Parliamentary questions
Ariane Burgess
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment in the Bute House Agreement to "support public sector bodies, as part of their statutory duty under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018, to identify and implement opportunities to increase tree cover on land they own an…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government, through its various public bodies is increasing woodland cover on the land that they own and manage and are looking for further opportunities. This includes the landscape scale native woodland creation work being explored by Forestry …
12 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered (a) temporarily and (b) permanently redesignating mid-market rent properties as properties for social rent, in light of the declared housing emergency and reports that more than 240,000 people were on social housing waiting lists in 2023.
Answer · Paul McLennan: While we have no such plans given the important role that homes for mid-market rent play in the wider housing system, we will continue to work across the Scottish Government and with local and UK Government to respond to the housing emergency and to deliver o…
12 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many mid-market rent properties are currently in the development pipeline, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) stage of development, for example, on-site, in planning, etc.
Answer · Paul McLennan: Local authorities as strategic housing and planning authorities are responsible for assessing affordable housing needs in their area and setting out their investment priorities in their Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs). These plans set out planned p…
12 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many mid-market rent properties have been built with Scottish Government funding in each local authority area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government publishes figures relating to the supply of affordable homes across Scotland, on a quarterly basis, which can be found online at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/housing-statistics-for-scotland-new-house-building/.The following table…
7 Aug 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on offering compensation to islanders using lifeline services, such as boats or airlines, when their trips are cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, and what measures it is taking to financially support island residents who need to attend NHS appointments on t…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No compensation is available, from CalMac Ferries or NorthLink Ferries, for islanders when their trip is cancelled.Airline passengers should expect air services to operate as scheduled. The aviation regulatory regime is Reserved to the UK Government and the S…
29 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its timescale is for reviewing the recommendations contained in the UK Animal Welfare Committee's update to the 2014 Farm Animal Welfare Committee's (FAWC) opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: We continue to consider the recommendations made by the UK Government's Animal Welfare Committee although do not have a timescale for completing our review. However, we are continuing to work with the industry to find ways of improving and safeguarding the we…
24 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on commissioning a review of climate risks to salmon farms, in light of reports suggesting that higher sea temperatures will have serious implications for the viability of these businesses, which could put jobs at risk.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government does not currently have any plans to commission a review of climate change risks to salmon farms, specifically in relation to higher sea temperatures. The Marine Directorate is currently collaborating with partners on a revision of the…
24 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reports that the salmon farm operator, Bakkafrost, is proposing an extension of its temporary closure of the Arnish Harvest Station and Marybank Processing Facility in Stornoway, putting around 80 employees at risk of redundancy.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The Scottish Government recognises the significant and wide-ranging impacts of the decision by Bakkafrost to temporarily close its Arnish Harvest Station and Marybank Processing Facility in Stornoway.I met with representatives of Bakkafrost Scotland on 12 Jul…
24 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on people in Scotland who are refugees, what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding applying the lessons learnt from the schemes to support people from Ukraine and explore ways to offer safe routes to others seeking sanctuary.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Safe and legal routes are crucial to enabling people to seek safety when forced to flee war and persecution. We will continue to engage with the UK Government on issues which impact people living in Scotland, including refugees, people seeking asylum and disp…
24 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on people in Scotland who are refugees, whether it has made representations to the UK Government to publish a national integration strategy that promotes more equal support for all displaced people and builds on learning across each of the four UK nation…
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: Scotland’s national refugee integration strategy has been in place for over a decade. In March 2024 the third New Scots refugee integration strategy was published. It is a UK-leading integration approach built on a partnership led by the Scottish Government, …
24 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help displaced people across the private rented sector.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-28627 on? 31 July 2024. All answers to Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/quest…
24 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on people in Scotland who are refugees, whether it has made representations to the UK Government to strengthen the Homes for Ukraine scheme in order to protect the safety and sustainability of sponsorship, as recommended by British Red Cross.
Answer · Kaukab Stewart: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the safety and wellbeing of displaced people from Ukraine and to providing opportunities to integrate and thrive in our communities for as long as Scotland is their home. We will continue to engage with the U…
17 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2024 within the next year, in light of reports that the order was based on a draft report whose authors stated that, for the data to have statistical significance, the study should be considered as p…
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2024 was laid on Thursday 11th January 2024 and the spawning closure will be in place 14 February to 30 April for 2024 and 2025, respectively. The study undertaken by the Scottish Oceans Institute …
9 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its webpage, fairdeliveries.scot, which was planned to provide an online data hub and interactive parcel delivery map and be updated on a monthly basis, is available, and, if this is not the case, what the reasons are for it not being available.
