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-09108

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 30 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on its environmental policies of the UK Government's decision to freeze support for geothermal power.

In its response to the recent consultation on a review of bands under the England and Wales Renewables Obligation, the UK Government announced its decision re retain support for electricity generated using geothermal energy at the current level. The Scottish Government has conducted a similar consultation exercise, and we will announce our decisions shortly.

Meanwhile, in order to encourage commercial interest in this energy source, the Scottish Government has commissioned a research programme aimed at identifying the next steps to take forward the commercial exploitation of deep geothermal energy, including high level mapping of potential and the scope for licensing. The study will also include a costs and financial risk assessment which should identify the likely capital and operating costs for exploring and developing the geothermal energy resources identified. We expect the results to be available by spring 2013.

Question reference: S4W-09106

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 28 August 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ask (a) district and (b) sheriff courts to produce a summary of court decisions for the media.

Question reference: S4O-01170

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the development of the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S4W-07523

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 13 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last discussed shovel-ready projects with the UK Government.

Question reference: S4W-07521

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to protect the Lothian Homeopathy Clinic, based in Dalkeith Health Centre.

The Scottish Government recognises that complementary or alternative therapies, including homeopathy, may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. It is, however, a matter for NHS boards in Scotland to make such services available, based on an assessment of needs within their respective areas.

However, I expect all NHS boards to review services and facilities regularly to ensure that they continue to reflect local needs and provide the best quality healthcare services. In doing so, it is right that NHS boards take account of relevant evidence based advice and guidance in the delivery of NHS services.

It is for NHS Lothian to determine whether to make such services available. NHS Lothian has yet to conclude consideration of its proposals for the future of local homeopathic services. However, I have made it clear that I fully expect NHS boards to engage positively, constructively and meaningfully with local communities when they are contemplating change. I am aware that Midlothian Community Health Partnership is already making arrangements to undertake a period of public consultation before it makes any final recommendation on the future of the service.

However, should the board’s final proposals be considered major service change, they would have to be subject to formal public consultation and ministerial approval.

Question reference: S4W-07522

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 25 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial impact on the average drinker will be of a 50p per unit minimum price for alcohol.

The modelling carried out by the University of Sheffield shows that a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol is estimated to increase spend per drinker by around £24 a year. The modelling breaks this down into £8 a year for a moderate drinker, £54 a year for a hazardous drinker, and £123 a year for a harmful drinker.

Alcohol misuse costs Scotland £3.6 billion per year, which equates to £900 per adult in Scotland, whether they drink or not. Minimum pricing will go some way towards reducing alcohol-related harm and the costs associated with it.

Question reference: S4O-01122

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to redevelop the Sherrifhall roundabout and achieve grade separation.

Question reference: S4W-07327

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of the Forth Replacement Crossing and whether it will remain within budget based on current costs.

Question reference: S4W-07316

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 18 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 6 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered carrying out a comparison study of offshore wind, onshore wind and tidal power.

Question reference: S4W-07368

Asked by: Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Green Investment Bank will be (a) in place and (b) fully operational.

The public company, UK Green Investment Bank PLC, was registered in Scotland on 15 May 2012. On 25 May, Lord Smith of Kelvin was announced as the new chair of the Green Investment Bank and Sir Adrian Montague as the bank’s senior independent director. The process to recruit a CEO has just started. It is envisaged that the bank will be operational in Edinburgh by autumn 2012, subject to state aid approval.