- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how its decision to specify a coal-fired power station at Hunterston as a national development in the National Planning Framework 2 now relates to the duty of the Scottish Ministers to consider the proposal for such a power station submitted by Ayrshire Power Ltd and whether it will make a statement on this matter.
Answer
Scottish ministers are obliged by the 1989 Electricity Act (Scotland) to consider directly applications for consent for thermal power stations over 50 megawatts of electricity output capacity. Designation as a national development establishes the need for the development in principle. Any inquiry or examination of a specific proposal for such a power station will therefore focus on aspects of the application itself, including the matters set out in the statement of need for national development 9 (page 121 of the National Planning Framework).
The purpose of national development status is to facilitate the consenting processes for infrastructure which is considered to be of national importance by establishing the principle of development after wide consultation. The National Planning Framework 2 Participation Statement and Conformity Report sets out how and with whom discussions on this national development took place, as set out in the answer to question S3W-33007 on 22 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Defauls.aspx.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the cabinet had on the identification of a coal-fired power station at Hunterston as a national development prior to the National Planning Framework 2 being laid before the Parliament.
Answer
Prior to the Proposed Second National Planning Framework being laid before the Scottish Parliament in December 2008, the document was considered by cabinet correspondence.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers had with developers and other interested parties on the identification of a coal-fired power station at Hunterston as a national development prior to the National Planning Framework 2 being laid before the Parliament.
Answer
The series of discussions which took place regarding the preparation of the Second National Planning Framework are set out in the National Planning Framework 2 Participation Statement and Conformity Report. That is available electronically on the Scottish Government''s website (
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/212607/0087755.pdf) and also via the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 48493).
I am unable to comment further on this matter given the petition for judicial review of the decision to designate Hunterston as a national development currently before the Court of Session.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the National Planning Framework for Scotland regarding the funding and development of combined heat and power or district heating systems in urban areas.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32903 on 22 April 2010 which identified the Scottish Government''s approach to combined heat and power and district heating. The introductory text to the second National Planning Framework for Scotland (NPF2) explains that it is not a funding document. NPF2 provides the strategic spatial policy context for decisions and actions by the government and its agencies and the government has no plans for its early revision.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Defauls.aspx.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of proposed policy from the Department of Communities and Local Government for local authorities in England to carry out assessments for the potential deployment of combined heat and power or district heating systems, as set out in its Consultation on a Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate, whether a similar requirement may be placed on Scottish local authorities.
Answer
The second National Planning Framework for Scotland states that the government is keen to facilitate the development of a more dispersed pattern of energy generation and supply as part of the response to climate change. This will involve encouraging community and household heat and power generation, the decentralisation of generation capacity and the development of local heat networks. It indicates that planning authorities should take account of the potential for developing heat networks when preparing development plans and considering major development proposals.
The government also recognises that it is important to encourage heat supply to be located close to demand.
Scottish Planning Policy states that when designating land for new residential, commercial and industrial development, planning authorities should consider the energy and heat requirements of these new developments. New development should be planned to make use of opportunities for decentralised and local renewable or low carbon sources of heat and power wherever possible.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget reduction is proposed for care of older people by NHS Grampian.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33196 on 22 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget reduction is proposed for mental health services by NHS Grampian.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33196 on 22 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget reduction is proposed for dental services by NHS Grampian.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33196 on 22 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget reduction is proposed for surgery by NHS Grampian.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33196 on 22 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what total savings are being made by NHS Grampian from its revenue budget in 2010-11.
Answer
The Scottish Government expects NHS Grampian to provide the highest possible standard of healthcare and it has received a cash increase of £16 million in its 2010‘11 budget. NHS Grampian has advised that it requires to deliver £34 million of savings in 2010‘11, and whilst challenging, it is achievable. NHS Grampian is currently looking at a whole range of efficiency measures with a view to identifying those that will not impact on patient care.
