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: S3W-34571

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 25 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring in new guidance on the siting of onshore wind farms.

Question reference: S3W-34570

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 25 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring in new planning procedures in relation to the decision-making process for onshore wind farms.

Question reference: S3W-34330

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 21 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what broadband connection speeds it considers are a satisfactory minimum for rural communities.

The Scottish Government''s current broadband commitment extends to provision of basic broadband, defined as 512 kbps (kilobits per second), to known demand. This applies to households and businesses, both in rural and non-rural areas. This has largely been achieved through the Broadband Reach Project, which has now delivered a satellite broadband service to over 2,400 premises throughout Scotland.

There is no current, robust evidence of the wider economic and social benefits of faster broadband speed, therefore work is being progressed by the Scottish Government to improve our evidence base in this area. This research will include ascertaining the current, and where possible future, broadband needs of Scottish businesses “ in rural and non-rural areas. A research project which includes assessment of this issue will shortly be commissioned by the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S3W-34333

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 21 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to rural households to be broadband-enabled.

The Scottish Government has already made significant progress in improving broadband connectivity for rural households and businesses.

Our Broadband Reach Project, which finally closed in March 2010, has provided an affordable, basic, broadband service to over 2,400 premises, many in rural areas, which were previously unable to access broadband due to distance from the exchange.

In addition, an upgrade programme to 81 capacity-limited rural exchanges, currently being undertaken by BT, was announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last December. To date, 55 of these upgrades are now complete, with the programme expected to complete by the end of November 2010.

Finally, the Scottish Government is considering delivery options for disbursement of Scotland''s share of the European Economic Recovery Programme funding for broadband projects, one of which is a challenge fund approach in partnership with the Scottish Rural Development Programme''s LEADER programme. This could potentially benefit groups of individuals or businesses in rural communities. Further information on this programme will be announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment this summer.

Question reference: S3W-34332

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 21 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to enable full platform ADSL for the Butterstone telephone exchange in Perth and Kinross.

Question reference: S3W-34331

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 21 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a 512kb broadband connection speed is appropriate for (a) households and (b) businesses.

Question reference: S3W-33985

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 16 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all operating windfarms in Scotland, showing each windfarm’s annual (a) forecast generated output and (b) actual generated output, broken down by local authority area.

A table of all operational windfarms by local authority area and their theoretical annual generated output is attached. Energy companies consider information on individual windfarms'' actual generated output to be commercially sensitive and do not release this data. The actual cumulative Scottish total from official statistics on total generation output from wind in Scotland in 2008 was 3,330 GigawattHours.

