Questions and answers

Question reference: S4O-04384

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial support it has provided to West Lothian Council to recruit additional teachers in line with government policy on class sizes.

Question reference: S4F-02804

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 May 2015

To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Government is making on increasing the number of companies and organisations paying the living wage.

Question reference: S4F-02771

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 01 May 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 May 2015

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on fracking.

Question reference: S4O-04290

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 May 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in bringing to an end the dispute at the National Museum of Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-25203

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has proposed reducing the funding arrangements for some modern apprenticeship training providers; what sector-by-sector analysis it has carried of the potential impact of this; which sectors will no longer be in a position to provide their current level of service; what specific impact this will have on the hospitality and tourism sector, and what support it will provide to the sectors affected.

Question reference: S4W-25194

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 29 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals have been recalled by ministers in each year since 2007, broken down by the nature of application, and how many applications were subsequently granted permission to continue.

Scottish Ministers have recalled 42 appeals for their own decision since 1 January 2007. Of these appeals, 16 have been allowed and two appeals are minded to be allowed subject to appropriate legal agreements being reached between the appellants and the planning authority following issue of an intentions notice. Of the rest, eight have been dismissed, seven have been withdrawn, two are on hold, two are currently being considered by Scottish Ministers, and two are still being considered by reporters from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals.

The individual cases are listed.

