Questions and answers

Question reference: S4F-01989

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 24 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2014

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet

Question reference: S4W-20084

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 20 March 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the additional £700 million of tax revenues referred to in its report, Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis.

As outlined in the Childcare and Labour Market Participation – Economic Analysis paper, the increase in the tax revenues by £700 million that could arise from matching Sweden’s female participation rate would be expected to come from a range of different tax revenue streams.

As highlighted in the paper, as individuals move into employment, or increase the hours they work, they would pay more tax through income tax and national insurance. In addition, as individuals’ incomes increase and their spending rises, receipts from indirect taxes such as VAT, fuel duty and excise duties would also be expected to rise.

Question reference: S4F-01947

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 10 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2014

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Question reference: S4F-01925

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 03 March 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2014

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Question reference: S4F-01885

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 February 2014

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Question reference: S4W-19279

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on notices received under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 where a similar but smaller planning application has been recently rejected by the local planning authority.

In Scotland, any application to construct or operate an onshore power generating station with a capacity of over 50 megawatts (MW) requires the consent of Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Significant onshore renewable energy proposals will require an Environmental Impact Assessment. To comply with the Electricity works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000, Scottish Ministers have to consult the local planning authority, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and internal government consultees, together with other parties who may have an interest in the development. Should the planning authority object to the application, or otherwise at the discretion of Ministers, a public inquiry is called to consider the proposal.

Question reference: S4W-19278

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 4 February 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with PNE Wind regarding the Cowal and Trossachs Forest District Wind Farm, Bachan Burn.

Energy Consents and Deployment Unit (ECDU) colleagues met with representatives from PNE Wind on 16 October 2013 to advise the developer on the procedures in place in order for them to take forward a scoping opinion from the ECDU. PNE Wind provided an overview of their early proposals for the site. A subsequent scoping report was provided by PNE Wind on 13 November 2013 and a consultation exercise on that report is on-going.

Question reference: S4F-01870

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 February 2014

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Question reference: S4F-01831

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 20 January 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 January 2014

To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Question reference: S4W-19027

Asked by: Willie Rennie, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 20 December 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 17 January 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial security of companies involved in the opencast mining sector.

Under the existing legal framework the Scottish Government does not have any role or duty to make assessment of the financial security of companies involved in the open cast mining sector.

Financial clearance and financial appraisal is one of the aspects taken into account by the UK Coal Authority in the awarding of coaling leases and licences to coal operators. The issuing of coaling licences is a reserved matter.

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