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-01482

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 July 2011
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 26 July 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were admitted to HMYOI Polmont within two years of leaving secure care, in each of the last three years.

Question reference: S4W-01142

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 July 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations were issued briefings regarding the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill; on what dates, and based on what criteria.

At various points and in various ways, the following organisations were briefed on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill: Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, Scottish Courts Service, Scottish Prison Service, Scottish Legal Aid Board, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People, Scottish Youth Parliament, Young Scot, Scottish Human Rights Commission, Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Human Rights, Scottish Football Association, Scottish Football League, Scottish Premier League, Celtic Football Club, Rangers Football Club and Strathclyde Police. In addition, the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs met with various individuals, groups and MSPs. These organisations were briefed based on the relevance of the Bill to their areas of interest and expertise.

Question reference: S4W-01021

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 18 July 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up a fund to allow local authorities and other public bodies to take advantage of feed-in-tariffs to allow further investment in alternative energy projects.

There are no plans to set up such a fund. The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) Scheme is intended to replace, not supplement, public grant schemes as the principal means of incentivising small scale, low-carbon electricity generation. Because of this, and to ensure value for money for consumers and compliance with EU law on state aids, it is generally not possible for a generator to benefit from both FITs and a grant from a public body. However loans and equity investment are compatible with the FIT Scheme.

Local Authorities, NHS Scotland and Scottish Water utilise the £20 million Scottish Government Central Energy Efficiency Fund, a revolving loan fund, to install energy efficiency and renewables measures on their estate. The Fund is managed locally with each body responsible for their own allocated budgets.

The Scottish Government is developing with the European Investment Bank a £50 million Joint Support for Sustainable Investment In City Areas (JESSICA) Fund. The Fund will be a potential source of loans or equity investment to support the delivery of innovative energy efficiency retrofit measures. Projects in 13 Local Authority areas will be eligible for investment from the Fund which will launch later this year. The Scottish Government is working with a steering group of Local Authorities within the Fund area to scope out potential for a solar photovoltaic project using feed-in tariffs for social rented housing.

Advice and support to help Local Authorities and Housing Associations take advantage of the FIT is available from the Energy Saving Trust who has produced a toolkit “Making Feed-in Tariffs Work For You” which can be found at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

Question reference: S4W-01022

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 11 July 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the number of (a) allotments and (b) other growing spaces.

(a) The responsibility of allotment provision is the responsibility of the local authorities under the Allotment (Scotland) Act 1892.

(b) The Scottish Government will continue to support the work of the Grow Your Own Working Group whose action plan is looking at ways to extend the provision of land for community growing. This currently includes a land-matching service run through Landshare and the establishment of a Community Land Bank for communities interested in grow-your-own activities.

Question reference: S4W-01017

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 July 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the release of funding for infrastructure projects from the Fossil Fuel Levy account.

The First Minister and I have repeatedly pressed the UK Government to agree to release the Fossil Fuel Levy surplus to Scotland to fund additional investment in projects to support renewable energy generation. I discussed this matter with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury as recently as 20 June, and wrote to him thereafter. The UK Government has not yet responded positively to this or to our previous approaches. We will continue to seek to persuade the UK Government of the need to take action in response to our requests.

Question reference: S4W-01020

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 July 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing paid staff from its Climate Challenge Fund to assist community groups to realise their potential.

Question reference: S4W-01019

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 July 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to Energy Saving Scotland's eco-driving programme; how it will help publicise this, and what it does to encourage the public to eco-drive.

The Scottish Government is providing grant funding to the Energy Saving Trust (EST) of £103,000 in 2011-12 to support its eco-driving programme for high mileage drivers. Eco-driving advice is available from the EST website at:

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Travel/Drivers/Smarter-driving.

Practical training can be accessed by contacting the Energy Saving Scotland advice centres. The Transport Scotland website contains a link to the EST guidelines for eco-driving.

Question reference: S4W-01018

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 July 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to the Central Scotland Green Network to develop the proposed John Muir Trail between East Lothian and the Trossachs.

On behalf of the Scottish Government and the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Partnership Board, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is actively taking the lead in developing this proposed 90 mile route between John Muir’s birthplace in Dunbar and the gateway to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park at Balloch.

Key actions to date have included:

Engaging local authorities and other key partners on the proposals through a consultative workshop in February 2011;

Subsequent detailed discussions with local authorities on route feasibility, and

Preparing and consulting on a route proposal and maps (consultation ending 8 July 2011).

Following the consultation, a technical survey will be carried out to provide accurate cost estimates and works specifications. The CSGN Partnership Board will consider the consultation responses, costings and funding options at its September 2011 meeting. An implementation plan will then be drawn up to establish the route by 2014.

The route is being developed largely through linking together existing promoted paths which will pass through some of central Scotland’s finest landscapes and places of interest. The aim is to create a route which will be accessible to and enjoyed by many local people and visitors, not just “end to enders” but also by day trippers. It is expected that the route will become one of Scotland’s Great Trails – I of course launched the network of Scotland’s best long distance routes on 17 June 2011.

The John Muir Trail will form a key “spine” to a wider network of long distance routes encompassing and connecting all 19 local authority areas within the CSGN. SNH is also leading on this parallel work and working with partners to develop a network proposal for consultation later in 2011.

Question reference: S4O-00092

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the capacity of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland to carry out its duties in light of recent budget changes.

Question reference: S4O-00069

Asked by: Siobhan McMahon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it proposes to make in relation to solicitors' access to prisoners in police custody, in light of the Cadder v Her Majesty's Advocate ruling.