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: S4O-01330

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether marine and onshore energy producers in Scotland will have equitable access charges to the UK grid.

Question reference: S4W-09426

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 19 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what schemes (a) have been approved and (b) are being considered for renewable energy production on Forestry Commission land.

The present position regarding renewable energy development on the National Forest Estate is that some 402MW of wind and hydro capacity is already generating electricity, 429MW is under construction, 156MW has obtained planning consent but construction has not commenced yet while some 215MW capacity is in the planning system. Additionally options have been agreed with developers to investigate the potential of sites amounting to a further 736MW.

This does not include sites under consideration where option agreements have not yet been entered into.

Question reference: S4W-09355

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what land units have been (a) sold and (b) leased under the National Forest Land Scheme, broken down by (i) size and (ii) location.

Since the launch of the National Forest Land Scheme in 2005 there have been 24 completed sales of land amounting to a total of 2,814 hectares to community organisations, non-governmental organisations and housing bodies - the phased purchase of land to RSPB is counted as one sale. No land has been leased to date but there are currently five community organisations with approval to lease land; three of those organisations are seeking to lease land for forestry purposes and another two to lease areas for hydro renewable energy projects.

The following tables provides the details of the completed sales as at 31 August 2012:

National Forest Land Scheme Name	Size (Hectares)	Location	Ordnance Survey Grid reference	Applicant
Acharossan Forest	125.5	Tighnabruaich, Argyll & Bute	NR 969734	Kilfinan Community Forest Company
Ardentinny Wall Garden	1.4	Ardentinny, Argyll & Bute	NS 187855	Ardentinny Community Trust
Badluarach and Durnamuck	8.5	Gairloch, Highlands & Islands	NH 002932	Badluarach and Durnamuck Community Woodland
Balfour Wood	241.0	Finzean, Aberdeenshire	NO 544958	Birse Community Trust
Broadford Wood	20.0	Broadford, Isle of Skye	NG 636243	Broadford and Strath Community Company
Burghead	1.4	Burghead, Moray	NJ 116683	Burghead Thistle Junior Football Club
Ford	2.6	Ford, Argyll & Bute	NM 868041	Ford Community Project Ltd
Gaudiedale strip	0.1	Bennachie, Aberdeenshire	NJ 692187	Bennachie Access Group
Golticlay Forest	39.1	Rumster, Highlands & Islands	ND 202392	Latheron, Lybster & Clyth Community Development Company
Slewdrum Forest	167.2	Finzean, Aberdeenshire	NO 628954	Birse Community Trust
Strathmashie Forest	18.1	Laggan, Highlands & Islands	NN 594923	Laggan Forest Trust
Tormore Forest	440.0	Sleat, Isle of Skye	NG 611021	Sleat Community Trust
West Ardhu & Langamull Forest	693.4	Dervaig, Isle of Mull	NM 395517	North West Mull Community Woodland Company
Ae village	0.4	Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway	NX 986890	Loreburn Housing Association
Bettyhill	0.3	Bettyhill, Highlands & Islands	NC 708623	Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust
Camustorsa	2.5	Ardnamurchan, Highlands & Islands	NM 672623	Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust
Dalavich	0.1	Dalavich, Argyll & Bute	NM 965128	West Highland Housing Association
Donich Park	1.5	Lochgoilhead, Argyll & Bute	NN 201016	Dunbritton Housing Association
Kilmun	0.6	Dunoon, Argyll & Bute	NS 165823	Fyne Homes
Milehouse	5.2	Kincraig, Highlands & Islands	NH 840044	Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust
Salen	0.5	Sunart, Argyll & Bute	NM 690648	Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust
Smithton	2.0	Inverness, Highlands & Islands	NH 714459	Albyn Housing Association
Succoth	2.2	Arrochar, Argyll & Bute	NN 297655	Dunbritton Housing Association
Dyke Forest (Phase 1 & 2)	1,040.0	Forsinain, Highlands & Islands	NC 903513	RSPB
Total	2,814			Applicant

Question reference: S4W-09354

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what land units have been refused to communities and groups under the National Forest Land Scheme, broken down by (a) size and (b) location.

