Beatrice Wishart

15 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many properties have provided annual deer cull data to NatureScot in each of the past five years.

Answer · Lorna Slater: The number of properties that have provided annual deer cull data to NatureScot in each of the past five years is as follows: 2018-2019 2707 2019-2020 2286 2020-2021 2523 2021-2022 2627 2022-2023 2448      

6 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how much it has spent on the promotion of the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme to date, broken down by spend on (a) the national marketing campaign and (b) other costs.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: A national marketing campaign raising awareness and encouraging uptake for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme was undertaken in autumn 2022. PR and marketing activity was also undertaken during COP26 to promote the scheme ahead of its launch. The foll…

5 Dec 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22555 by Fiona Hyslop on 10 November 2023, whether it will provide an update on what date the Serco NorthLink Ferries booking system will open for bookings for dates beyond 31 March 2024.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Ministers have advised the Operators of both the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Service contracts that bookings can be opened beyond the end of March 2024. Operators are now working to open bookings as quickly as possible.

1 Nov 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as of 31 October 2023, how many (a) cards have been issued and (b) applications have been received through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As of the end of day 31 October 2023, there were 701,696 cardholders under the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme. Transport Scotland officials have worked to improve and develop reporting processes since the scheme launched, and as such now report on ca…

30 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Serco NorthLink Ferries booking system will open for bookings for dates beyond 31 March 2024.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I fully appreciate the need to get bookings released early so that businesses and individuals can plan ahead. The Scottish Government is aiming to confirm fares in the coming weeks to allow bookings to be opened beyond 31 March 2024.  

26 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many live homeless applications there were in each local authority area on Christmas Day in 2022, and how many (a) adults and (b) children these related to.

Answer · Paul McLennan: The following table gives the number of homelessness applications live as at 25 December 2022, by local authority and the associated number of (a) adults and (b) children.  Number of  Applications Adults Children Scotland 28,154 32,749 16,493 Aberdee…

24 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19204 by Mairi Gougeon on 21 June 2023, whether it will provide an update on the status of the public consultation on the Good Food Nation Plan.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The draft national Good Food Nation Plan is currently in the final stages of preparation and will be published shortly.    

17 Oct 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports the safety of Scotland’s fishermen when at sea.

9 Oct 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it currently provides for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes for asylum seekers and refugees.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone in Scotland whose first language is not English can contribute to Scotland’s future and the society they live in. Having support to learn English is key for many refugees and asylum seekers to com…

18 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the pilot scheme to remove peak fares on ScotRail, what consideration was given during the design of the pilot scheme to any impact of withdrawing super off-peak fares during the trial period.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Overall, ScotRail passengers will benefit from significant reduction in the average fare charge. Super off-peak journeys only account for 2.7 per cent of all journeys made on ScotRail services. The purpose of this trial is to establish impact on removing time…

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02115 by Jenni Minto on 19 April 2023, when it estimates that work will begin on the review of the NHS Scotland patient travel scheme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The comprehensive review of Patient Travel Guidance is a substantial exercise for the Scottish Government and NHS Boards, and, regrettably, a start date is not confirmed at this time. As we continue to prioritise the recovery of services, this important revi…

12 Sep 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of the Verity House Agreement mean in practice for the funding of Violence Against Women and Girls services at local level.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government and COSLA are co-owners of Equally Safe, Scotland’s strategy to eradicate Violence Against Women and Girls. We will continue this joint approach when considering the wide-ranging recommendations of the Independent Strategic Review of V…

16 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Northern Isles ferry service journey from Lerwick to Kirkwall, and in light of Transport Scotland being responsible for ensuring that any policy decision about service delivery is made taking full account of equality issues, including medical needs, what consideration has …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: National Concessionary Travel Scheme vouchers can currently only be used for cabins on overnight sailings. Concessionary Travel arrangements are being reviewed as part of the Fair Fares Review and Islands Connectivity Plan. The decision to remove shared cabi…

16 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the Transport Scotland document, Ferry Concession, Guidance Note for Operators, which states, "Single concession holder: - will be able to access at no charge a berth in a same sex cabin, either two or four berth", whether it will raise with Serco Northlink Ferries its current…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The decision to remove shared cabins was taken solely by NorthLink following their risk assessments. The Scottish Government notes concerns about the impact of the removal of shared cabins on the National Concessionary Travel Scheme entitlement and this is be…

10 Aug 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Northern Isles route between Aberdeen and Lerwick, whether it will provide a provisional timeline (a) from pre-build to full entry into service for new (i) passenger and (ii) freight vessels and (b) for any community engagement regarding vessel design and services to …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The pre consultation draft of the Islands Connectivity Plan Long Term Plan for Vessels and Ports, published in December 2022, indicates that the Northern Isles Ferry Service freight vessels are scheduled to be replaced and the passenger vessels project develo…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19328 by Richard Lochhead on 3 July 2023, whether every home and business in Scotland will have access to superfast broadband by March 2028, and, if this is not the case, whether the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) will continue beyond…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Through a combination of the R100 contracts, the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme and the commercial broadband market – including the emergence of technologies such as Low Earth Orbit satellite - every home and business across Scotland can access superf…

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average value has been of vouchers issued through the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS).

