Parliamentary questions
Beatrice Wishart
693 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing free travel for under 22s on internal ferries, in line with free bus travel commitments; what distance under 22s travel on average on internal ferries per year, and what assessment has been made of the costs that under 22s would save per yea…
Answer · Graeme Dey: The new statutory scheme is for bus travel only and does not extend to ferry travel. The soon to be published Island Communities Impact Assessment will discuss this in more detail and ferry fares are being reviewed as part of the forthcoming Islands Connectiv…
3 Nov 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that green incentives and loans for renewable energy efficiency measures for domestic properties are easy to understand and apply for, and that members of the public have access to the help and support they need to ensure that the application process it…
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government provides loans with cashback grants to enable households in all parts of Scotland to install renewables and energy efficiency measures. Funding is delivered through Home Energy Scotland and managed, on behalf of Scottish Government, by…
27 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Ferry Industry Advisory Group will next meet, and for what reason it has not met since October 2019.
Answer · Graeme Dey: There are no plans to hold a further Ferry Industry Advisory Group (FIAG) meeting. Ministers are grateful to former FIAG members for their contributions to the work of the group, which was wide ranging. But by mutual consent of the parties following the last …
27 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many schools will offer cycling proficiency training to pupils in 2021-22.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government does not hold that information. Annual school cycle training performance figures for 2021-22, including delivery data from all participating local authorities, will be available in September 2022. Through Bikeability Scotland, cycling…
27 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils completed cycling proficiency training courses in each year since 2018-19, and how many are expected to do so in the 2021-22.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 2018-19 20,201 21,671 180 2019-20 9,300 6,678 111 2020-21 21,158 19,140 48 Participation data for 2021-22 will be available in September 2022.
26 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s seventh quinquennial review of schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, what assessment it has made of the potential removal of schedule 5 legal protection for (a) pine martens, (b) adders, (c) basking sharks and (…
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) published a stakeholder consultation , including a list of provisional recommendations regarding the addition, retention, regrading or removal of each species on 8 November 2021. Those proposed recommendations …
26 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s seventh quinquennial review of schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, what assessment it has made of the potential removal of schedule 5 legal protection for mountain hares, and whether it would support such a re…
Answer · Lorna Slater: The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) published stakeholders consultation https://consult.defra.gov.uk/joint-nature-conservation-committee/911c8988/ , including a list of provisional recommendations regarding the addition, retention, regrading or r…
26 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the proposed reforms to the methodology for designating animal and plant species with legal protection under Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as outlined by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) in the information pack for its 7th Q…
Answer · Lorna Slater: Section 24 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 places an obligation on conservation bodies to review every five years Schedules 5 and 8 and advise Scottish Ministers whether, in their opinion: (a) any animal should be added to, or removed from, Schedule …
26 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) formal guidance on its red list, which states that "(t)he Red List should [therefore] not be interpreted as a means of priority setting. The difference between measuring threats and assessing conservation…
Answer · Lorna Slater: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a globally respected organisation and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the world’s most comprehensive data resource on the status of species. The List does not however, include all Scottis…
26 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the legal purpose of section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended, is not only to prevent the national extinction of species, but also to maintain the species good ecological status.
Answer · Lorna Slater: The legal purpose of section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the protection of certain wild animals. Tackling biodiversity loss is a key priority for the Scottish Government and as outlined in our 2021-22 Programme for Government, we are commit…
20 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage (a) of sheep flocks being inspected have to undertake a full flock head count and (b) of full flock head counts undertaken in each of the last five years relate to inspections carried out in Shetland.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Up-until 2020 100% of sheep flocks selected for inspection had to have a full head count. For 2020 in order to minimise Covid-19 related risks for farmers/crofters and Scottish Government inspectors the requirement to undertake a full head count at every ins…
19 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on (a) the resumption of work on its Fuel Poverty Strategy and (b) the appointment of the statutory Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Fuel Poverty Strategy was laid in Parliament on the 9th November and, as set out in the Programme for Government 2021, will be published by the end of this calendar year. The public appointments process for the independent statutory Scottish Fuel Poverty…
18 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many on-street bike hangars (secure, covered spaces for residents to park their bikes) are available across Scotland, and what demand there is for bike hangars.
Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government does not hold data on the total number of on-street bike hangers across Scotland, or on the demand for bike hangers. Individual local authorities may hold this information for their respective areas.
