Stephen Kerr

9 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) civil servants it employs and (b) offices it operates, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Kate Forbes: At 31st March 2021 there were 7816 directly employed staff within the core Scottish Government and 52 operated offices, however all staff continued to work from home where possible during this time. Headcount and number of offices split by local authority ar…

9 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what updates are provided for people on waiting lists for suicide prevention treatment.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The current national waiting times statistics for CAMHS and Psychological Therapies do not provide a breakdown of who is waiting for specific types of treatment. Therefore, we are unable to report on specific waits for suicide prevention treatments. A patien…

8 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether people who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine can find out whether their dose was manufactured in India.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactures both Vaxzevria and Covishield, both branded vaccines are exactly the same COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine. All SII-made doses approved by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and administere…

8 Jul 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when 5 to 18-year-olds will begin to have access to free bus travel through the National Entitlement Card.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Following agreement with the Improvement Service, the National Entitlement Card Programme Office and Young Scot, who are responsible for handling applications for and issuing the National Entitlement Cards on which the national concessionary travel schemes de…

30 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Forth Valley regarding the most recent missed targets for cancer diagnosis.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: While it is reassuring that, during a further national COVID-19 lockdown in Q1 2021, once a decision to treat was made, cancer patients in NHS Forth Valley waited on average four days for treatment. However, the 62 day standard remains challenged and while th…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to improve its relationship with the business community.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government regularly engages with the business community. The main six business organisations – Scottish Chambers, Scottish Council for Development and Industry, CBI Scotland, Federation of Small Business, Institute of Directors and Scottish Fina…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much financial support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have received in each year since 2017.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government provides a significant amount of financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises in Scotland, notably through our enterprise agencies. The following table provides information on funding predominantly aimed at businesses with …

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a Scottish equivalent of United Kingdom Government Investments (UKGI).

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Permanent Secretary wrote to the Public Audit and Post-Legislative Scrutiny Committee on 19 February 2021 on how the Scottish Government is strengthening its approach to providing support and managing its on-going interests in businesses. Please find a li…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to align Scottish Enterprise resources more closely at a regional level.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government has made clear its expectation that Scottish Enterprise will move towards a more regionally, place focussed model in strategic guidance issued to the agency. Scottish Enterprise has, in response, aligned resources to a more regionally-…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many mobile telephony masts have been installed to improve mobile connectivity in each year since 2016.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Rollout of mobile telecommunications infrastructure is predominantly led by commercial operators. The Scottish Government neither holds nor receives data on how many commercial mobile telephony masts have been installed.. Through the Scottish 4G Infill (S4GI…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last discussed with Ofgem changing planning rules to enhance local distribution power networks and civil works.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has not had any recent conversations with Ofgem regarding the planning rules for local distribution power networks. The planning process requires network operators to apply to Scottish Ministers under Section 37 of the Electricity Act…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on afforestation in each year since 2016.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: The amount spent by the Scottish Government on woodland creation in the years 2016-2021 is set out in the following table: Year Total Expenditure (£M)   2016-17   30.1   2017-18   38.2   2018-19   51.1   2019-20   52.2   2020-21   To be …

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many flood defence schemes have been (a) commissioned and (b) completed since 2016.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Flood Risk Management Strategies were published by SEPA in 2015. These set out proposals for 42 flood protection schemes which were prioritised according to their cost benefit ratio and taking into account a series of additional criteria, encompassing the env…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding the implementation of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Reducing flood risk is a priority for this Government and we will continue to support authorities to deliver actions that protect our communities. The Scottish Government engages regularly with local authorities, including Falkirk Council, on a wide range of …

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in the roll-out of new fibre infrastructure in each year since 2016.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Delivery of new fibre infrastructure is a key component part of a number of Scottish Government digital infrastructure programmes. It is therefore not possible to single out the costs solely attributed to fibre infrastructure. The level of capital investment…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on peatland restoration in each year since 2016.