Project Name	Local Authority	Capacity (MWe)	Theoretical Annual Generated Output (MWHours)
Lochhead Farm, Stonehouse	South Lanarkshire	6.15	16,162.2
Fairburn, Strathconon	Highland	40	105,120
Beinn nan Oighrean (aka Struie)	Highland	4.6	12,088.8
Stirkoke (Achairn)	Highland	6	15,768
Dun Law 2 - extension	Scottish Borders	29.75	78,183
Longpark Wind Farm	Scottish Borders	38	99,864
Clachan Flats (Arkinglas)	Argyll and Bute	15	39,420
Glens of Foudland	Aberdeenshire	27.3	71,744.4
Dummuie, Drumblade	Aberdeenshire	10.4	27,331.2
Boyndie Airfield	Aberdeenshire	14	36,792
Mackie''s of Scotland	Aberdeenshire	0.85	2,233.8
Hill of Burns	Aberdeenshire	0.9	2,365.2
Deucheran Hill (from Cruach Nan Gaber)	Argyll and Bute	15.75	,41391
Achamore House	Argyll and Bute	0.675	1,773.9
Beinn Ghlas	Argyll and Bute	8.4	22,075.2
Beinn an Tuirc & Cnoc Don Arnicle	Argyll and Bute	30	78,840
Cruach Mhor	Argyll and Bute	30	78,840
Tangy	Argyll and Bute	12.75	33,507
Isle of Luing Wind Energy Scheme	Argyll and Bute	0.1	262.8
Dalswinton	Dumfries and Galloway	30	78,840
Minsca Farm	Dumfries and Galloway	36.8	96,710.4
Craig Wind Farm / Carlsgill Hill	Dumfries and Galloway	10	26,280
Windy Standard (Gallow Rig & Polwhat Rig)	Dumfries and Galloway	21.6	56,764.8
Wether Hill	Dumfries and Galloway	18.2	47,829.6
Artfield Fell	Dumfries and Galloway	20	52,560
Michelin Wind Turbines	Dundee	4	10,512
Hare Hill	East Ayrshire	13.2	34,689.6
Hall Hill	East Lothian	0.1	262.8
Myres Hill	East Renfrewshire	1.9	4,993.2
Boulfruich	Highland	12	31,536
Millennium (Glenmoriston)	Highland	40	105,120
Kilbraur (Strath Brora) Wind Farm	Highland	47.5	124,830
Causeymire	Highland	48.3	126,932.4
Causeymire extension	Highland	6.7	17,607.6
Farr Wind Farm	Highland	92	241,776
Novar (Bendeallt and Meall an Tuirc)	Highland	17	44,676
Ben Aketil	Highland	23	60,444
Forss	Highland	2	5,256
Forss II - extension	Highland	5.2	13,665.6
Beinn Tharsuinn	Highland	29	76,212
Findhorn Foundation 2	Moray	0.75	1,971
Paul''s Hill	Moray	56	147,168
Paul''s Hill extension	Moray	9	23,652
Rothes Wind (Cairn Uish)	Moray	50.6	132,976.8
Findhorn Foundation 1	Moray	0.08	210.24
Ardrossan	North Ayrshire	24	63,072
Ardrossan 2	North Ayrshire	6	15,768
Wardlaw Wood	North Ayrshire	18	47,304
Bu Farm	Orkney	2.3	6,044.4
WWB Burgar Hill	Orkney	5	13,140
Burray	Orkney	0.9	2,365.2
Spurness Point	Orkney	8.25	21,681
Thorfinn (Burgar Hill)	Orkney	2.7	7,095.6
Thorfinn (Burgar Hill)	Orkney	1.5	3,942
Sigurd (Burgar Hill)	Orkney	1.3	3,416.4
Green Knowes	Perth and Kinross	27	70,956
Drumderg	Perth and Kinross	36.8	96,710.4
Bowbeat Hill (Emly Bank & Roughside Hill)	Scottish Borders	31.2	81,993.6
Crystal Rig 1A	Scottish Borders	12.5	32,850
Crystal Rig	Scottish Borders	50	131,400
Black Hill	Scottish Borders	28.6	75,160.8
Dun Law	Scottish Borders	17.16	45,096.48
Fair Isle	Shetland	0.16	420.48
Burradale (1 & 2)	Shetland	3.7	9,723.6
Hadyard Hill	South Ayrshire	120	31,5360
East Kilbride Wind Turbine (Sainsbury''s)	South Lanarkshire	0.605	1,589.94
Black Law Wind Farm ˜A''	South Lanarkshire	92	241,776
Black Law Wind Farm ˜B''	South Lanarkshire	27.6	72,532.8
Hagshaw Hill (S10&S15)	South Lanarkshire	15.6	40,996.8
Braes O'' Doune Wind Farm	Stirling	72	189,216
Fintry Community Wind Turbine	Stirling	2.75	7,227
Earlsburn	Stirling	32.5	85,410
Liniclate School	Western Isles	0.06	157.68
Arnish Moor	Western Isles	3.9	10,249.2
Millennium Extension	Highland	10	26,280
Greendykes	North Lanarkshire	4	10,512
Xcite Bathgate Sports Centre	West Lothian	0.1	262.8
Bilbster (Flex Hill / Watten)	Highland	3.9	10,249.2
Whitelee Wind Farm / Eaglesham	East Ayrshire	322	846,216
Aikengall	East Lothian	48	126,144

Question reference: S3W-33880

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 9 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) objections and (b) expressions of support have been received in relation to the application to construct and operate the Viking wind farm on Shetland.

Question reference: S3W-33984

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all telephone exchange upgrades in rural areas, as announced by it on 9 December 2009, have been met and are on target.

As of 8 June, BT has confirmed that 55 of the 81 exchange upgrades included in this telephone exchange upgrade programme are now complete. BT has also confirmed that the programme is on track for completion by the end of November 2010.

The dates announced by the Scottish Government on 9 December 2009 represented BT''s then indicative completion dates for each exchange.

The status of the upgrade programme is updated regularly on the Scottish Government''s website, at the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/BroadbandforScotland/SEBroadbandInitiatives/Announcements.

Question reference: S3W-33987

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 June 2010
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 9 June 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all funding allocations that it has provided to Angus Council to help with flood prevention measures since May 2007.

In 2007-08, Angus Council did not have any flood prevention schemes eligible for the then ring-fenced flood prevention grant. From 1 April 2008, £126 million for flood prevention/coast protection was rolled-up into the General Capital Grant over the three years, 2008 to 2011. The distribution of this funding was agreed with COSLA to take into account known schemes in certain local authorities and the level of flood risk in every council area. The total support for capital for Angus Council over the period 2008-11 is £46.680 million, which includes £21.576 million of General Capital Grant and £22.428 million of supported borrowing. It is the responsibility of Angus Council to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities including the Scottish Government''s key strategic objectives.