Questions and answers

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 ��˿�� 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: S4W-02656

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with external stakeholders to develop climate change standards for (a) domestic and (b) business properties.

We are working with external stakeholders to develop climate change standards as follows:

(a) Domestic Properties

We are discussing with stakeholders the development of a draft climate change standard for social housing beyond the requirements of the current Scottish Housing Quality Standard. We will also develop guidance on appropriate technical measures to be installed in relevant housing types and provide advice on cost implications as well as links to relevant funding streams. A working group, including representatives from the Scottish Government, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, COSLA and individual social landlords is taking this work forward. The working group is expected to draft a standard for public consultation by early 2012 with the new standard to be finalised later that year.

Scottish ministers set out their approach in March 2011 to setting minimum standards for private sector housing and we are developing an action plan to take regulation forward after 2015. This will involve working in partnership with stakeholders.

(b) Business Properties

To assist with the development of the consultation on regulations for existing non-domestic buildings (including business properties), a departmental Working Group made up of representatives from across industry was formed and has met six times. There are both public and private sector members, with a knowledge base covering, technical, legal and operational aspects. The public consultation is intended to be issued in autumn 2011.

Question reference: S4W-02654

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with external stakeholders since May 2007 to discuss climate change in relation to (a) buildings and (b) estates and what the outcomes were.

The Scottish Government has had many meetings with external stakeholders since May 2007 at which the issues of climate change in relation to a) buildings and b) estates were discussed. It is not possible to identify all the relevant meetings held at both Ministerial and official level. However, a list of some key meetings is provided in the following table.

Table 1 – Meetings with External Stakeholders

Date(s) of meeting ��	Title of Meeting	Buildings or Estates	Ministerial or Official	Outcomes
Sept 2007	Expert Panel	Both	Both	A Low Carbon Building Standards Strategy for Scotland (The Sullivan Report)
6 meetings between April 2010 and August 2011	Section 63 of CC(S) Act Working Group	Buildings	Official	Assistance with formulating the public consultation document
6 meetings between June 2008 and July 2011	Section 63 of CC(S) Act with COSLA	Buildings	Both	Informing progress on Section 63
April 2011	Section 53 of CC(S) Act Workshop on Implications of a Changing Climate on the Built Environment	Both	Official	Improved links between the other sectors action plans and to monitor adaptation progress
7 meetings between February 2008 and January 2010	Building Regulations energy standards working group	Buildings	Official	Assistance with formulating revised standards and guidance for October 2010 changes
5 meetings between February 2010 and January 2011	Building Regulations sustainability standards working group	Buildings	Official	Assistance with formulating new sustainability standards and guidance for May 2011
September 2010	Industry stakeholder workshop: Water Efficiency Measures in Buildings	Buildings	Official	To consider water efficiency measures for buildings as part of the building regulations review for 2013
5-5-09 10-10-09	High Level Group on Leading by Example – External	Environmental Improvement of the Public Sector Estate	Official – Chaired by Permanent Secretary	Collective endorsement and support for the Public Sector Leading by Example agenda
23-10-10 25-5-10 13-9-10 13-12-10	High Level Group on Sustainable Scotland	Public Sector Sustainability, including estates	Official – Chaired by Permanent Secretary	Collective endorsement and support for the Public Sector Leading by Example agenda
18-11-08 10-2-09 26-5-09 1-9-09 8-5-11	Leading by Example Working Group	Environmental Improvement of the Public Sector Estate	Official – Chaired by Greener Scotland Division	Information sharing between lead officials on environmental performance
5 meetings between August 2009 and November 2010	Renewable Heat Implementation Group	Both	Official	Overseeing and delivering actions set out in the Renewable Heat Action Plan
1 September 2011	Microgeneration Stakeholder Group	Both	Official	Input into Microgeneration strategy
Several meetings since December 2009	2020 Climate Group: Built Environment Sub-Group	Both	Official (group is independent of Government)	Consideration of delivery steps to ensure significant energy demand reduction by 2020.
26-4-11 9-6-11 16-8-11	Social Housing Standard Working Group	Buildings	Official	Working to develop a climate change standard for social housing

Question reference: S4W-02658

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords to develop and promote the use of (i) photovoltaics and (ii) feed-in tariffs.

