Beatrice Wishart

22 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on proposals to locate two new 4G masts in Shetland, at sites in Skerries and Foula, as part of the Scottish 4G Infill Programme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We can confirm that build work for the Scottish 4G Infill programme masts at both Skerries and Foula (sites named Bruray and Ham respectively) is now complete and activation is currently expected to take place by end of July 2023.    

13 Mar 2023 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people it estimates have not taken up the free bus pass.

1 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available from NHS Scotland for patients in island areas who are required to make multiple journeys to the mainland to receive vaccinations for overseas travel.

Answer · Maree Todd: NHS Shetland, NHS Western Isles and NHS Orkney are the three main Health Boards covering island areas. These Health Boards offer NHS-funded travel vaccination services within their own Health Board area, therefore there would be no requirement to travel to th…

1 Mar 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available from NHS (a) Western Isles and (b) Orkney, (i) through the NHS board directly and (ii) in conjunction with mainland NHS boards, for patients requiring overseas travel vaccinations.

Answer · Maree Todd: Travel vaccinations in the Western Isles and Orkney are currently offered by GPs in those Health Boards, therefore there is not a need to support travel to the mainland.  

28 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing an island-weighting allowance for island higher education institutions, to acknowledge any higher operating costs of island establishments, compared with their mainland Scotland counterparts.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The SFC’s teaching funding allocation to the Highlands and Islands (H&I) incorporates enhanced funding in recognition of the additional costs associated with delivery in such areas. This amounts to approximately 50% more funding than that provided for city co…

27 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how its pilot scheme to remove peak rail fares will operate, and when it will publish the full details of the scheme.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The ScotRail peak fares pilot is scheduled to be undertaken in the next financial year (2023-2024). Work on the precise methodology and design is ongoing with Transport Scotland officials working closely with Scottish Rail Holdings (SRH) and ScotRail to deri…

27 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans the Scottish Government has regarding the cost of rail fares from March 2023, following the end of the rail fares freeze that was announced by the First Minister on 6 September 2022.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government has a strong record of maintaining lower rail fares compared to the rest of the UK, with our commitment to this shown by the rail fares freeze in our recent Programme for Government. The decision was taken last year to freeze ScotRail…

27 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence-based appraisals of fixed links as solutions to strategic problems were carried out in preparation of Strategic Transport Projects Review 2.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The outcomes of the transport appraisal that supported second Strategic Transport Projects Review(STPR2), was published on the 8 December 2022 on the Transport Scotland website. The appraisal was conducted in several phases which involved ongoing stakeholder…

15 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the avian flu virus, what actions are being taken to monitor (a) it, (b) how and where it is changing and (c) the population being affected, in light of reports of avian flu being detected in non-avian wild mammals.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: In addition to statutory surveillance for Avian Influenza in poultry and wild birds, he Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) conducts surveillance in wild mammals at risk of being infected with the avian virus on behalf of the Scottish Government. In the eve…

15 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in place in the event of the avian flu virus infecting human populations, in light of reports of avian flu being detected in non-avian wild mammals.

Answer · Maree Todd: Avian influenza viruses remain predominantly a pathogen that affects birds with a small number of cases of mammals being infected worldwide. Evidence of mammal-to-mammal transmission in the wild remains very limited and the available genomic surveillance data…

3 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Fair Fares Review will be published.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: We expect the Fair Fares Review to be published by Summer 2023, this will include the launch of a public consultation on our Draft Vision for Public Transport and an Action Plan setting our priorities for the future of public transport. The consultation will …

2 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to ensure that businesses can offer apprenticeships to fulfil any future demand for maritime roles, including skilled offshore wind, workboat, aquaculture and marine construction roles.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-14814 on 7 March 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…

2 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support maritime (a) apprenticeships and (b) training schemes for people seeking a career in rapidly expanding sectors such as windfarms, aquaculture and marine construction projects.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Maritime sector is supported by a range of apprenticeships. Recent employer led developments include a full review of Aquaculture provision and Engineering Apprenticeships to ensure that employers have skills programmes which support their current and eme…

27 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many operators of vessels have been prosecuted for turning off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) in waters around (a) Scotland and (b) Shetland in each of the last five years.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to the use of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) on board vessels operating in Scottish waters, this lies with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

17 Jan 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with NHS Shetland to address waiting times for NHS dentistry and orthodontic treatment.

10 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update regarding its work on the Digital Identity Scotland (DIS) Programme.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government is delivering a digital identity service which aims to improve people’s access to digital public services by providing them with a safe, secure, easy and reusable way to prove who they are or that they are eligible for a public service…

10 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme, how many (a) cards were issued and (b) new applications were received on (i) 1 September 2022 and (ii) 1 January 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: As of the end of day 29th August 2022 there were a total of 499,822 National Entitlement Cards issued for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme. This is the closest data available for 1 September 2022. As of the end of day 2 January 2023 there were a tot…

5 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-11067 by Maree Todd on 3 October 2022, when the updated Scottish Good Practice Statement incorporating the key changes in practice from the NICE guideline will be published on the Scottish Government's website.

