Paul Sweeney

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the time limit for potential judicial review regarding planning consent in Scotland is 12 weeks, in light of it reportedly being six weeks in England.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The law underpinning judicial review of administrative action in Scotland is devolved and within the control of the Scottish Parliament. Judicial review functions are within the framework of Scots administrative law, with the power held by the Court of Sessio…

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a national fire strategy standard for buildings over 60 metres in height.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government has published a range of fire safety guidance applicable to a wide range of premises types, including existing high rise domestic and existing non-residential buildings. Given the complex nature of individual buildings of a height over…

27 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the £14.2 million investment programme at Ferguson Marine will commence.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Budget: 2025-26 published on 4 December 2024 allocated £46.0 million of capital to Ferguson Marine for the financial year commencing 1 April 2025 (with details in Table 9.13: Ferguson Marine Spending Plans (Level 3).This allocation is desig…

23 Apr 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to any people in Glasgow who are at risk of losing their mental health support due to the reported reductions announced by the Integration Joint Board.

21 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36135 by Kate Forbes on 10 April 2025, whether it will approach the UK Government and BAE Systems regarding becoming a partner in the Type 26 Norway frigate campaign, in light of the potential industrial opportunity it presents for Scotland.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Public sources of information indicate that BAE Systems is among the contenders to supply new frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy. No discussions have taken place between BAE Systems, the UK Government and the Scottish Government on partnership in the Type …

20 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether taking assets owned by Petroineos Manufacturing Scotland Limited, including the Grangemouth refinery, Finnart Ocean Terminal and its two associated pipelines, into partial or full public ownership would fall within the devolved competence of the Scottish M…

Answer · Gillian Martin: Prior to the Refinery’s closure, we understood that significant financial investment would be required to retain refinery operations at Grangemouth. Noting the fiscal constraints within which Scottish Ministers are required to operate, such an intervent…

17 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to seek an equity share in the development of any of the nine projects identified by the Project Willow report for the industrial redevelopment of the Grangemouth refinery complex.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government’s immediate priority is to identify and attract investors that will seek to progress the outputs of Project Willow and other such propositions across the industrial cluster to ensure a sustainable future for industry in Grangemou…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with the board of Wood Group PLC to explore all alternative options to refinance the firm and prevent a takeover by the Dubai-based, Sidara.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Whilst the issue raised is a commercial matter for Wood Group and any prospective partner, the Scottish Government and Enterprise Agencies aim to work with businesses in Scotland, domestic and overseas owned, to ensure Scottish operations are not only secured…

15 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Glasgow Central Station low-level refurbishment works will commence.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: My officials confirmed with Network Rail that, taking account of available budgets, the refurbishment of Glasgow Central low-level platforms 16 and 17 will not take place in Railway funding Control Period 7 (CP7), which spans 2024-29. Network Rail will be res…

13 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Project Willow has examined the Aker Solutions study for the proposed transformation of Equinor Refining's 226,000-b/d refinery at Mongstad in Norway into a low-carbon industrial cluster equipped for production of blue hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Project Willow did not specifically examine the Aker Solutions study focussed on Equinor Refining’s Mongstad facility. However, both hydrogen for fuel switching and the development of sustainable aviation fuel (HEFA and e-fuels) are proposed pathways in…

13 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with Ineos to review the decision to close the Finnart Oil Terminal on the Firth of Clyde, including whether it will commission a feasibility study on the terminal on its potential to function (a) as a fuel import terminal and (b) with other potential industrial func…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government engages with both Ineos and Petroineos as a matter of course. We remain open to discussion on all commercial options for the future of the Finnart Terminal and would urge the present owners to engage constructively with any parties wit…

5 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask Historic Environment Scotland to undertake a study to designate important examples of early electricity generation and transmission infrastructure, in light of reports that some utility companies are destroying significant such infrastructure, such as G-route pylons i…

Answer · Angus Robertson: As the lead public body responsible for preserving, maintaining and promoting the historic environment Historic Environment Scotland will consider any application for designation in line with its published policy ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidan…

3 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether schedule 3 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 can be modified to ensure that Glasgow City Council's network of wholly and partly owned arms' length external organisations that provide services to and/or on behalf of the local authority are included as "relevant auth…

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Arms' Length External Organisations (ALEO) should mirror the Local Authority’s asset transfer policy and act within the spirit of the law. In addition to those bodies listed in Schedule 3 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, Scottish Mi…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any funds received by local authorities from the extended producer responsibility scheme will be used to reduce council tax bills and, if so, how this will be implemented.

Answer · Shona Robison: Council tax is a local tax, set and administered by individual local authorities, who had full flexibility in setting rates for 2025-26. The Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financi…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the requirements expected of local authorities are in return for the additional funds that they will receive under the extended producer responsibility scheme.

