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-19020

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 23 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what the implications are for (a) Northern Isles Ferry Services, (b) ferries owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and (c) harbour infrastructure in Stromness of the award of £670,000 by the European Regional Development Fund to Orkney Islands Council.

I welcome this grant award which will fund the installation of equipment needed to provide shoreside electrical power at Stromness. This will be used by the MV Hamnavoe when she is berthed overnight, saving fuel and reducing local air and noise pollution. The use of shoreside power was a policy proposal set out in the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan.

Preparatory electrical works were carried out on the MV Hamnavoe during the annual overhaul in Quarter 1 2018 at Rosyth.

Further electrical works will be required on the MV Hamnavoe and Serco NorthLink Ferries are currently seeking regulatory approval for these modifications. Works will be scheduled on the MV Hamnavoe for the early part of 2019.

The Stromness European Regional Development Fund shore infrastructure project started on 8 June 2018 and is due to be completed by 31 December 2019.

Question reference: S5W-19099

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government by what date the new Dalcross rail station will open.

Question reference: S5W-19017

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the annual carbon emissions reductions potentially available from the £670,000 given by the European Regional Development Fund to Orkney Islands Council.

The Scottish Government has not made an estimate of the annual carbon emission reductions arising from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grant to Orkney Islands Council. The application submitted by Orkney Islands Council was assessed against the published round 2 Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund criteria. As part of its bid for funding, Orkney Islands Council included a key objective to reduce the fuel used by Marine Vessel Hamnavoe whilst berthed in Stromness, resulting in an estimate of an annual reduction of 1378 tonnes in CO 2 produced. Under the terms of the ERDF grant, Orkney Islands Council will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the project and reporting to Scottish Ministers.

Question reference: S5W-19019

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 11 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of the annual local government grant to Orkney Islands Council was spent on (a) planned and (b) unplanned maintenance of the Orkney Ferries fleet in each year since 2008-09.

Although the Scottish Government collects details of Orkney Islands Council's expenditure on Ferries these financial returns do not provide the level of detail to identify the amount of Scottish Government funding which is spent on the planned and unplanned maintenance of the Orkney Ferries fleet. Orkney Islands Council would be best placed to provide that level of detail. Equally, the support the Scottish Government provides to Orkney Islands Council through the annual local government finance settlement is not broken down by individual services, such as support for Ferry services.

Question reference: S5W-18997

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that the regulation, construction and operation of any vertical launch spaceports in Scotland would meet the requirements of the EC's Environmental Impact Assessment's Habitats and Birds directives.

Where development consent for a spaceport is sought through a planning application it would be for the relevant Scottish planning authority, prior to granting consent, to ensure any statutory environmental obligations had been fully complied with.

In terms of the operation, the UK Space Industry Act 2018 governs the licensing and safety aspects of launch. The UK Government is responsible for the creation of a regulatory framework to enable commercial spaceflight activities, involving both launch to orbit and sub-orbital spaceflight, to be carried out from spaceports in the United Kingdom. The Scottish Government and its agencies are continuing to work with the UK Space Agency, Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority as they develop detailed regulation in this area.

Question reference: S5W-18999

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it (a) has taken and (b) will take to ensure that the development of vertical launch spaceports will not harm any designated nature conservation sites or species listed in the Scottish Biodiversity List.

Question reference: S5W-19001

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government what impact the construction and operation of a vertical launch spaceport would have on the natural environment.

Question reference: S5W-19000

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government under what legislation the construction and operation of a vertical launch spaceport in Scotland would be permitted and regulated.

Question reference: S5W-18217

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 August 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of all meetings that (a) ministers and (b) its officials have had with (i) EDF, (ii) The Wood Group, (iii) Lewis Wind Power and (iv) The Stornoway Trust regarding proposals for wind turbines on Lewis; who attended each meeting, and (A) where and (B) when each meeting took place.

The following table includes all details of meetings between Ministers and officials that have been held with the named parties in respect of wind turbines on Lewis.

Date

Location and relevance

Attendees

3 February 2009

Scottish Government, St Andrews House, Edinburgh

To discuss key changes in AMEC (predecessor of Wood Group) since 2006, the company’s strategic objectives and AMEC in Scotland – key issues and opportunities

Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister of Scotland

Scottish Government Officials

Samir Brikho, Chief Executive,Gerry McGill, Power & Process Division

Duncan Guy, Head of Government Relations (AMEC)

23 August 2011

Location not recorded.

Meeting to discuss prelimiary peat landslide hazard assessments and consultation responses in respect of Stornoway Wind Farm

Representatives from Halcrow, Lewis Wind Power, and officials from Scottish Government Energy Consent Unit

26 June 2014

Scottish Government, Atlantic Quay

A discussion to review the extent to which the policy, regulatory and market framework supports the necessary grid connections/upgrades for each island group.

Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy Enterprise and Tourism

Ed Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Scottish Government Officials

Representatives from key

islands generation stakeholders including UK and Scottish ministers, council leaders, developers, SHE Transmission, National Grid, Ofgem, HIE, Stornoway Trust.

2 September 2014

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Offices, Sandwick Road, Stornoway

Meeting to discuss approach and scope of assessment required for variation of Stornoway Wind Farm consent.

Representatives from Lewis Wind Power

Representatives from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, SEPA, SNH, Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust, Angling Association and RSPB

ECU Officials

17 December 2014

Scottish Parliament

A meeting to discuss progress on the Stornoway Wind Farm and Muatheabhal Wind Farm developments.

Pauls Wheelhouse MSP

Christian Egal, Matthieu Hue, David Cameron (EDF ER)

9 December 2015

Location not recorded

Discussion on wind farm development in the Western Isles and the proposed interconnector from the Western Isles to the mainland.Discussion regarding EDF purchase.

Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Business, Energy & Tourism

Nick Oppenheim, Director of Uisenis Power Limited

22 March 2017

Scottish Parliament

Mr De Rivaz requested a meeting with Mr Wheelhouse to discuss a route to market for EDF's two wind farm developments on Lewis.

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation & Energy

Vincent de Rivaz, CEO, EDF Energy

Energy policy officials

10 April 2017

Scottish Island Renewables Delivery Forum, Caberfeidh Hotel, Stornoway. Stornoway Wind Farm amongst projects discussed.

Time in Stornoway also included a short visit by Mr Wheelhouse to Stornoway Wind Farm site faciltated by representative from EDF.

Lord Dunlop,

Paul Wheelhouse MSP

Rt Hon Greg Clarke MP

Representatives from SSEN, OFGEM, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Renewables, Shetland Islands Council, SSE Renewables, Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Wind and EMEC, DP Energy, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, EDF and The Stornoway Trust

30 August 2017

Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Meeting to discuss the UK Government's approach on providing at route to market for remote Island wind.

Paul Wheelhouse MSP

Richard Harrington, Minister for Energy and Industry

Angus McNeil MP

Alister Carmichael MP

Representatives of island wind developers including EDF.

Representatives from Scottish Renewables, Community energy Scotland, and local council leaders from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles.

13 September 2017

Atlantic Quay

One of the regular project portfolio meetings held between ECU and EDF. Western Isles Developments discussed amongst all other projects.

EDF – Tony Scorer, David Cameron, Susie Lind

ECU officials

7 November 2017

Scottish Parliament

Meeting with EDF ER

EDF requested a meeting to update Mr Wheelhouse on the company's business in Scotland including on wind projects on Lewis.

Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Business, Innovation & Energy

Matthieu Hue, CEO, EDF Energy Renewables

Paul Winkle, Scottish Business Director, EDF Energy

David Cameron, Head of Scottish Policy, EDF Energy

Energy policy officials

27 February 2018

Atlantic Quay

Discussions around proposals for wind turbines on Lewis, introducing intention to submit new application in respect of Stornoway.

Representatives of Wood Group and LUC, and Energy Consents Officials

30 April 2018

Council Offices, Sandwick Road, Stornoway

Pre Scoping Meeting to inform environmental assessments for forthcoming new application for Stornoway Wind Farm.

Representatives from EDF, SNH, Wood Group, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, LUC, Energy Consents Unit, HES, SEPA.

14 May 2018

Atlantic Quay

Discussion regarding the Western Isles interconnector needs case, topics included new consent application for Stornoway.

David Cameron Head of Scottish Policy, EDF and representatives of EDF

Scottish Government Policy Officials

23 May 2018

Atlantic Quay

Discussion regarding Stornoway Wind Farm and EIA requirements for a forthcoming application.

EDF representatives and Energy Consents Unit officials

25 June 2018

Atlantic Quay

Discussion regarding a range of Energy Consents issues, including the existing consent for Stornoway Wind Farm.

David Cameron, Head of Scottish Policy EDF

Scottish Government Energy Industries Official

23 August 2018

Atlantic Quay

One of the regular project portfolio meetings held between ECU and EDF. Western Isles Developments discussed amongst all other projects.

David Cameron, Head of Scottish Policy – EDF

Representatives of EDF ER

Energy Consents Officials

John Buswell, Phill Minas and Darren Cumming (LWP)

Representatives from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, SEPA, SNH, Outer Hebrides Fisheries Trust, Angling Association and RSPB

ECU Officials

Question reference: S5W-18998

Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: Friday, 21 September 2018
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 3 October 2018

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would have paid out in RET on routes to the Orkney Islands had the scheme proceeded on the planned date.