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: S4W-11607

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how much each (a) police force and (b) fire and rescue service spent on interest due on any outstanding debt in 2011-12.

The latest published information is for 2010-11, taken from the Scottish Government’s Capital Expenditure Report 2010-11, Annex C, Tables C5 and C6. No values are available for Fife Council nor Dumfries and Galloway Council whose police and fire debt and interest is included in the total council values.

The following is the link to the publication:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/LACapital/capitalmonitoring

Question reference: S4W-11606

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how much debt (a) is owed by each (i) police force and (ii) fire and rescue service and (b) will be transferred to the (i) Scottish Police Authority and (ii) Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in April 2013.

The liability for the repayment of all debt outstanding at the transfer date will be met by the new bodies. The current level of funding for repayment of the debt will also transfer to the Scottish Police Authority and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The latest published information is for 2010-11, taken from the Scottish Government’s Capital Expenditure Report 2010-11, Annex D, Table D7. No values are available for Fife or Dumfries and Galloway whose police and fire debt and interest is included in the total council values. The following is the link to the publication:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/LACapital/capitalmonitoring

Question reference: S4W-11506

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 10 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what credible, peer reviewed independent evidence it has received that onshore wind turbines being deployed in Scotland (a) are totally safe to public health, (b) do not adversely impact on tourism, (c) are free of any issues of noise nuisance, (d) do not lessen the amenities for local residents, (e) do not weaken demand for nearby property, (f) do not reduce the price of nearby property, (g) will make a positive difference to global CO2, (h) are receiving the minimum subsidy required to operate and (i) are cost-effective.

The Scottish Government believes that wind energy, appropriately located and subject to a consenting process which takes all relevant issues and evidence fully into account, can play a vital role in helping to meet Scotland’s energy needs in a sustainable, cost effective way. We will always remain willing to consider and respond to any credible, peer reviewed and independent evidence which raises material concerns in any of these areas.

Question reference: S4W-11494

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 4 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding from the Rural Priorities scheme has been allocated to the Scottish Borders region in each year since 2007, broken down by axis (a) 1 and 3 and (b) 2 funding package.

The following table provides the value of Rural Priorities Scheme contracts awarded in the Borders region per Axis per year.

As of 26 November 2012

Year

Rural Priorities Funding by Axes

AXIS 1

AXIS 2

AXIS 3

2009	£2,105,634	£10,281,971	£2,245,157
2010	£3,185,839	£14,827,674	£1,429,670
2011	£1,848,405	£6,203,802	£642,448
2012	£1,145,361	£5,525,654	£841,326

The Rural Priorities Scheme opened to applications in April 2008. Applications were recommended for funding during 2008, however, their contracts did not commence until 2009.

Question reference: S4W-11409

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10980 by Fergus Ewing on 19 November 2012, whether it is aware of the report, Effects of Industrial wind turbine noise on sleep and health published by Noise and Health, a bimonthly interdisciplinary international journal, and whether it considers that the report constitutes scientific evidence demonstrating a direct link between wind turbines and human health effects.

The Scottish Government is aware of this article, published in the Noise and Health journal.

With any new or emerging evidence that may have implications for health it is normal practice for the Scottish Government to seek independent expert advice on such matters to ensure that any such claims are appropriately peer reviewed and authenticated.

Officials review evidence on an ongoing basis in conjunction with colleagues at Health Protection Scotland (HPS). HPS are currently considering the validity of this particular article, particularly within the wider context of scientific opinion.

The Scottish Government considers that the provisions currently in place in respect of planning and operational noise controls for windfarms provide an appropriate and practical level of public protection from noise concerns arising from the development and operation of windfarms in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-11348

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has sought from the European Commission regarding the compatibility with existing EU directives and regulations of its policy of retaining current UK financial regulatory bodies in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-11349

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) current UK financial regulatory bodies regarding its policy of retaining the latter as regulators of an independent Scotland’s financial service industries.

The Scottish Government engages in discussions with the UK Government and current regulatory bodies on matters of importance to the Scottish economy. Under the Edinburgh Agreement, the Scottish and UK Governments are committed to continue to work together constructively in the light of the outcome of the referendum, whatever it is, in the best interests of the people of Scotland and of the rest of the United Kingdom. The Scottish Government will outline its proposals for financial services regulation as part of its macroeconomic framework for an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-11350

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it considers its policy of retaining UK financial regulatory bodies as the financial services regulators in an independent Scotland to be compatible with the obligations on member states’ competent authorities under Article 60 of Directive 2004/39.

Question reference: S4W-10981

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to commission independent studies into the impact of wind farms on tourism and health.

The Scottish Government considers that health impacts are important considerations in all development types. At present, there is no peer reviewed study that establishes a direct causal link between the deployment of onshore wind and negative impacts on human health. We will continue to monitor any new credible evidence presented to us.

With regards to tourism, the Moffat Report of 2008 concluded that onshore wind farms did not adversely impact tourism. Surveys that have taken place repeatedly show that a majority of visitors are not put off by wind farms. However, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the renewable energy sector and the tourism industry continue to flourish side by side. Therefore, we have already committed to examining the need for further research into the impact of wind farms on tourism. We will be liaising with all interested parties and stakeholders in the coming weeks and months.

Question reference: S4W-10980

Asked by: John Lamont, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has received that suggests that wind turbines adversely affect tourism or health.