Appeals received since 1 January 2007 and recalled for ministerial decision

Case Reference	Date Case Received	Case Detail	Site Address	Current Status	Decision Description
PPA-270-444	08-01-2007	New 400-275 kV substation extension to west of existing substation thereto, new 400-275 kV substation building	Beauly Substation, Wester Balblair, Beauly	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
PPA-310-150	23-01-2007	Erection of class 1 retail unit with associated car parking, landscaping and access road	2 Kilwinning Road, Dalry	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-110-625	15-02-2007	Redevelopment of residential institution to hotel conference centre, 281 dwellings, holiday accommodation and more	Blairs College, Blairs	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
PPA-270-459	03-04-2007	Demolition of existing buildings and the erection of a (class 1) retail store, petrol station, parking and associated works	Thurso Auction Mart, Ormlie Road, Thurso, KW14 7DW	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-250-687	27-04-2007	Outline planning permission for residential development	26 Ridge Way, Hillend and Donibristle, Dunfermline, Fife	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-270-468	31-05-2007	Erection of foodstore and related means of access, parking and servicing arrangements	Land at Morangie Road, Tain, Highland	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
PPA-310-159	26-06-2007	Windfarm development consisting of 19 wind turbines (max height 100m), each with capacity of 2.0MW and site infrastructure	Site at Green Hill, Kelburn Estate, Fairlie, Largs, Ayrshire	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-230-951	31-08-2007	Proposed car parking	50 Fairview Road, Edinburgh EH28 8NB	Decision issued	Appeal dismissed
PPA-320-285	04-09-2007	Formation of a country park, construction of 11 dwellinghouses, associated buildings to accommodate rural uses	Staylee Farm (off Hulks Road) Riggend, Airdrie, Lanarkshire Ml6 7SS	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
PPA-370-268	20-09-2007	Opportunity for extension to retail park	Land to north of Liberator Drive, Ayr, South Ayrshire	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
PPA-270-517	27-11-2007	Variation of condition numbers 2 and 20 and deletion of condition numbers 3 and 4 of outline planning permission number 06-00521-outlo	South side of Alcan Site Entrance, North Road, Fort William	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-130-204	21-01-2008	Site for erection of five dwelling houses	Land south west of Allt-Na-Craig, Tarbert Road, Ardrishaig, Lochgilpead, Argyll And Bute	Decision issued	Appeal dismissed
PPA-270-533	12-02-2008	Extension to electricity substation with associated access road, new substation building and new static VAR compensator building	Beauly Grid Substation, Wester Balblair, Beauly, Inverness-shire	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-130-209	20-02-2008	Erection of windfarm consisting of 14 turbines and ancillary development	Corlarach Hill, east of Glen Fyne, Bullwood Road, Dunoon, Argyll	Decision issued	Appeal dismissed
PPA-380-409	07-04-2008	Residential development (in outline)	Airdrie Road, Carluke, Lanarkshire, ML8 5EW	Decision issued	Appeal dismissed
PPA-130-214	16-05-2008	Installation of 16 wind turbine generators and associated equipment and works	Black Craig, Glenstriven Estate, Toward	Decision issued	Appeal dismissed
PPA-340-685	19-06-2008	Formation of a 14 turbine wind farm, substation, construction compound, borrow pits, access tracks and infrastructure	Calliacher Wind Farm, Amulree, Strathtay	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-270-592	03-12-2008	Road widening works	Culachy Junction with A82, near Fort Augustus, Highland	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-270-593	03-12-2008	Temporary widening of existing quarry access road	Balbair Quarry, Beauly, Inverness	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-270-594	03-12-2008	Demolish and rebuild stone wall	North verge of A82 trunk road, opposite Culachy Junction, near Fort Augustus	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-340-733	23-12-2008	Construction of windfarm consisting of 14 turbines and associated infrastructure and highway works	Findownie Hill, Logiealmond and Ladywell Bridge, Dunkeld	Decision issued	Appeal dismissed
PPA-270-620	11-06-2009	Construct an electrical converter substation comprising two large buildings housing electrical equipment	Adjacent to west side of existing Beauly 275-132kV substation, Wester Balblair, Beauly, IV4 7BQ	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-310-208	29-07-2009	Erection of 24 wind turbines with ancillary development with access tracks, two anemometer masts and on-site buildings	Wings Law, Kilbirnie, North Ayrshire, KA25 7LA	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
PPA-270-2035	12-07-2010	Application to vary condition in application 07-00890-fulin granted by Scottish Ministers	Beauly Substation, Wester Balblair	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-270-2043	26-11-2010	Construction of wind farm comprising 17 wind turbines, associated access tracks and infrastructure	Approximate-ly 8km north east of Tomatin	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-340-2068	09-05-2012	Relocation of existing recycling centre and formation of a waste to energy facility (approval of matters in conditions)	Doug Holden Scrap Merchants, Shore Road, Perth, PH2 8BH	Decision issued	Appeal dismissed
PPA-100-2041	24-10-2012	Proposed urban village (mixed development)	Broadford Works, Maberly Street, Aberdeen	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-320-2047	11-12-2012	Erection of a supermarket, petrol filling station, car parking, access, landscaping and associated works	Former First bus depot Tinkers Lane – Hamilton Road – Airbles Road, Motherwell, ML1 3BJ	Decision issued	Appeal dismissed
PPA-240-2032	05-06-2013	Coal bed methane production, including drilling, well site establishment at 14 locations and associated infrastructure	Letham Moss, Falkirk, FK2 8RT	Case on hold
PPA-390-2029	05-06-2013	Coal bed methane production including drilling, well site establishment at 14 locations and associated infrastructure	Land located 230 miles south of Powdrake Farmhouse, Powdrake Road, near Airth, Plean, FK2 8RT	Case on hold
PPA-400-2034	28-06-2013	Erection of six (2MW) wind turbines (max. 125 high to blade tip) with associated infrastructure	Land at Pearie Law, West Calder	Decision issued	Appeal allowed
PPA-400-2045	12-02-2014	12.6 ha residential development including green space, suds, access roads and associated infrastructure	Land at Burghmuir A, east of springfield, Linlithgow	Allocated to reporter
ENA-410-2002	14-05-2014	Alleged breach of the erection of two turbines, two anemometer masts and the provision of associated hardstandings and the siting of a container	7 Bornish, Isle of South Uist, HS8 5SA	Withdrawn	Withdrawn
PPA-400-2046	06-06-2014	Planning permission in principle for a 6.5 ha residential development with associated engineering works and landscaping	Land at Clarendon Farm, Linlithgow	Allocated to reporter
PPA-230-2129	29-07-2014	Residential development (comprising 72 units) and associated works	Land 213 metres south west of 22, The Wisp, Edinburgh	Allocated to reporter
PPA-210-2043	29-07-2014	52 residential units and associated works	Land at Old Craighall Road, Old Craighall, Musselburgh	Notice of Intention Issued
ENA-410-2004	21-08-2014	Alleged unauthorised construction of two wind turbines and of two associated hardstandings on the site. Alleged unauthorised construction of two anemometer masts and two associated hardstandings. Alleged unauthorised siting of container.	Land within croft at 7 Bornish, Isle of Uist, HS8 5SA	Decision issued	Appeal allowed in part
PPA-230-2131	22-08-2014	Outline planning permission for a residential development, ancillary uses and associated development	Land 447 metres north east of 545, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh	Notice of Intention Issued
PPA-200-2027	19-09-2014	Planning permission in principal in respect of a residential development with associated access and landscaping	Braes O Yetts Farm, Waterside Road, Kirkintilloch, G66 3TQ	Report Issued
PPA-200-2028	23-10-2014	Residential development and associated access	Site south and west of Saddlers Brae Farm, Langmuir Road, Kirkintilloch, G66 2TB	Report Issued
PPA-230-2134	04-12-2014	Residential development for up to 670 residential units supported by ancillary mixed uses, associated works and landscaping	Land west of Maybury Road (A902), 345 metres south East of 18, Cammo Walk, Edinburgh	Allocated to reporter
PPA-320-2077	10-12-2014	Expansion of Mossend railhead with additional rail sidings, the development of the Mossend International Railfreight Park including: class 5 (general industry) use; class 6 (storage and distribution) use and ancillary support uses including access to the A8 and associated site preparation, earthworks, infrastucture and landscaping	Mossend Rail Head, Reema Road, Reema Ind Est, Bellshill, ML4 1RR	Allocated to reporter

