Beatrice Wishart

13 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-16933 by Kevin Stewart on 2 May 2023, what update it has received from Police Scotland regarding delivery of the National Dashcam Safety Portal.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Police Scotland provided an update on the National Dashcam Safety Portal (NDSP) to officials at the Strategic Partnership Board meeting on 5 June, the highest tier to the Road Safety Framework to 2030 governance structure. Prior to this, officials received a…

8 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-18017 by Kevin Stewart on 25 May 2023, for what reason it has delayed the publication of the Fair Fares Review to the end of 2023, and whether it can provide assurance that the Fair Fares Review will be published by this new deadline.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Fair Fares Review is progressing well, with work underway with stakeholders and delivery partners to explore the challenges and opportunities facing our public transport system. Also, developing and assessing potential options for change that ensure a sus…

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs in Scotland are able to assess seafarers for an (a) ENG1 and b) ML5 medical certificate, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many GPs in Scotland are able to assess seafarers for an (a) ENG1 and b) ML5 medical certificate, broken down by NHS board. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is a UK Government agency.

7 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many Maritime and Coastguard Agency approved medical assessors there are in Scotland, who are able to assess seafarers for an ML5 certificate, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how many Maritime and Coastguard Agency approved medical assessors there are in Scotland, who are able to assess seafarers for an ML5 certificate, broken down by NHS board. The Maritime and Coastguard Agenc…

6 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Levelling Up funding for Scotland's islands.

2 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what planning rules are in place, relating to proximity to communities and individual dwellings, for the siting of future wind farm developments.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: All planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), adopted in February this year, forms part of the statutory development plan alongsid…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the Minister for Transport's concerns about strangers sharing cabins on the Serco NorthLink Ferries, what consideration it has given to obtaining vessels with single occupancy cabins.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CMAL has appointed naval architects Leadship to carry out future vessel feasibility studies and concept designs which will include passenger cabin options. As the project progresses, engagement events will be held which will ensure that all key stakeholders …

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider making freight rates on Serco NorthLink Ferries available in advance on a rolling basis.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18527 on 15 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17312 by Kevin Stewart on 25 April 2023, what progress it has made towards confirming fares for Serco NorthLink Ferries, and whether it will provide an update on when bookings will be opened for dates beyond 30 September 2023.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18527 on 15 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in place to ensure sufficient freight capacity on Serco NorthLink Ferries during the autumn 2023 livestock sales season.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The contract for operating services to the Northern Isles lies with Serco NorthLink Ferries (SNF). The responsibility and expertise for operational decisions rightly sits with them. As has been the case in previous years, SNF, is currently forecasting require…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17312 by Kevin Stewart on 25 April 2023, whether it will consider opening Serco NorthLink Ferries for rolling bookings beyond 30 September 2023 now, and highlighting to travellers that the fares are not fixed and may increase, with payment taken at …

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18527 on 15 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when freight rates on Serco NorthLink Ferries, for dates beyond 30 September 2023, will be made available.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Fares on the Northern Isles Ferry Services network have been frozen until the end of September 2023 to help combat the ongoing cost of living crisis facing communities across Scotland. I appreciate the need to get bookings released so that businesses and ind…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently on the waiting list for a cataract operation within NHS Shetland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Public Health Scotland (PHS) uses the national waiting times warehouse to collect electronic patient records. This data source can be used routinely to identify the specialty of treatment. However, although the records are designed to collect coded informatio…

25 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with NHS Shetland regarding the reported backlog of ophthalmic surgery, including cataract operations, for patients resident in Shetland, and what steps are being taken to reduce waiting times.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government are in regular contact with NHS Shetland to identify short term options and sustainable long-term solutions to support ophthalmic surgery, including cataract operations, across the North of Scotland. We are working with all NHS Boards…

9 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the investigation by the BBC programme, Panorama, into pregnancy advice centres outside the NHS giving misleading information about abortion, which found that more than a third of these services gave misleading medical information or unethical advice, and sometimes both, wha…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government believes all women in Scotland should be able to access timely abortion care without judgment, should they require it. We would encourage all women wanting advice on an abortion or considering options for their pregnancy to contact the…

9 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it used in relation to its decision not to reinstate shared cabins on the Aberdeen-Kirkwall-Lerwick NorthLink ferry route following the lifting of all of its COVID-19 restrictions and the statement by the World Health Organization that COVID-19 is no longer a global health …

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government did not make a decision on the re-instatement of shared cabins. This decision was taken by the ferry operator following their own internal review.