15 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its work to improve engagement and communication between the offshore renewables and fishing sectors, and which fishing organisations are being consulted as part of this.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government aims to facilitate a constructive relationship between fishers and offshore wind developers in relation to the development of offshore wind energy in Scottish Waters. This is led by Marine Scotland through ‘Commercial Fisheries Working…
13 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Fund have been (a) received and (b) declined, and how much funding has been distributed through this fund to date.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: In total, 107 organisations applied to either the first round of funding (2019-2020), the main PIMH Fund (2020-2023) or the Small Grants Fund (2021-2023). Some organisations applied more than once. 33 organisations were successful across all funding rounds (3…
7 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can provide that ordnance clearances taking place as part of the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm project are not high order detonations.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The marine and European Protected Species licences issued to Seagreen Wind Energy Limited (SWEL) in respect of unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance activities were conditioned such that high order detonation techniques for UXO clearance are used only when it i…
4 Oct 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) for its short-term lets licensing scheme and planning control area legislation, how the draft short-term lets licensing proposals support the (a) National Performance Framework and (b) Scottish Government's commitment to be…
Answer · Shona Robison: (a) The regulation of short-term lets supports the following National Performance Framework objectives:We have a globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable economy.We have thriving and innovative businesses, with quality jobs and fair wo…
4 Oct 2021 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures public sector agencies, including the Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the Crown Office, will take to increase efforts to ensure women are protected from harassment and violence.
25 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors imports and exports of honey bees.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: All imports of Queen Honey Bees into GB must be notified through the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS) and Scottish Government officials monitor the system daily. The Scottish Government bee health inspectors and bee health diagnosti…
25 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what actions it takes to ensure that people who wish to take up beekeeping are made aware of its guidance on importing and exporting bees.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: International trade represents a risk for the spread of pests and diseases of honey bees. To protect the health of bees in Scotland we have a framework of legal requirements and trade rules to minimise these risks. Scottish Government works with the Animal a…
25 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) guidance it provides and (b) measures it takes to ensure high levels of bee husbandry and bee health, in order to avoid Varroa and other parasites, and non-native bee species, being imported.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: I refer to the previous answer S6W-03362 on 22 October 2021 which details the guidance available on the Scottish Government and National Bee Unit websites, including changes in import conditions made since EU Exit: Importing bees into Scotland: guidance - gov…
25 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it allocated to the Islands Communities Fund, and how much the Fund has paid out.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Applicants to the Island Communities Fund have all been notified of the outcome of their application. I am delighted to confirm that this will deliver £2 million of ‘on-island’ capital investment for 29 successful island-based community groups and businesses,…
25 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide further funding similar to the Islands Communities Fund in the near future.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Island Communities Fund was announced in summer 2021 and closed on the 16 th of June 2021. We have recently notified applicants to the Island Communities Fund of the outcome of their application. Supporting island communities remains a Scottish Governmen…
22 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate housing shortages and rising housing costs.
21 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the registered suppliers of the R100 Broadband Voucher Scheme have confirmed that they are able to provide installations across all (a) areas in Shetland and (b) rural and island communities.
Answer · Kate Forbes: As of 23 September 2021, there are nine suppliers registered to the Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) who have indicated that they have delivered a commercial service to properties on Shetland. In total, there are currently 73 suppliers registered to …
6 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to supporting the creation of a strong evidence base regarding mitigation methods for offshore noise such as low-order deflagration, in order to help reduce any damage to marine species and ecosystems from the proposed expansion of offshore wind.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Marine Energy Research Programme (ScotMER), a Scottish Government initiative, is actively developing the evidence base required to facilitate the sustainable development of offshore wind. This programme works with key stakeholders and scientific …
3 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-01134 by Graeme Dey on 15 July 2021, whether it will provide an update on its position regarding the Island Communities Impact Assessment on Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s (HIAL) Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy, and whether ministers …
Answer · Graeme Dey: Modernisation and investment in Air Traffic Control is essential if we are to ensure safe, reliable and sustainable air services for the future in the Highlands and Islands. Ongoing implementation of the Air Traffic Management 2030 Strategy, including potenti…
1 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been undertaken to assess the suitability of COVID-19 vaccines for patients with autoimmune conditions.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Emerging data suggests that some individuals with suppressed immune systems may not mount a full immune response to COVID-19 vaccination. The multi-centred OCTAVE study led by colleagues from Glasgow University published their preliminary findings with wides…
18 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will prioritise non-domestic rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure industries after March 2022.
Answer · Tom Arthur: Scottish Government has a long-standing record of providing the most generous non-domestic rates regime in the UK and were the first Government in the UK to offer any extension to relief for the retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation sectors for 2021-22. …
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Gilead Sciences, which is a manufacturer of sacituzumab govitecan, also known as Trodelvy, to ensure that patients in Scotland are able to access this drug for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Scottish Government officials have had informal discussions with the manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, to provide early access to sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy ® ) on an individual patient case by case basis in line with standard processes for such circumstanc…