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Our latest figures show that a total of 3,047 vouchers have been paid out at an average cost of £1,858.99 per voucher. This consists of 1,079 interim vouchers at an average of £389.24 per voucher, and 1,968 main vouchers at an average of £2,884.81 per voucher.

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what further support will be provided for (a) homes and (b) businesses that are outside the scope of the main R100 programme, but have chosen not to apply for a Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) voucher due to the ongoing cost of a bespoke connection, the reported inability to eas…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Given the reserved nature of telecoms legislation, it is the responsibility of the UK Government to ensure that people across Scotland can access reliable broadband. Despite this, the Scottish Government has had to step in and our R100 programme is currently …

24 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many households, by R100 contract area, remain eligible for a Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme (SBVS) voucher, but have yet to make a claim.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As of 28 July 2023, a total of 65,602 properties in Scotland remain eligible for a voucher worth up to £5,000 through the R100 SBVS. That total is broken down by R100 contract area as follows: North – 31,104 Central – 29,550 South – 4,948 The R100 SBVS re…

19 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02399 by Gillian Martin on 21 June 2023, whether it plans to consider reforms that devolve the decisions of Grazings Committees to the local level.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The legal function of a grazing committee is to maintain the common grazing for the benefit of the crofters who share in it, and to manage the interests of those crofters. The management and control of common grazing land, where there are many inter-acting r…

19 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6O-02399 by Gillian Martin on 21 June 2023, what its proposed timescale is for introducing proposals for crofting law reform.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I am committed to reforming crofting law by 2026, however, a decision on the timing of a Crofting Bill will be taken by Cabinet in the context of setting the content of future legislative programmes in the normal way. The Crofting Bill Group is making good p…

19 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to give effect to the recommendations contained in its publication, The Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of Violence Against Women and Girls Services, published in June 2023.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government recognises that it will be necessary to undertake detailed analysis, including costing and cost-benefit analysis of this wide-ranging report before it is possible to make definitive statements about individual recommendations. A team i…

19 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the conclusions of the Independent Strategic Review of Funding and Commissioning of Violence Against Women and Girls Services.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government is absolutely clear that it is vital that funding works most effectively and efficiently to improve outcomes both for those using services and in the sphere of preventative action. We thank the Chair and Advisory Group for the their wo…

18 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what fund it has used in previous years to provide funding for the charity Autism Understanding Scotland.

Answer · Maree Todd: Funding for Autism Understanding Scotland has been provided from the Mental Health budget, with a proportion of this being issued via Inspiring Scotland’s Increasing Understanding of Autism Programme. In 2021-22 and 2022-23, the Scottish Government has inves…

18 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Scottish Government funding for the charity Autism Understanding Scotland for 2023-24 has reportedly been delayed, and when the charity will receive its funding for 2023-24.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government budget is confirmed on an annual basis, in line with UK Government budget announcements. The 2023-24 Mental Health budget has now been approved and we will shortly confirm funding awards. Autism Understanding Scotland are able to appl…

12 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it will give to extending the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme to include inter-island ferry travel, as reportedly called for in a motion passed by Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament at the July 2023 sitting in Orkney.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government published an Island Communities Impact Assessment of the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme on 14 December 2021 which concluded that ferry travel should not be included in the scheme, but that issues relating to ferry fa…

6 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support farmers and crofters in Shetland to undertake carbon audits, in light of reports that there are currently no accredited advisers based in Shetland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Officials confirm that there are FBAASSS advisors/ associates based in Shetland who are qualified to perform a Carbon Audit but also Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) has flexibility to allow land managers to complete a Carbon Audit template themselves,…

6 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to recruit and train carbon audit advisers in all local authorities to ensure that farmers and crofters receive advice from someone who has local knowledge and understanding.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: At this point there is no plan to recruit or train advisors to perform Carbon Audits as these are delivered by the private sector on a free competitive market basis, responding to demands from farmers and crofters.

6 Jul 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of a lack of accredited carbon audit advisers based in Shetland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: During the development of the Carbon Audit guidance, under Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF), early engagement with Agents and Lantra was conducted to ensure that the industry could start upskilling its network to meet the expected demand. As a result, …

27 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when work will begin on the next Northern Isles Ferry Services Contract.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The current Northern Isles Ferry Service contract is scheduled to expire 30 June 2028. Development of options for the future ferry services contract on the Northern Isles routes is scheduled to start in 2024.