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 MSPs 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: S5W-03555

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring is in place to ensure that new woodland planting schemes are delivering biodiversity outcomes.

The Scottish Government requires that all new woodland planting schemes, funded under the Scottish Rural Development Programme Forestry Grant Scheme (FGS), comply with the UK Forestry Standard and its Forest and Biodiversity Guidelines. Under the FGS applicants can propose to deliver specific biodiversity outcomes. Those applications are monitored to ensure that the biodiversity-related works the applicant proposed are completed. Site inspections are on a sample basis. A failure to carry out the required works can result in a breach of the FGS terms and conditions and monies may be recovered.

Question reference: S5W-03542

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment criteria and procedures are used before consent for new woodland planting is issued to ensure that significant negative environmental effects will not arise.

Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999, states the Selection Criteria for Projects having significant effects on the environment – this includes the characteristics and location of the project. The procedures used by Forestry Commission Scotland are contained in the published guidance available at the following website: http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/images/corporate/pdf/EIAGeneral09.pdf

Question reference: S5W-03546

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to Forestry Commission Scotland staff to enable them to determine what a “significant impact” is, as defined under Article 3 of the EnvironmentaI Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) 1999 Regulations.

Forestry Commission Scotland provides internal guidance to staff in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Code, which contains information on all of the steps in the Environment Impact Assessment process and on policy and legislation. Within this document, guidance is provided on assessing sensitivity, magnitude and significance. Forestry Commission Scotland also provides a training course to staff using this guidance.

Question reference: S5W-03544

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the (a) site and (b) cumulative environmental impacts for proposals for woodland expansion.

Forestry Commission Scotland assesses the site of proposals for woodland expansion and their environmental impacts using the Selection Criteria (stated in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999) and the information supplied by the applicant. The cumulative impact of projects is taken into account during the Environmental Impact Assessment determination screening phase.

Question reference: S5W-03543

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it records the potential cumulative impact of new commercial afforestations and how these records help to inform decisions for assessment criteria.

The cumulative impact of projects is taken into account during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) determination screening phase. Information on existing woodland creation projects is recorded and is available to Forestry Commission Scotland staff and the public through the publically available web browsers at the following: http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/supporting/communication-consultation/map-viewer-guidance

Question reference: S5W-03217

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to business will be of the MV Hebrides running aground on 25 September 2016; how much freight traffic will be disrupted; what contingencies it will introduce to allow freight to move during the disruption, and what support it will offer to the businesses affected.

CalMac Ferries Limited (CFL) worked hard to clear any backlog of freight following the MV Hebrides incident. Business and freight customers should contact CFL direct for the most up to date information and assistance during this period of disruption. CFL put in place a number of contingency measures including vessel redeployment and revisions to timetables to ensure that lifeline services continue to link to the Western Isles during this period of disruption.

The MV Hebrides resumed service on the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services network on Sunday 16 October 2016. This followed full repairs in the Garvel, Clyde, and effective sea trials.

Question reference: S5W-03212

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how long the disruption will be to the Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy ferry route following the MV Hebrides running aground on 25 September 2016; how many passengers will be affected, and what support it will offer to them.

The MV Hebrides resumed service on the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services network on Sunday 16 October 2016. This followed full repairs in the Garvel, Clyde, and effective sea trials.

The contingency arrangements put in place by the operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd, during the period of disruption, including repositioning of vessels, ensured that connectivity with the Western Isles was maintained.

Affected customers were encouraged throughout this period to contact the operator if they had any concerns.

Question reference: S5W-03210

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the reason was for the technical failure that caused the MV Hebrides to run aground on 25 September 2016, and what steps it is taking to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Question reference: S5W-03216

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how often equipment safety checks are completed on the ferries that serve the Outer Hebrides.

Question reference: S5W-03215

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost to repair of the damage to the pontoons at Lochmaddy harbour following the MV Hebrides running aground on 25 September 2016, and where the funding for this will be sourced.