Question reference: S4W-25102

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 29 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has paid its apprentices in each year since 2007.

Modern apprentices have been employed within the Scottish Government since April 2011. They are brought in on the Scottish Government A3 pay range. The entry pay point for each year is as follows:

From 1 August 2010 – £15,792

From 1 August 2011 – £15,792

From 1 August 2012 – £15,792

From 1 August 2013 – £16,042

From 1 August 2014 – £16,442

All Scottish Government employees are paid above the Scottish Living Wage. With effect from 1 August 2015 the A3 entry pay point increases to £16,842.

Question reference: S4W-25196

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 27 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many enforcement officers with the sole remit of tackling landfill tax evasion will be required; how many are in place, and what plans it has to recruit additional officers.

Question reference: S4W-24275

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 24 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has discussed the use of the so-called Swedish derogation with recruitment agencies that it contracts for temporary and agency workers.

Question reference: S4W-24269

Asked by: Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 24 April 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) temporary and (b) agency staff it employed or has employed for (i) up to a week, (ii) between two and four weeks, (iii) between five and eight weeks, (iv) between nine and 12 weeks, (v) between 13 weeks and six months, (vi) between seven and 12 months, (vii) over a year and (viii) over two years in (A) 2012-13, (B) 2013-14 and (C) 2014-15.

The following table shows the number of people directly employed by the Scottish Government on temporary fixed term contracts, plus agency workers who are not directly employed. These figures are extracted from the HR database at the end of each of the periods requested.

31 March 2013

31 March 2014

31 December 2014

	Temporary	Agency	Temporary	Agency	Temporary	Agency
Up to one week	0	6	15	11	1	0
1-4 weeks	7	22	12	18	11	8
4-8 weeks	12	25	11	36	28	17
8-12 weeks	12	37	40	27	25	11
12 weeks to 6 months	60	50	46	76	52	54
6 months to 1 year	51	66	79	91	98	91
one to two years	27	23	26	69	26	89
Over two years	2	17	2	20	2	28
Total	171	246	231	348	243	298

Source: Scottish Government eHR database

Please note these figures are provisional because we are in the process of reviewing our workforce data, including undertaking a data cleanse exercise. This will remove records that are out of date.

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