a reasonable scientific doubt.

Completion of an appropriate assessment in compliance with the relevant secondary legislation is the stage at which competent authorities must establish the absence of reasonable scientific doubt when considering the potential impacts of plans or projects on European sites. In order to address uncertainty in relation to effects, assessments which are undertaken are precautionary, and, as a general rule, the more uncertainty in relation to effects that exists, the greater the precaution within the assessment.

Question reference: S4W-22373

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 23 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the methods used to assess the likely impact on seabird populations of proposed wind energy projects have been subject to scientific peer review and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

There are a range of methods used by Marine Scotland to assess the likely impact on seabird populations of proposed offshore wind energy projects. Some of these methods, such as collision risk modelling, have a long history of development with input from statutory nature conservation bodies and others. Other methods, such as energetic modelling and some population modelling, are more recent, but are nonetheless subject to consideration by steering groups with representatives from interested parties. Marine Scotland are operating at the forefront of science on this matter which will provide a strong basis going forward as knowledge and learning develops in this area. Given the importance to Scotland of its seabird populations, when assessing the likely impact on these populations by proposed wind energy projects, Marine Scotland use the most suitable techniques and the best available evidence.

Question reference: S4O-03515

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources it is providing to address delayed discharges.

Question reference: S4W-22380

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4T-00765 (Official Report, c. 33247) and S4O-03456 (Official Report, c. 33462) by Alex Neil on 12 and 14 August 2014 respectively, whether it will allocate £100 million or £125 million in additional resources over the next two years to additional priorities in the community or hospital sector and whether it will provide a breakdown of the spend by (a) year and (b) sector.

We are working closely with our NHS and local authority partners to reduce the levels of delayed discharges across Scotland. Since April 2007 we have reduced the level of delays over four weeks by over 60%. However, tackling delays is not just about money, and some partnerships are facing real challenges, particularly around workforce recruitment and retention. We have therefore recently convened a task force to drive forward improvements and innovative change at a local and national level.

We have also provided additional support to partnerships facing the most significant pressures from delayed discharges. This funding will enable them to accelerate progress towards sustainable change, drive down delays and release hospital capacity over the long term.

Furthermore, our plans to integrate adult health and social care will ensure that health and social care is provided in the right place, at the right time, making the best use of available money, facilities and people.

Question reference: S4W-22381

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 12 September 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-03456 by Alex Neil on 14 August 2014 (Official Report, c. 33462) whether it will set out the cost to the each NHS board of supporting older patients waiting to be discharged from hospital.

Question reference: S4W-22326

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 08 August 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 15 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what impact analysis it has carried out on the Local Government Finance (Unoccupied Properties etc.) (Scotland) Act 2012; what additional (a) revenues have been generated and (b) costs have been incurred by local authorities, and how many (i) houses, (ii) shops and (iii) business properties have been brought back into use.

It is too early to determine the impacts to housing as a result of the Local Government Finance (Unoccupied Properties etc.) (Scotland) Act 2012. This is due to only a single council applying the discretionary power (to charge increased levels of council tax for certain long-term empty homes) for the first full year of operation in 2013-14. 12 councils are applying the power in 2014-15 and the effect in terms of number of properties affected and revenue raised will be picked up in the local government finance returns to the Scottish Government.

With regards to how many (ii) shops and (iii) business properties have been brought back into use, we have undertaken to conduct post-legislative scrutiny of the empty property relief policy in 2015.

Question reference: S4O-03456

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 August 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support older people who live alone.