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-12519 and S6W12628 by Ivan McKee on 5 December 2022, as part of its role in ensuring that submarine cables are protected and in engaging with affected stakeholders, what assessment it has made of the reported claim that the major communications…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Telecommunications is reserved to the UK Government. Security and resilience of sub sea telecommunication cables, as well as the whole network, is therefore UKG responsibility. UKG are aware of the incident and the cause. As noted in the responses to your pre…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children leave secondary school without having received swimming lessons in the previous two years of their learning.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17621 on 17 May 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it plans to offer schools in order to provide swimming lessons.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government have been working with Scottish Swimming, Education Scotland, sport scotland and Scottish Water to develop interventions and approaches to provide opportunities for children to become confident, safer and competent swimmers. sport sco…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what water safety teaching it requires of schools in coastal and island areas.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There is no mandatory curriculum within Scottish schools and local authorities have the flexibility to decide upon the content of their lessons at the local level taking account of the needs and circumstances of children and young people in attendance at thei…

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making the provision of swimming lessons to children a statutory requirement.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: There is no mandatory curriculum within Scottish schools. Local authorities have the flexibility to decide upon the content of their lessons, taking account of the needs and circumstances of children and young people in attendance at their schools. This also …

26 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many children over the past five years have received swimming lessons through physical education classes at school.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The information you have requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people receive at least two hours of physical education per school week in primary schools, and …

17 Apr 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what urgent action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that everyone who is eligible for any cancer testing and screening programme is receiving their invitation on time, in light of recent reports that 13,000 women who were mistakenly removed from the national database are being offe…

17 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11562 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2022, what progress it has made on assessing whether the timing of the opening of the booking system for Serco NorthLink Ferries can be brought forward to an earlier date in the year.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Following discussions with the operator, Serco NorthLink Ferries, it was clear that the associated works required in order to change the date mid-contract would have a cost and impact to all customers. We will however seek to revert to the previous date that…

17 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Serco NorthLink Ferries booking system will open for bookings for dates beyond 30 September 2023.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Fares on the Northern Isles Ferry Services network have been frozen until the end of September 2023 to help combat the ongoing cost crisis facing communities across Scotland. I appreciate the need to get bookings released so that businesses and individuals c…

6 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it can provide to local authorities to accelerate any construction of pavement infrastructure.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Local authorities have a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to manage and maintain local roads and pavements in their area. The vast majority of funding to local authorities from the Scottish Government is provided via a block grant and we do not stipu…

6 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what financial support it (a) is providing in 2023-24 and (b) will provide in each of the next five years, to local authorities for active travel.  

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Active Travel budget for 2023-24 is £189 million to deliver a range of infrastructure, behaviour change and access to bikes programmes. Local authorities are the predominant recipients of active travel related funding, either directly or through delivery …

6 Apr 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to (a) rural and (b) island areas to support active travel.

Answer · Patrick Harvie: The Scottish Government budget for 2023-24 is £189.2 million as we progress towards our commitment to invest at least £320 million or 10% of the transport budget by 2024-25. This year’s budget includes the Cycling Walking Safer Routes (CWSR) grant of £35 mill…

22 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, when it next negotiates NHS board terms and conditions with unions and staff representatives, whether it will take into account the Miscarriage Association's standards regarding pregnancy loss and miscarriage leave, in order to enable NHS boards to sign the Miscarriage Association's Pre…

Answer · Michael Matheson: We are fully committed through our employment policies and procedures to support employees who experience pregnancy loss at any stage of pregnancy, and our current package of support measures fully reflect the spirit and intent of the Pregnancy Loss Pledge. T…

22 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any funding remains available, through the Scottish 4G Infill Programme, that could be used to site new masts or provide upgrades to the capacity of existing sites.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I can confirm that funding for the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI) programme is fully committed to building and activating 55 masts across Scotland and that no remaining funding is available.