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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 1122 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-09814

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will bring forward its plans to improve broadband services in the Western Isles.

As set out in Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan, the Scottish Government is committed to investing in infrastructure that will have the capacity to deliver next generation broadband to 85-90% of premises by 2015. In the Western Isles, this target is being delivered through the Highlands and Islands broadband project, currently in procurement and led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

This project will result in significant improvements in the availability of next generation broadband within every Local Authority area in the Highlands and Islands, including the Western Isles. HIE’s procurement negotiations have included discussion on improved backhaul to the Western Isles. Procurement is expected to conclude by the end of 2012, after which rollout plans will be confirmed.

Question reference: S4W-09815

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) BT and (b) Connected Communities regarding the costs charged by BT for the broadband link to the Western Isles and what the outcome was.

The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with either party on this issue. This reflects the fact that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has full responsibility for all operational matters relating to the Connected Communities network.

HIE is currently discussing the issue of improved backhaul to the Western Isles with BT as part of the procurement process for the Highlands and Islands broadband project. The project aims to significantly enhance available bandwidth and should reduce costs associated with the broadband link to the Western Isles.

Question reference: S4W-09813

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the reported concerns of residents in the Western Isles regarding the cost of broadband there compared with other parts of the country.

The majority of Western Isles premises (around 77%) are served by broadband-enabled exchanges and enjoy the same choice of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and broadband packages as other rural areas. Broadband services to non-commercial areas are provided by the Connected Communities project, which is owned and managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Connected Communities provides wholesale services to an ISP – Scotnet – which in turn provides retail services to end-users. Neither HIE nor the Scottish Government has a role in setting the retail price which Scotnet charges its customers. This is higher than the price for equivalent services delivered over BT’s network, reflecting the additional costs associated with delivering services to a relatively small number of customers.

Question reference: S4W-09940

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09425 by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012, how much land it considers currently to be sensitive landscape that has little or no capacity to accept new development.

Question reference: S4W-09941

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 24 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09425 by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012, how it monitors whether the character of wild land areas is being properly protected in development plans.

Question reference: S4O-01390

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses whether the provision of ferry services is adequate for the residents of Islay.

Question reference: S4W-09742

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09444 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 September 2012, what the costings are for each project listed.

The estimated costs for each of the projects listed in the answer to S4W-09444 are included in the following table.

Project Name	Estimated Cost (£ Million)
Inverness College	51
Western Isles Schools Project¹	40.6
Orkney Islands Schools Investment Programme¹	40
Kessock Bridge upgrade	18
Stornoway-Ullapool Ferry	42
Wick High School²	To be confirmed
Evie Primary School, Orkney²	To be confirmed
Happy Hansel Primary School, Shetland²	To be confirmed
Milnes Primary School, Moray²	To be confirmed
Campbeltown Grammar School²	To be confirmed
Dunoon/Kirn/St. Mun's Primary School²	To be confirmed
Daliburgh Primary School, Western Isles²	8.7
Tain Health Centre	5
Forres Health Centre	5.5
Oban Dental Facility	2.6
Mull and Iona Progressive Care Centre³	4.8
Arnish Plant and Estate Improvements⁴	2
Inverness Campus⁴	6
Forres Enterprise Park – Extension of Roads⁴	3
Forres Enterprise Park – Provide 2 Units⁴	3
Building Development within Forres Enterprise zone⁴	3.5
Lews Castle development⁴	1.6
West Highland College infrastructure expansion⁴	1.5
Kennacraig, Kintyre, Phase 2 – causeway⁴	3.9

Notes:

1. These figures relate to the Scottish Government funding in support of the projects.

2. These schools form part of Phase 1 and 2 of the Scottish Government’s £1.25 billion ‘Scotland’s Schools for the Future School Building Programme’. Cost figures have yet to be confirmed for those schools which are not in construction or operational.

3. This is a joint project between NHS Highland, Argyll and Bute Council, the Scottish Government, West Highland Housing Association and the Mull and Iona Progressive Care Company. The cost figure relates to NHS Highland’s contribution.

4. These projects form part of the Scottish Government’s £105 million package of economic stimulus for this year which was announced on 27 June and the cost figures relate to the Scottish Government funding in support.

Question reference: S4W-09743

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09445 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 September 2012, what the anticipated costings are for each project listed.

The estimated costs for each of the projects listed in the answer to S4W-09445 are included in the following table.

Project Name	Estimated Cost (£ Million)
Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Improvements¹	250-500
Highland Main Line Improvements¹	250-600
Dualling of the A9¹	1500-3000
A96 Upgrading¹	250-500
A82 Improvements¹	200-250
HMP Highland¹	To be confirmed
Development of Balfour Hospital and Kirkwall Dental Centre (NHS Orkney)¹	60-70
Day Services Centre, Raigmore Hospital (NHS Highland)¹	25
Scalloway Health Centre (NHS Shetland)²	To be confirmed
St Brendan’s Hospital (NHS Western Isles)	To be confirmed

Notes:

1. The estimated cost figures have been taken from The Infrastructure Investment Plan which can be found at the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/12/05141922/0.

2. NHS Shetland has been allocated £2.1 million hub enabling funds to take this project forward. Hub North is currently doing an option appraisal of the potential locations identified for the health centre to inform the process and provide a base for the full business case. The potential options are expected to have significantly different lead implementation times and costs.

Question reference: S4W-09747

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 2 October 2012

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason seabirds are not part of the selection criteria for marine protected areas.

The Marine Protected Area (MPA) network will include designations under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, EU Habitats Directive, EU Wild Birds Directive, and marine components of Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI).

There are currently 47 Special Protection Areas (SPAs), under the EU Wild Birds Directive, and a further 17 SSSIs already providing protection of seabirds in the MPA network.

Work is also progressing to identify further locations in the marine environment that meet the criteria for consideration as Special Protection Areas for seabirds and waterfowl for critical activities such as foraging.

The only species of seabird in Scotland not covered by SPA provisions of the EU Wild Birds Directive is the Black Guillemot. Consequently Nature Conservation MPA proposals are being identified, under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, for this species. There will also be proposals for protection of sandeels, a key prey species for seabirds.

It is envisaged that completion of all of these designations will provide a resilient MPA network for seabirds. The periodic reviews of the network as required by the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 will provide an opportunity to ensure that this is the case.

I will report in detail to the Parliament on progress to create the MPA network in December 2012.

Question reference: S4W-09425

Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 20 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that as much wild land as possible is preserved.