- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers share the positive view of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority chief engineer of the effectiveness of the cable-drying system being applied to the Forth Road Bridge.
Answer
Information from the Forth Estuary Transport Authority is that the dehumidification process is progressing in line with expectations. We will not know whether the process has been successful until the cables are re-inspected in 2011-12.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether uncertainty about the future strength of the Forth Road Bridge cables due to corrosion remains the sole reason for the construction of an additional crossing.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21614 on 17 March 2009. 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: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 13 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish a draft energy efficiency action plan.
Answer
The provision in the Climate Change Bill for a Scottish Energy Efficiency Action Plan will require Scottish ministers to prepare and publish the action plan no later than 12 months after the legislation comes into force, and to report on the implementation of the action plan every year to Parliament. The action plan will also have to be reviewed at least every three years. In order to assist Parliament in its consideration of the provision in the bill we intend to publish an outline of the proposed plan in the spring.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 10 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the Nuclear Industry Association’s application to justify new nuclear power stations, either in accordance with justification regulations or otherwise and, if so, what response it has made or intends to make.
Answer
Scottish Government officials are in regular discussions with officials from the Department of Energy and Climate Change on the justification process and are being kept updated on its progress.
The position of the Scottish Government with regard to new nuclear power stations is well known and that position is understood by the UK government. It was also made clear in our formal response to the UK Government Consultation on the Future of Nuclear power in November 2007.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how scrutiny and other services in relation to the NHS would be protected in the proposed merger of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland and the Care Commission.
Answer
We are committed to ensuring that the new body provides robust assurance and scrutiny for both NHS and independent health care services, and also continues to play a significant role in supporting service improvement.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 26 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the funds it administers are specifically allocated to support the development of marine renewables and what the likely value is of each of these funds to marine developers over the current comprehensive spending review period.
Answer
The £13 million Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) is fully subscribed and has awarded grants to eight wave or tidal developers.
We also intend to introduce in April, the most generous revenue support scheme in the UK through the Renewables Obligations legislation for commercially deployed marine renewable energy projects. Five Renewable Obligation Certificates would be available for wave and three Renewable Obligation Certificates for tidal. At present one Renewables Obligation Certificate is available for both wave and tidal technologies. Given the nature of this support (income generation dependent on renewable electricity produced) it is impossible to quantify the value of the support at this stage.
The recently reconvened Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) Marine Energy Group will consider and make recommendations regarding future funding for the marine renewables sector through a Roadmap which will be published early this year.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 26 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide additional funds under the Marine Energy Fund, which was announced by the then Deputy First Minister on 24 October 2006, beyond the £13.15 million confirmed by 2 February 2007.
Answer
The Scottish Government currently has no plans to extend the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) which is fully subscribed.
However, the recently reconvened Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) Marine Energy Group will consider and make recommendations regarding future funding for the marine renewables sector. These recommendations will feed into a high level Road Map which will address the development of the marine sector. This is due to be launched early this year.
We also intend to introduce in April, the most generous revenue support in the UK through the Renewables Obligations legislation for commercially deployed marine renewable energy projects. Five Renewable Obligation Certificates would be available for wave and three Renewable Obligation Certificates for tidal. At present one Renewables Obligation Certificate is available for both wave and tidal technologies.
The £10 million Saltire Prize launched on 2 December 2008 also exists to encourage the development of marine renewable technologies.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive by what date it expects the £10 million being made available under the Saltire Prize to be awarded.
Answer
The £10 million Saltire Prize is expected to be awarded by 31 March 2015.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 December 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 19 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the steering group set up to review the national concessionary travel scheme has considered extending access to the scheme to individuals in receipt of a War Disablement Pension.
Answer
John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, announced on 4 July 2008 that he wanted to ensure that the eligibility criteria of the Scotland-wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People is extended so that injured veterans in Scotland are able to benefit from free bus travel. Consideration of the detail of this is being included as part of the review of the scheme, which is currently being completed.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Saturday, 05 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 19 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts will be made to maximise the use of surface-based transport modes rather than aviation by domestic and European tourists coming to Homecoming Scotland 2009.
Answer
Visitors to Scotland for Homecoming 2009 will use many different forms of transport to get here. Once in Scotland, VisitScotland encourages visitors to cherish the Scottish environment, and raises awareness of tourism impacts and what can be done to reduce these impacts.
Their activity to promote the use of public transport, which will continue throughout the Homecoming year includes:
Providing excellent, highly visible information for visitors on how to access and travel around Scotland by public transport, cycling and walking through the VisitScotland.com website.
Promoting the advance booking service offered by rail companies and integrated ticketing opportunities.
Providing sustainable itineraries for tourists.