Answer · Maree Todd: We are working to publish the updated Scottish Good Practice Statement as soon as possible, and anticipate that it will be published by the end of February 2023.

5 Jan 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12743 by Jenny Gilruth on 23 December 2022, what progress has been made on confirming Northern Isles Ferry Services fares and opening Serco NorthLink Ferries bookings for dates beyond 31 March 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: I announced on 15 January that fares on the Northern Isles and Clyde & Hebrides ferry networks will be frozen for six months. Building on the 3 month freeze I announced in early November, ticket prices will be held at current levels until the end of Septembe…

22 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) the UK Government and (b) mobile network operators about improving the resilience of mobile network mast infrastructure in Scotland in order to support the continuation of vital communication links during power outages and other major incidents.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications network is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Government works closely with UK Government, industry, Ofcom and other Devolved Administrations through the Electronic Communications – Resilien…

12 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the energy sector regarding the creation of a local tariff for Shetland to help any households that are currently facing fuel poverty.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Energy pricing and the powers to create local tariffs are reserved to the UK Government. However, we will continue to engage with BEIS about its Energy Price Guarantee review for April 2024 and the consideration of social tariffs for domestic consumers, espec…

12 Dec 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the energy sector regarding the creation of local tariffs to provide cheaper energy to (a) households and (b) businesses to help people in areas across Scotland with high levels of fuel poverty.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-13195 on 21 December 2022. 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-commit…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the target timescale is for making payments under the Low Carbon Transport Business Loan scheme, and what (a) number and (b) percentage of payments have met this target, in each of the last three years.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Low Carbon Transport Loan, launched in 2011, provides interest free loans to help households and businesses purchase electric vehicles. Since its launch, the scheme has invested over £176 million, helped purchase 6,148 low emission vehicles, and saved ove…

29 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Serco NorthLink Ferries booking system will open for bookings for dates beyond 31 March 2023.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Fares on the Northern Isles Ferry Services network have been frozen until the end of March 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 can p…

24 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the major telecommunications outage on Shetland on 20 October 2022 reportedly being caused by a fishing trawler hitting the primary telecommunications cable between the Scottish mainland and Shetland, whether it believes this to be the case, and if so, whether it (a) is able t…

Answer · Ivan McKee: To answer both parts of your question: The Scottish Government received confirmation from the Maritime Coastguard Agency on 20 October 2022 that the vessel which caused damage to the primary telecommunications feeding Shetland had been identified and is a UK …

22 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the major telecommunications outage on Shetland on 20 October 2022 reportedly being caused by a fishing trawler hitting the primary telecommunications cable between the Scottish mainland and Shetland, what evidence it has that the damage was caused in this way; whether it will…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government received confirmation from the Maritime Coastguard Agency on 20 October 2022 that a UK registered fishing vessel was the cause of damage to the subsea cable affecting telecommunications on Shetland.

17 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the encashment of the monthly prepayment meter vouchers provided under the Energy Bills Support Scheme, what discussions it is having with the UK Government and energy suppliers regarding the impact in Scotland of the reported issue that some systems only allow for top-up…

Answer · Michael Matheson: Energy suppliers and advice services operating in Scotland have advised us in the course of our regular engagement that electric prepayment meters have a minimum top up amount of £5. The maximum credit a traditional (non-smart) prepayment meter can hold is £2…

17 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the encashment of the monthly prepayment meter vouchers provided under the Energy Bills Support Scheme, what action it can take to encourage energy suppliers to allow encashment of vouchers using PayZone, via the Post Office network, in order to benefit rural and islands …

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to my answer to the question S6W-12401 on 7 December 2022 . 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-com…

17 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the encashment of the monthly prepayment meter vouchers provided under the Energy Bills Support Scheme, what support can be provided to any people in rural and island areas in Scotland who find that their vouchers have diminished in value due to the costs incurred by trav…

Answer · Michael Matheson: While the Scottish Government recognises that many people in rural and island communities already experience higher costs of living compared to those living in more central areas, the roll out of the Energy Bills Support Scheme is a matter for the UK Governme…

17 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the encashment of the monthly prepayment meter vouchers provided under the Energy Bills Support Scheme, whether it is aware that some systems only allow for top-up of prepayment meters in £5 increments, and, if so, what its position is on this matter regarding any impact …

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to my answer to the question S6W-12400 on 7 December 2022. 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-comm…