Questions and answers

Question reference: S5O-02877

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 7 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Tayside and what issues were discussed.

Question reference: S5F-03042

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 February 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 February 2019

To ask the First Minister what categories of public sector workers will be exempt from the proposed workplace parking levy.

Question reference: S5W-21028

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 1 February 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cairngorms National Park Authority, as a statutory consultee in the A9 dualling project, is responsible for the protection of the interests and assets of the park.

The interests and assets of the Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project are not the sole responsibility of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, or other organisations, but the Cairngorms National Park Authority can make representations, as a consultee, on any proposed development that affects the Park’s statutory aims as set out in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. These are:

(a)to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area,

(b)to promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area,

(c)to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public, and

(d)to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.

Under the arrangements in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, in circumstances where matters raised in consultation, including from statutory consultees, cannot be resolved a project may be referred for examination by an independent Reporter who will make a recommendation to the Scottish Ministers for decision. The Reporter’s examination may be informed by a Public Local Inquiry, to which those with an interest can make representations.

Question reference: S5W-21029

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it conferred sufficient power on Cairngorms National Park Authority to be able to protect the interests and assets of the park in the A9 dualling project to the level expected by the park’s stakeholders.

The powers conferred on the Cairngorms National Park Authority are set in statute in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 and Cairngorms National Park Designation, Transitional and Consequential Provisions (Scotland) Order 2003. The Cairngorms National Park Authority can make representations, as a consultee, on any proposed development, such as the A9 dualling project, if they consider that it may affect the Park’s statutory aims.

Question reference: S5W-21027

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is responsible for the protection of the interests and assets of Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project.

The interests and assets of the Cairngorms National Park within the A9 dualling project are not the sole responsibility of Scottish Ministers or other organisations but the Cairngorms National Park Authority can make representations, as a consultee, on any proposed development that affects the Park’s statutory aims as set out in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. These are:

(a) to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area,
(b) to promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area,
(c) to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public, and
(d) to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.

Under the arrangements in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, in circumstances where matters raised in consultation, including from statutory consultees, cannot be resolved a project may be referred for examination by an independent Reporter who will make a recommendation to the Scottish Ministers for decision. The Reporter’s examination may be informed by a Public Local Inquiry, to which those with an interest can make representations.

Question reference: S5W-21030

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the country’s historic environment.

The Scottish Government recognises the economic, social and cultural importance of our rich historic environment and is keen to ensure that this hugely important asset is protected appropriately and proportionately. However, the responsibility for the protection of that resource is shared.

For example, while the Scottish Government is responsible for setting the legislative and policy framework which governs the protection of certain aspects of our historic environment through the planning system, and through the work of Historic Environment Scotland, much of the front line protection of our heritage assets has been statutorily delegated to local government (in its role within the planning and development process) and to Historic Environment Scotland.

Under the terms of the Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014 the general function of investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland’s historic environment has been delegated by the Parliament to Historic Environment Scotland.

Question reference: S5W-21032

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers it conferred sufficient power on Historic Environment Scotland to be able to protect and enhance the (a) historic environment and (b) inventory battlefield at Killiecrankie.

Question reference: S5W-21033

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is established protocol that Transport Scotland answers all questions from the public regarding the A9 dualling project, even when the subject relates to an area that is not within the transport ministerial portfolio.

Question reference: S5W-21035

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the A9 dualling process has complied with policies, regulations and standards on protection and enhancement of the historic and natural environment in the planning period up to November 2017, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

The process to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness has complied with and will continue to comply with relevant policies, regulations and standards.

Compliance with relevant policies and regulations is demonstrated within the Environmental Statements for each of projects that make up the A9 Dualling programme where an assessment of compliance with relevant policies regarding protection and enhancement of the historic and natural environment is also presented. A copy of each published Environmental Statement on the A9 dualling programme is available from the Transport Scotland website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/projects/a9-dualling-perth-to-inverness/ .

Furthermore, the A9 dualling process complies with the relevant standards set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.

Question reference: S5W-21031

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2019
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2019

To ask the Scottish Government whether Historic Environment Scotland, as a statutory consultee in the A9 dualling project, is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the (a) historic environment and (b) inventory battlefield at Killiecrankie.

The responsibilities of Historic Environment Scotland as a statutory consultee are limited to the provision of advice and comment on historic environment matters relating to the proposals that are required by law to be put before them.

HES have a dual role as both statutory consultee in the planning system and as a Consultation Body under various Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations in respect of inventory historic battlefields. This means that planning authorities and other public bodies are required to consult them where any non-householder development proposals may affect a site on the Inventory of Historic Battlefields or where a development proposal is a qualifying project under the relevant EIA regulations. Their advice is a material consideration which planning authorities and other decision makers, including the Scottish Ministers, are required to take into account as part of the decision-making process.

Chamber and committees