Answer · Ivan McKee: In August 2020, the Scottish Government launched an interactive website, fairdeliveries.scot, which provided users with information allowing them to measure the fairness of delivery pricing, improve transparency, and drive positive behavioural change from par…
9 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the eight action points in its Fairer Deliveries For All: An Action Plan.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Fairer Deliveries For All: An Action Plan was launched in November 2018, with a focus on tackling unfair parcel delivery practices, and understanding the root causes of over-charging for these services. The plan identified eight action points to be taken for…
3 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of all licences issued by NatureScot for the use of more than two dogs for a hunt, as provided for under section 4 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, broken down by the (a) geographical location of the area covered by each licence, (b) purpose of…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: All licences issued by NatureScot to date, for the use of more than two dogs for a hunt, as provided for under section 4 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, have been for preventing serious damage to livestock, woodlands, and crops. No licences have…
3 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many licences issued by NatureScot for the use of more than two dogs for a hunt, as provided for under section 4 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, have been in relation to a mounted hunt.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Licence applications to NatureScot, for the use of more than two dogs for a hunt, as provided for under section 4 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, only requires the details of the dog handler and any potential assistants. There is no requirement …
3 Jul 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many licences issued by NatureScot for the use of more than two dogs for a hunt, as provided for under section 4 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, have been followed by a spot check to ensure compliance with the licence conditions, and, for any instances where a spot chec…
Answer · Jim Fairlie: Compliance monitoring was carried out by NatureScot staff on two licences issued for the use of more than two or more dogs, as provided for under section 4 of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023. On both occasions, NatureScot staff were content in the …
26 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support housing associations to retrofit their housing stocks, with the aim of reducing fuel poverty, lowering energy consumption and preventing the occurrence of mould, and how it plans to ensure that any measures are implemented effectively.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government is supporting housing associations to retrofit their housing stock through the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund. We are making available up to £200m this Parliamentary Session to support clean heat and energy efficiency projects in so…
26 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to ensure that local authorities provide adequate support to pupils and students with additional support needs in order to prevent the need for parents to appeal to the additional support needs tribunal, particularly in light of the provisions of the United …
Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Additional Support for Learning Code of Practice is statutory guidance which explains the duties on education authorities and other agencies to support children’s and young people’s learning. It provides guidance on the provisions of the Education (Additi…
19 Jun 2024 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the potential impact on the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme of the roll-out of BT’s Digital Voice to rural and island areas in Scotland, in particular in relation to areas without adequate mobile phone provis…
18 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Royal Mail and (b) other delivery companies regarding the additional cost of parcel delivery in the Highlands and Islands region, and what measures are being implemented to ensure that residents in these areas are not disproportionately affected by (i…
Answer · Ivan McKee: The Royal Mail and postal delivery services are reserved matters. Postal delivery companies are commercial organisations, operating in an unregulated market. The Scottish Government has long called for an end to unfair delivery charges, but only the UK Gover…
11 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the deadline is for relevant authorities to publish a Good Food Nation plan.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 requires relevant authorities to publish a Good Food Nation Plan within 12 months of the date that Section 10 of the Act comes into force. It is the Scottish Government’s intention to commence this part of the legislat…
10 Jun 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on its climate change policies and targets, how ministers plan to take account of the advisory opinion delivered by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on 21 May 2024 on the request submitted to the tribunal by the Commission of Small Island States on …
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government welcomes the advisory opinion and the clarity that it provides on the specific obligations of State Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in relation to climate change and ocean acidification. The rel…
5 Jun 2024 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider increasing funding for empty homes officers, in light of the First Minister’s reported statement that empty homes are key to tackling the housing emergency.
30 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is still committed to its policy to promote the translocation of beavers outside of their current range, to reduce or avoid negative impacts and help reintroduce beavers to appropriate areas of the country.
Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government is committed to expanding the range of beavers in Scotland to maximise the environmental, social and economic benefits that they can bring in consultation with local communities and land managers. We appreciate that beavers can have n…
30 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to NatureScot's reported view that the community engagement process carried out by Trees for Life and Forestry Land Scotland regarding the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal was above and beyond what is required.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government are aware there has been significant and extended community engagement regarding the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal, but as NatureScot have not received an application, they have not yet been able to form an opinion of the c…
28 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fish farms have been allowed to continue using the pesticide, emamectin benzoate, at the level set by the 2017 environmental quality standard (EQS), in light of the subsequent interim EQS applying only to new and expanded fish farms.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: All farms that discharge emamectin benzoate are being regulated against the previous environmental standard of 763 ng/kg of wet weight sediment or against the revised environmental standard recommended by UKTAG of 272 ng/kg of dry weight sediment. Farms auth…
28 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish an analysis of its consultation on the implementation timescales for a new environmental quality standard (EQS) for emamectin benzoate, as used in fish farms, which closed on 24 July 2023.
Answer · Mairi McAllan: The Scottish Government is currently considering the outcome of the consultation and will publish an analysis in due course.
28 May 2024 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland and (b) ScotRail regarding the delivery of hourly train services between Inverness and Aberdeen, as committed to in the first Strategic Transport Projects Review in 2009 and which has not been included in the new train timeta…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: My officials at Transport Scotland meet with ScotRail and Scottish Rail Holdings regularly to discuss various matters. ScotRail keeps its services under constant review to ensure they best meet the passenger demand. Since the publication of the 2009 Strategi…