Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-27880

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 27 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in light of its consultation on non-domestic solar panels and domestic air source heat pumps (ASHP), it has considered a further relaxation of the number of permitted ASHPs on multi-flatted, multi-floor properties to allow all residents to benefit from the technology.

Question reference: S4W-27881

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 27 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its consultation on non-domestic solar panels and domestic air source heat pumps (ASHP), what plans it has to review the cumulative impact arising from more than one ASHP on a building.

For permitted development purposes the consultation paper proposes to allow for one air source heat pump on houses and flats. In response to question S4W-27880 on 27 October 2015, we have stated that we are actively considering relaxing this restriction and that cumulative noise impact is a key matter. The partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment states our intention to undertake a post implementation review of the proposed regulations after a year.

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/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-27877

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 27 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has responded to the EU's Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT) review of the birds and habitats directive, either directly or via the UK Government, and whether it will publish its submission.

In its capacity as the relevant member state government department, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs coordinated and submitted a response on behalf of all of the UK administrations.

Responses received from a range of organisations (including those member state authorities which participated) are available on the European Commission website via the following weblink:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/evidence_gathering/index_en.htm

Question reference: S4W-27876

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 27 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its consultation on non-domestic solar panels and domestic air source heat pumps (ASHP), what discussions it has had with stakeholders about the possibility of extending the Microgeneration Certification Scheme to cover non-domestic ASHPs.

No discussions with stakeholders on this matter have taken place as the matter lies beyond the scope of the recent consultation. The partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment states our intention to undertake a post implementation review of the proposed regulations after a year. Should it be appropriate at that stage, we will discuss this matter with Gemserv Ltd who were appointed by the Secretary of State to administer the Microgeneration Certification Scheme on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Question reference: S4W-24478

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 28 January 2015 (Official Report, c.17), what work will be carried out on reviewing the environmental considerations with regard to unconventional oil and gas extraction; which government department or non-government body it will commission to do this; when the work will (a) begin and (b) end; when the findings will be published, and how many full-time equivalent staff will be employed to do this.

Question reference: S4W-24479

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 28 January 2015 (Official Report, c.17), what work will be carried out on examining the possible health impact of unconventional oil and gas extraction; which government department or non-government body it will commission to do this; when the work will (a) begin and (b) end; when the findings will be published, and how many full-time equivalent staff will be employed to do this.

Question reference: S4W-24477

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 28 January 2015 (Official Report, c.17), what work will be carried out on strengthening the planning guidance with regard to unconventional oil and gas extraction; which government department or non-government body it will commission to do this; when the work will (a) begin and (b) end; when the findings will be published, and how many full-time equivalent staff will be employed to do this.

Question reference: S4W-24473

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 28 January 2015 (Official Report, c.17), whether the moratorium on the granting of planning consents for unconventional oil and gas developments will prohibit the drilling of conventional boreholes for (a) environmental baseline assessments, (b) exploratory flow-back testing and (c) the appraisal of commercial feasibility in relation to potential unconventional oil and gas developments.

It is estimated that at least 5,000 boreholes are drilled annually in Scotland and for a variety of purposes each year.

With regard to unconventional oil and gas, only boreholes drilled for the purpose of obtaining a core sample are permitted. Directions have been issued today to planning authorities and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency confirming this position.

It is the Scottish Government’s position that such boreholes must also have research and geoscience as their key driver and be undertaken in collaboration with an independent research body (such as the British Geological Survey) or academic institution, and the information obtained will be made available to support the evidence-base on unconventional oil and gas.

The Scottish Government, in consultation with stakeholders, will update planning guidance to reflect this position. Planning guidance will also be reviewed to ensure that borehole applications are subject to appropriate public scrutiny and that proposals satisfactorily address all the likely impacts on local communities and the environment.

Question reference: S4W-24474

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 28 January 2015 (Official Report, c.17), whether the moratorium on the granting of planning consents for unconventional oil and gas developments will prohibit developments that do not require hydraulic fracturing.

Question reference: S4W-24475

Asked by: Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement by Fergus Ewing on 28 January 2015 (Official Report, c.17), whether the moratorium on the granting of planning consents for unconventional oil and gas developments will apply to (a) underground coal gasification and (b) coalbed methane extraction.

In line with the precautionary, evidence-based approach already shown on unconventional oil and gas, the Scottish Government has now announced plans for a separate moratorium on planning consents related to underground coal gasification developments in Scotland. The moratorium will be accompanied by a programme of evidence-gathering work.

Information is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 57240).

Coalbed methane extraction is already covered by the existing moratorium on unconventional oil and gas developments.

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