The Scottish Government is currently working with a group of local authorities, initially in the JESSICA Fund area, to develop the potential for solar photovoltaic projects using Feed-in Tariffs for renewable electricity. A similar workstream with a steering group of registered social landlords from across Scotland is also promoting the use of solar photovoltaics and Feed-in Tariffs. Housing Associations can get free independent help by contacting the Energy Saving Trust.

The Climate Challenge Fund and the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme are supporting registered social landlords and communities access renewable energy technologies, including photovoltaics and the benefits from Feed-in Tariffs.

We will publish a microgeneration strategy for Scotland by the end of 2011. It will set out our plans to build on the range of support already in place.

Question reference: S4O-00204

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met NHS Lothian to discuss the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children incorporating the Department for Clinical Neurosciences in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S4W-02237

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons Marine Scotland has learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spillage in relation to public health.

Question reference: S4W-02236

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons Marine Scotland has learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spillage in relation to wildlife protection.

Detailed analysis of the environmental impacts arising from the Deepwater Horizon incident is still awaited. The Scottish regulatory community take very seriously the need to apply any lessons as they emerge, albeit that some of these will be relevant only to incidents of a similar nature in a similar environment. Scottish Government officials are participating in the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group (OSPRAG), which provides a focal point for review of the industry’s practices in advance of the conclusion of investigations into the Deepwater Horizon incident.

Marine Scotland officials also participated in Exercise Sula, which was carried out in Aberdeen and Shetland in May, following the request of the First Minister. This covered scenarios around the immediate aftermath of a deep-water oil spill and oil potentially coming ashore one week later. This included a practical demonstration of response equipment and procedures. A report of the Exercise is being prepared by the Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and will be published shortly.

The National Contingency Plan is also currently being reviewed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in order to take account of lessons learned from Deepwater Horizon and Exercise Sula. Marine Scotland will participate in this review.

Question reference: S4W-02235

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency plans Marine Scotland has in place to deal with major oil spillages.

The National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations sets out the roles and responsibilities of the wide range of agencies involved in responding to such an incident. Marine Scotland’s primary role in this context is to assess and advise on environmental impacts. This includes chairing the Environment Group if one is established. The National Contingency Plan is currently being reviewed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which has overall responsibility for its maintenance and implementation on a UK wide basis. Marine Scotland will be contributing to this review to ensure that Scottish interests are properly reflected.

Question reference: S4W-02239

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with The Shell Group regarding the oil spillage from its Gannet Alpha platform.

Question reference: S4W-02274

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the (a) Treasury, (b) Crown Estate and (c) BIG fund regarding the coastal communities fund announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 22 July 2011 and whether it will have an input into setting the criteria for assessing bids from the fund.

On 22 June 2011, the Scottish Government published its case for full devolution of powers and responsibilities of the Crown Estate in Scotland. We propose an approach based on returning 100% of the revenues for the direct benefit of Scotland and its local communities, as opposed to 50% as planned by the less ambitious Coastal Communities Fund.

In response to the announcement of the Coastal Communities Fund, my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 10 August seeking further discussions about delivery arrangements and powers. Mr Swinney also spoke to the Director of Big Lottery Fund Scotland about the UK Government’s proposals to distribute funds through the BIG Fund. There will be further discussions about funding criteria and bids once details of the fund are provided by UK Treasury. Scottish Government officials discussed the Coastal Communities Fund with Crown Estate Commissioners on 13 July at which time they advised although linked to Crown Estate revenues they have no involvement.

Question reference: S4W-02175

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 12 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what contingency planning is in place to address weather-related disruption to key rail routes.

Scottish ministers do not specify the level of contingency plans that the rail industry makes for any type of event. However, it is expected that the rail industry has sufficient and robust plans in place so that the effects of forseeable disruptive events are minimised. This has been the case since rail powers were devolved in 2005, and was also the case prior to 2005 under the management of the (GB) Strategic Rail Authority.