Answer · Gillian Martin: It has always been the Scottish Government’s intention that extended producer responsibility for packaging funding should support investment to improve recycling rates and reduce carbon emissions, especially during the early years of the scheme. Therefo…

2 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the funding received by local authorities under the extended producer responsibility scheme will be managed, and whether there are plans to pass on these funds to residents through reduced council tax bills and, if so, how this will be implemented.

Answer · Gillian Martin: Extended producer responsibility for packaging funding will be paid directly to local authorities by PackUK (the scheme administrator) and it will be for each local authority to decide how it manages this funding. Under the Verity House Agreement, local gover…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Historic Environment Scotland revise its policy to not normally list buildings that are subject to development proposals at an advanced stage, in light of reports of recent cases where this has been seen as counterproductive.

Answer · Angus Robertson: As detailed in its ‘Designation Policy and Selection Guidance’, Historic Environment Scotland aims to act proportionately within the Scottish Regulators Code of Practice.Although that means usually avoiding any unnecessary intervention in the plan…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Historic Environment Scotland (a) define what it means by “development proposals” and “development proposals at an advanced stage”, where these have been used as a reason for not proceeding with designation in instances where there are…

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Scottish Government delivers support for the historic environment through our sponsorship of Historic Environment Scotland, the lead public body responsible for preserving, maintaining and promoting the historic environment.Historic Environment Scotland h…

1 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will request that Historic Environment Scotland introduce a policy to recommend to planning authorities that they serve a building preservation notice at the outset of any instance where it has been requested to assess a building for designation but where that building may be …

Answer · Angus Robertson: The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 sets out that it is for planning authorities to issue a Building Preservation Notice, as such, any policy Historic Environment Scotland may introduce would be guidance only and would n…

31 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for the establishment of the online health visiting learning site outlined at Action 1.1 of Scotland's Health Visiting Action Plan 2025 - 2035.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Action 1:1 of our Health Visiting Action Plan 2025-2035, the establishment of an online health visiting site, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.

30 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement its enterprise agencies plan with Anduril Industries regarding it locating in Scotland its proposed factory and research and development site.

Answer · Kate Forbes: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise, I have asked its Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie to respond to you directly.

28 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding trade union recognition at the HMP Glasgow construction site.

Answer · Angela Constance: I have asked Teresa Medhurst, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. Her response is as follows:HMP Glasgow is a nationally important infrastructure project which is committed to working with, and employing, local people.Whilst this…

27 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council regarding funding the capital works necessary to fully reopen Whitehill Pool in Dennistoun.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government understands the important role that sport and leisure services play in improving people’s lives, and the physical, mental, and social health benefits they can bring.The Scottish Government recognises the financial challenges that…

26 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Veterens expects to attend the Forces Children Scotland event, Forces Children's Charter Roundtable, which is scheduled for 25 April 2025.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government want all children and young people to get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential, no matter their circumstances. As such we highly value the work of Forces Children Scotland in advocating for children and you…

26 Mar 2025 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will accelerate the full implementation of bus franchising powers in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

26 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any Barnett consequential funding arising from the Lower Thames Crossing project will be used to accelerate the development of the Clyde Metro project.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Development consent for the Lower Thames Crossing was granted by the UK Secretary for State for Transport on the 25 March 2025. The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer noted in a speech made on the 29 January 2025, that the UK Government was exploring private fina…

25 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what sub-contracting opportunities are contained in the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, as defined by section 24 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Sub-contracting arrangements within the Small Vessel Replacement Programme Phase One vessel contracts are ultimately determined by the main contractor and may reflect existing supply chain relationships. The wider programme of works to support the new vessel …

25 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what community benefit requirements have been included in the contract for the Small Vessel Replacement Programme under the terms of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: CMAL has confirmed that it included two strands of community benefit commitments in its contract with Remontowa. The first provides opportunity for three Scotland-based shipbuilding apprentices per vessel, 21 in total, to attend optimisation and sea trials fo…

20 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government and BAE Systems campaign for the Type 26 frigate to win the Norwegian Future Frigate competition, in light of the potential subcontracting opportunity for Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Limited.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Public sources of information indicate that BAE Systems is among the contenders to supply new frigates for the Royal Norwegian Navy. No discussions have taken place between BAE Systems and the Scottish Government on whether a successful tender would produce s…

19 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will undertake a feasibility study on emulating the Common User Facility (CUF) model at the Australian Marine Complex in Perth, Western Australia, and Osborne Naval Shipyard near Adelaide, South Australia, at the (a) Newark Shipyard facility, which is owned by the Scottish Min…

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government provides a range of support to shipbuilding, marine engineering, harbours and ports across Scotland, but has no plans to undertake a feasibility study to emulate a Common User Facility for shipyards in Australia and Scotland, as the sk…