Jackie Dunbar

16 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on efforts to recommence operations at Stoneywood paper mill in Aberdeen.

Answer · Neil Gray: My officials in Scottish Enterprise remain in regular contact with the Joint Administrators, Interpath Advisory, and are working with them to consider all viable options for the Stoneywood site in Aberdeen. The administration process continues to progress, a…

14 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on ScotRail fares for 2023.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government rightly made the decision to freeze fares as part of its response to the cost of living crisis. While this has now remained in place for around 18 months, it is simply no longer sustainable. From 3 July 2023, ScotRail fares will incre…

14 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 2022-23 official woodland creation statistics, to be published on 15 June 2023.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The statistics released today show that last year Scotland created 8,190 hectares of new woodland, with England creating 3,130, Wales 1,190 and Northern Ireland 450 hectares respectively. Throughout the whole of the UK, Scotland is outstripping other countrie…

8 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the implications for people in Scotland of Energy UK’s estimate that consumer energy debt across the UK is between £3.5 and £3.6 billion.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is fully aware of the impact that high energy prices are having upon many Scottish consumers. We estimate that from July to September 2023 there will be around 850,000 fuel poor households in Scotland which equates to 34% of all househ…

8 Jun 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact in Scotland of the end of the Energy Price Guarantee on 30 June 2023.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to the question S6W-19074 on 23 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-commi…

31 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how secondary school pupils in Aberdeen will be supported through the launch of ABZ Campus.

22 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many farmers and crofters it has supported this year through the Single Application Form.

15 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the role that it anticipates that the low carbon and renewables sector will play in the transition to net zero, including on any relevant discussions that took place at the recent All-Energy conference in Glasgow.

13 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what benefits the ACORN project may offer to the economy of north east Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Acorn storage project at St. Fergus is a vitally important part of a wider Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage opportunity in Scotland. Scottish Government economic scenario analysis shows CCUS would have a positive impact on the Scottish economy. In 2…

13 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed the ACORN project with the UK Government.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I most recently met with the UK Government Minister Andrew Bowie on 27 April regarding the Energy Bill, to discuss the enabling legislation required to deploy the Acorn project and to ensure this vital piece of legislation best reflects Scotland’s interests.

8 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to improve access to clinical trials for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Cancer Network is funded by the Scottish Government to increase, support and sustain clinical trial activity in cancer care within NHS Scotland. The fundamental aim of NRS Cancer is to support the recruitment of cancer patients…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to help households deal with increased energy bills.

Answer · Gillian Martin: While the powers to take meaningful action in regard to energy pricing sit with the UK Government, we are doing everything we can to support households with high energy bills. We recently tripled our Fuel Insecurity Fund to £30m for 2023-24, to support anyon…

4 May 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to support carbon capture utilisation and storage.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government remains fully committed to supporting carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) and we have set out a positive vision for this in our Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan. Since taking up office, I have held a roundtable …

24 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding projects in Scotland that will contribute to meeting net zero targets.

6 Apr 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to engage with the Scottish Connections international community and expand its work with Scottish diaspora networks.

Answer · Angus Robertson: Scotland is an open, connected and outward-looking country with a long and proud history of intellectual, cultural and economic exchange. The Programme for Government 2021-22 set out plans to “engage with our Scottish Connections international community and …

27 Mar 2023 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of the potential impact of the anticipated 1 April rise in energy bills on household finances in Scotland.

24 Mar 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its response to Environmental Standards Scotland’s improvement report following its investigation into air quality.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: I am pleased to inform Parliament that Scottish Government has today published its improvement plan for air quality. The improvement plan confirms that the Scottish Government welcomes and accepts all six of ESS’s recommendations. https://www.gov.scot/isbn…

22 Mar 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the Learning for Sustainability Action Plan in educational settings in the north east.

8 Mar 2023 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is for the migration strategy in an independent Scotland, including how it could address any workforce and recruitment challenges resulting from the withdrawal from the European Union.

1 Mar 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to propose the scheduling of time for a ministerial statement on compulsory sale orders. 

22 Feb 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress being made to ensure that domestic abuse legislation better reflects victims' experiences.

10 Feb 2023 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on efforts to recommence operations at Stoneywood paper mill in Aberdeen.

Answer · Ivan McKee: My officials in Scottish Enterprise remain in regular contact with the Joint Administrators and continue to work closely with them to help find a sustainable future for the Stoneywood site in Aberdeen. The administration process continues to progress and pri…

9 Feb 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress on the National Rail Conversation.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Last year I announced plans to hold a National Rail Conversation with the people of Scotland to seek their views on passenger rail services provided by Scotrail and the Caledonian Sleeper. The National Rail Conversation will also engage the views of regional …

13 Dec 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the finalised Hydrogen Action Plan.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Today the Scottish Government will publish its finalised Hydrogen Action Plan. The Hydrogen Action Plan sets out the strategic approach and actions required to support the development of the hydrogen economy in Scotland over the course of this Parliament. Th…

7 Dec 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the final report containing the recommendations of the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (STPR2) will be published, and what the next steps are.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The suite of final reports presenting the recommendations of the Second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) will be published on the Transport Scotland website on 8 December 2022. This represents a key milestone for strategic transport planning in Sco…

29 Nov 2022 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what response the constitution secretary has had from the UK Government to his recent letter calling for the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill to be withdrawn or significantly amended.

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Scotland’s universities regarding the efficacy and any limitations of the UK Government’s graduate visa in relation to addressing skills shortages.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government regularly engages with universities on matters impacting the sector. Whilst the reinstatement of the Graduate Route in 2021 was welcomed, it remains clear that the UK Government’s immigration policy does not address Scotland’s economi…

9 Nov 2022 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding removing the application fee and annual healthcare surcharge for graduate visa applicants in Scotland.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government strongly opposes the immigration health surcharge (IHS) and believes it should be removed, despite receiving £20.8 million in Barnett consequentials from it in 2018. Increasing the surcharge to £624 in 2018, more than three times the c…

27 Oct 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the Deputy First Minister’s announcement on 27 October 2022 that the terms of reference for the Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry will be amended, when this will take effect.

Answer · John Swinney: The Hon. Lord Brailsford replaces the Hon. Lady Poole as Chair of the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry today. The amended terms of reference also come into effect from today to further emphasise the expectation that the Inquiry will take a human rights-based approac…

25 Oct 2022 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with establishing a virtual energy agency.

Answer · Michael Matheson: A virtual agency has been established within Scottish Government and will be housed within the Directorate of Energy and Climate Change bringing together our existing heat and energy efficiency delivery programmes. The agency will work with our existing deliv…