Answer · Mairi McAllan: Since 2016, the Scottish Government has invested around £39 million in peatland restoration through the Peatland Action programme (delivered by NatureScot) and the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme under the Scottish Rural Development Programme. The annual figu…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to improve data centre capacity.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government, working with Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) and other partners, developed a vision and action plan to support sustainable, green datacentres, terrestrial digital connectivity and international subsea fibre connectivity in Scotland. Sco…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in digital infrastructure in each year since 2016.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The level of capital investment in digital infrastructure in each financial year since 2015-16 is provided in the following table: Financial Year Total Spend (£m) 2015-16 £68.9 2016-17 £54.9 2017-18 £66.2 2018-19 £27.1 2019-20 £18.0 2020-21 £21.…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its key policy, planning and consenting frameworks to ensure that they are administered through processes that are efficient, flexible and outcome-focussed.

Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government is progressing wide reform of the planning system, including implementation of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019; preparation of Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework; a review of permitted development rights and a programme of …

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions it has met each local authority to discuss the implementation of the Climate Change Plan 2018-2032.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government engages with local authorities on a range of issues related to climate change on a regular basis, including local authority target setting and reporting requirements, and the Climate Change Plan and Climate Change Plan update. This eng…

23 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has had with (a) Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, and (b) the Lancashire Constabulary in advance of the travel ban between Scotland and Blackburn with Darwen being put in place.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Changes to travel restrictions affecting Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council were notified to Parliament by answer to question S6W-00162 on 21 May 2021, and announced to businesses and the public through a media briefing by the First Minister, a news releas…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has made available for the national suicide prevention strategy, and what future funding is planned.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Our Suicide Prevention Action Plan ‘Every Life Matters’ was launched in August 2018 with £3 million funding available to support implementation over the last Parliamentary term. For 2021-22, £1.4 million is available to support suicide prevention. We have com…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what studies it has commissioned regarding the future financial viability of Ferguson Marine.

Answer · Kate Forbes: In October 2019 PWC provided support and detailed analysis on a full range of options for Ferguson Marine. Scottish Ministers considered the evidence and on that basis the Scottish Government stepped in to take ownership, to ensure a viable future for the yar…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to remove or reduce the COVID-19 restrictions for weddings.

Answer · Ash Denham: On 22 June, the First Minister announced changes which will help benefit weddings. In particular, suppliers employed by the couple marrying or registering their civil partnership no longer count towards the numerical caps and live entertainment is now allowed…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government's work on EU research funding schemes, what discussions it had with UK ministers prior to setting up the Saltire Research Awards.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: At the start of 2021, the Scottish Government held several discussions with the UK Government and the other Devolved Administrations regarding a joint approach to encourage participation in Horizon Europe by UK organisations. As part of these, UK Government o…

18 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to move any of its civil service jobs from (a) Edinburgh and (b) Glasgow to other parts of the country.

Answer · Angus Robertson: A number civil service jobs in the Scottish Government and associated Agencies and bodies are already undertaken outwith Edinburgh and Glasgow. For example, Social Security Scotland has an office in Dundee, Scottish Public Pension Agency and Accountant in Ban…

11 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has initiated with the UK Department for International Trade, ahead of proposed trade deals.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Government has initiated a range of discussions with the UK Department for International Trade about Scotland’s role in the development of future UK trade arrangements, as set out in our paper of that name published in August 2018. We have also u…

11 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) has taken and (b) is planning to take to tackle misinformation relating to COVID-19.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Since the start of the pandemic the Scottish Government has made considerable investment in tackling misinformation through a number of channels. Our approach based on behavioural insight is not to directly challenge misinformation as this provides further ex…

11 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will work with the UK Government to continue to expand the fleet of electric buses in Scotland.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The regulation of the provision and funding of bus services in Scotland is largely devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Transport Scotland liaises on a regular basis with the Department for Transport, and a Four Nations Green Bus Group has recently been conve…

7 Jun 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has determined a different appropriate social-distancing limit in places of worship from that in the hospitality sector, and what differences there were in the risk assessments used in each case to reach this position.

Answer · John Swinney: COVID-19 is first and foremost a public health crisis, and the measures to combat it have been necessary to save lives. But those measures also cause harm, including for our Faith and Belief Communities. We know that the virus spreads between people and we’r…