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: S5O-03744

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 November 2019
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 13 November 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what snagging works are yet to be completed on the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project.

Under the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements contract, Scottish Roads Partnership, Transport Scotland’s contractor, was determined to have completed the construction aspects of the project in October.

SRP is now required to undertake maintenance operations for a 30 year period and these will continue as normal on the road network.

Work will include structural inspections, resurfacing, barrier replacement and replacing other life expired assets, landscaping works and addressing any future defects such as potholes, as well as completing the post-construction noise surveys.

Transport Scotland will continue to monitor the contractor’s ongoing operations.

Question reference: S5O-03702

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 October 2019
Current Status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 31 October 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with Devro PLC regarding the closure of its Bellshill plant.

Question reference: S5O-03725

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what income is generated, and how many jobs are supported, by the leasing of holdings from Forestry and Land Scotland.

Question reference: S5O-03562

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government how much compensation has been paid out to residents by the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project, including for noise pollution and house damage.

Question reference: S5F-03537

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 September 2019
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2019

To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government is providing to people struggling to meet funeral costs.

Question reference: S5W-25131

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 September 2019
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Fergus Ewing on 5 September 2019

To ask the Scottish Government when it will establish the stakeholder group to advise on the development of Scotland’s Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan, and whether it is still on track to publish the implementation plan by 1 April 2020.

I am pleased to announce that the stakeholder reference group been established and that the first meeting of that group is later today.

The group, consisting of a range of forestry interests, draws on expertise in the economic, environmental and social drivers and benefits identified in the Strategy. It will provide input to help formulate key delivery milestones, progress indicators and a reporting schedule for the implementation plan, which will help to realise the 50-year vision for forestry set out in the Strategy.

The establishment of this group is a significant milestone, and confirms we are still on track to publish an implementation plan by 1 April 2020.

Question reference: S5O-03473

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the Andersons Centre research on the impact of a no-deal Brexit on farm incomes.

Question reference: S5W-24403

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to promote micro renewables for the domestic market in Scotland.

The Scottish Government grant funds the Energy Saving Trust to promote micro-renewables to Scottish consumers via the Scottish Home Renewables service, delivered through Home Energy Scotland.

The service supports householders in Scotland with free, impartial advice and specialist renewables advice, home visits and tailored reports. Householders are supported through the process from decision-making to installation and beyond.

Scottish Government also provide interest-free funding for micro-renewable technologies through the Home Energy Scotland Loan scheme and advice on accessing government incentives like the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). A number of online tools to help householders look into options, find a certified installer or access case studies from other homeowners in their area who have made similar improvements is also available.

Further details can be found at the following website https://www.discoverrenewables.org.uk/

Existing micro-renewable businesses are supported via funding for the sustainable energy supply programme, also administered via the Energy Saving Trust. This is to ensure that businesses can maximise their participation in the supply chain and benefit from UK Government and Scottish Government support schemes. The service provides existing businesses with help on funding, certification, marketing insights, research, guides, case studies, training and events to enable renewable energy businesses to maximise the economic benefits of the transition to a low carbon renewable environment.

Further details can be found at the following website https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/businesses-organisations/supply-chain

Question reference: S5W-24405

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 7 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what funding streams are available to support micro renewable companies start up.

The Scottish Government provides a variety of funding streams and advice to support new businesses wishing to enter the micro-renewables and energy efficiency markets. Scottish Enterprise and Business Gateway can provide details of available funding via existing funding streams. A comprehensive list of sources can be found at the following website: https://www.mygov.scot/funding-advice-search/find-government-funding/

The Scottish Government have commissioned work to map energy skills gaps with an aim to ensuring standards of installation are appropriate as the Energy Efficient Scotland Programme is rolled out across Scotland. This work will also clearly set out qualification requirements for potentially new renewable technology installers and businesses and will result in the creation of a skills map, helping to ensure that Scotland’s colleges are central to renewable energy training going forward. It is intended that this project will help achieve smarter integration and alignment of existing training and qualifications, drive sustainable inclusive growth and deliver good quality jobs and allow existing and new companies to reap the economic benefits of the Energy Efficient Scotland Programme as we head towards a carbon neutral environment.

Question reference: S5W-24404

Asked by: Richard Lyle, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 July 2019
Current Status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 August 2019

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to create a level playing field for the promotion of micro renewables within the planning system.

All planning applications are determined in accordance with the relevant local development plan unless there are material considerations that would justify a departure from the plan.

There are extensive permitted development rights for the installation of both domestic and non-domestic micro-renewables. As part of the ongoing review of the planning system we propose to consult on whether any changes or additions to permitted development rights, including those for micro-renewables, should be made in due course.