To date no National Forest Land Scheme (NFLS) applications have been refused. There have been three community applications that have been withdrawn. The land covered by those applications continues to be managed by Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and therefore, eligible community organisations still have the opportunity to apply under the Scheme to buy or lease them. In addition, one approved application for surplus land did not complete the purchase within the 18 month period. This land was then sold on the open market in accordance with FCS' property sales policy.

The following tables provide details on the four applications mentioned above:

NFLS Applications Withdrawn

National Forest Land Scheme Name	Size (Hectares)	Location	Ordnance Survey Grid Reference	Applicant
Fourpenny Wood	158.0	Embo, Highlands & Islands	NH 796931	Embo Trust
Salachary Forest	120.0	Craignish, Argyll & Bute	NM 847043	Craignish Community Company
Achinchanter	1.7	Embo, Highlands & Islands	NH 797918	Embo Trust

NFLS Applications for Surplus Land Approved and Sale Not Completed - Land Sold on the Open Market

National Forest Land Scheme Name	Size (Hectares)	Location	Ordnance Survey Grid reference	Applicant
Rasscarrel Moss	167.0	Auchencairn, Dumfries & Galloway	NX 802491	Auchencairn Community Company

Question reference: S4W-09352

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for the National Forest Land Scheme.

The Scottish Government will continue to operate the National Forest Land Scheme as one of the important mechanisms to help facilitate greater involvement of communities in the management and ownership of Scotland's forests. A total of seven approved applications covering a further 2,200 hectares are currently being processed towards sale or lease.

Forestry Commission Scotland continuously reviews the scheme to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Question reference: S4W-09353

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2012
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 18 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what land units have been conveyed to communities and groups under the National Forest Land Scheme, broken down by (a) size and (b) location.

Since its launch in 2005 there have been 13 completed sales to community organisations under the National Forest Land Scheme.

The following table provides a summary of those sales:

National Forest Land Scheme Name	Size (Hectares)	Location	Ordnance Survey Grid reference	Applicant
Acharossan Forest	125.5	Tighnabruaich, Argyll & Bute	NR 969734	Kilfinan Community Forest Company
Ardentinny Wall Garden	1.4	Ardentinny, Argyll & Bute	NS 187855	Ardentinny Community Trust
Badluarach and Durnamuck	8.5	Gairloch, Highlands & Islands	NH 002932	Badluarach and Durnamuck Community Woodland
Balfour Wood	241.0	Finzean, Aberdeenshire	NO 544958	Birse Community Trust
Broadford Wood	20.0	Broadford, Isle of Skye	NG 636243	Broadford and Strath Community Company
Burghead	1.4	Burghead, Moray	NJ 116683	Burghead Thistle Junior Football Club
Ford	2.6	Ford, Argyll & Bute	NM 868041	Ford Community Project Ltd
Gaudiedale strip	0.1	Bennachie, Aberdeenshire	NJ 692187	Bennachie Access Group
Golticlay Forest	39.1	Rumster, Highlands & Islands	ND 202392	Latheron, Lybster & Clyth Community Development Company
Slewdrum Forest	167.2	Finzean, Aberdeenshire	NO 628954	Birse Community Trust
Strathmashie Forest	18.1	Laggan, Highlands & Islands	NN 594923	Laggan Forest Trust
Tormore Forest	440.0	Sleat, Isle of Skye	NG 611021	Sleat Community Trust
West Ardhu & Langamull Forest	693.4	Dervaig, Isle of Mull	NM 395517	North West Mull Community Woodland Company
Total	1,758

Question reference: S4O-01197

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in implementing the proposals of the Traditional Arts Working Group.

Question reference: S4F-00786

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 18 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 June 2012

To ask the First Minister what progress has been made to reduce journey time on the main rail line from Inverness to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Question reference: S4O-01151

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, 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 its position is on the Office of Fair Trading report, Price and Choice in Remote Communities, in relation to such communities in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-07830

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 13 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many carbon units will be credited to or debited from the 2011 net Scottish emissions account as a result of the operation of the EU Emissions Trading System.