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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-03546

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to Forestry Commission Scotland staff to enable them to determine what a “significant impact” is, as defined under Article 3 of the EnvironmentaI Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) 1999 Regulations.

Forestry Commission Scotland provides internal guidance to staff in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Code, which contains information on all of the steps in the Environment Impact Assessment process and on policy and legislation. Within this document, guidance is provided on assessing sensitivity, magnitude and significance. Forestry Commission Scotland also provides a training course to staff using this guidance.

Question reference: S5W-03547

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to determine the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment guidance issued to Forestry Commission Scotland area office staff to ensure that the purpose of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 is met.

Question reference: S5W-03552

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what environmental checks are in place for woodland planting schemes that do not require an environmental impact assessment.

Question reference: S5W-03548

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether Forestry Commission Scotland staff involved in determining screening applications under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 are required to hold chartered forester status and, if not, how their competence to assess such applications is assured.

Forestry Commission Scotland does not require staff involved in determining screening applications under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 to hold chartered forester status.

Forestry Commission Scotland staff are appointed on merit through fair and open competition. They are assessed against the essential criteria for a specific job. For woodland officers, this includes a forestry or equivalent environmental qualification. In addition, Environment Impact Assessment determinations are reviewed and countersigned by a senior member of the Conservancy team to ensure consistency, and to ensure that expert advice has been used where needed.

Question reference: S5W-03544

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the (a) site and (b) cumulative environmental impacts for proposals for woodland expansion.

Forestry Commission Scotland assesses the site of proposals for woodland expansion and their environmental impacts using the Selection Criteria (stated in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999) and the information supplied by the applicant. The cumulative impact of projects is taken into account during the Environmental Impact Assessment determination screening phase.

Question reference: S5W-03549

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what training it provides to Forestry Commission Scotland conservancy office staff with regard to the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 and what the content is of such training.

Question reference: S5W-03541

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 October 2016
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 25 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how many woodland expansion proposals have been consented without an approved environmental impact assessment by each Forestry Commission Scotland conservancy since 2007 for woodland planting (a) below two, (b) between two and 10, (c) from 10 to 100 and (d) above 100 hectares.

Question reference: S5W-03217

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 20 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to business will be of the MV Hebrides running aground on 25 September 2016; how much freight traffic will be disrupted; what contingencies it will introduce to allow freight to move during the disruption, and what support it will offer to the businesses affected.

CalMac Ferries Limited (CFL) worked hard to clear any backlog of freight following the MV Hebrides incident. Business and freight customers should contact CFL direct for the most up to date information and assistance during this period of disruption. CFL put in place a number of contingency measures including vessel redeployment and revisions to timetables to ensure that lifeline services continue to link to the Western Isles during this period of disruption.

The MV Hebrides resumed service on the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services network on Sunday 16 October 2016. This followed full repairs in the Garvel, Clyde, and effective sea trials.

Question reference: S5W-03212

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 19 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how long the disruption will be to the Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy ferry route following the MV Hebrides running aground on 25 September 2016; how many passengers will be affected, and what support it will offer to them.

The MV Hebrides resumed service on the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services network on Sunday 16 October 2016. This followed full repairs in the Garvel, Clyde, and effective sea trials.

The contingency arrangements put in place by the operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd, during the period of disruption, including repositioning of vessels, ensured that connectivity with the Western Isles was maintained.

Affected customers were encouraged throughout this period to contact the operator if they had any concerns.

Question reference: S5W-03210

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Current Status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 18 October 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what the reason was for the technical failure that caused the MV Hebrides to run aground on 25 September 2016, and what steps it is taking to avoid similar incidents in the future.