Parliamentary questions
Katy Clark
746 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its position stated in the procurement notice issued to local government in 2014 that it "strongly discourages trade with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories", whether this remains its position.
Answer · Ivan McKee: Yes, this remains Scottish Government position. We strongly discourage trade with all illegal settlements, including those in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
10 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances it would consider exploring municipal ownership of Ardrossan Harbour with North Ayrshire Council.
Answer · Graeme Dey: This would be a matter for North Ayrshire Council to consider. However we continue to work closely with North Ayrshire Council to secure an appropriate outcome for Ardrossan.
10 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on municipal ownership of ports.
Answer · Graeme Dey: There are a large number of ports and harbours around the Scottish coast ranging in size from large commercial ports to local piers, slipways and marinas. Ownership models include harbour trusts, privately owned harbours, local authority ownership and harbour…
10 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last corresponded with Peel Ports regarding commercial and grant terms for the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Transport Scotland have ongoing engagement with Peel Ports regarding Ardrossan Harbour re-development and on 12 July 2021 wrote to Peel Ports Group regarding the potential commercial terms of the project. Officials are currently considering the response recei…
10 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contingency plans are in place in the event that commercial and grant terms for the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment are not agreed with Peel Ports before September 2022.
Answer · Graeme Dey: We continue to engage with Peel Ports; and remain committed to finding a solution at Ardrossan that delivers value for money and provides facilities that best meets the needs of ferry users and vessel operations.
7 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle nuisance calls.
Answer · Tom Arthur: The regulation of nuisance calls and texts is reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Government is committed to doing all it can to tackle this issue – and the scams that can underpin them – using our devolved powers. Many of the proposed actions from t…
7 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to measure progress on the implementation of the action plan set out in the response to the Nuisance Calls Commission in 2017.
Answer · Tom Arthur: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-02838 on 21 September 2021. 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…
2 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support and resources are being made available to local authorities to help them adapt their services in line with the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act 2015.
Answer · Clare Haughey: Local authorities received funding amounting to £21,000 per authority over 4 years from 2018 to 2021, as part of the Local Government Finance Resettlement, to facilitate on-going dialogue with their local BSL-using community to support the creation of their f…
2 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made towards implementing the British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government intends to publish the British Sign Language (BSL) Progress Report by the end of October 2021, which will outline progress being made towards implementing the BSL National Plan.
2 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been carried out of legislative competence regarding corporate homicide and how this interacts with the Health and Safety etc. Act 1974.
Answer · Keith Brown: The existing law in this area operates within reserved legislation such as the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 and the Health and Safety etc. Act 1974. A Members’ Bill was introduced by Claire Baker MSP (entitled the Culpable Homicide …
2 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation regarding corporate homicide.
Answer · Keith Brown: The most recent legislative proposals introduced to the Scottish Parliament relating to corporate homicide was certified by the Presiding Officer as not being within the competence of the Scottish Parliament. Our view is that any consideration of reform of c…
2 Sep 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the UK Government to discuss the devolution of health and safety legislation.
Answer · Maree Todd: There has been no discussion on the devolution of health and safety legislation to the Scottish Government since the subject was addressed by the Smith Commission which suggested the parties involved : “…review the functions and operations of the Health and S…
1 Sep 2021 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done to assess how many Afghan refugees can be housed across all local authority areas.
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing advice on the maximum recommended dose of vitamin D supplement according to age and weight.
Answer · Maree Todd: Our current advice is based on the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), as set out in its 2016 report Vitamin D and Health. SACN advises all devolved nations and UK Government on nutrition related matters. Factors such as…
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 vaccination (a) targets and (b) timescales it has set for (i) prisoners and young offenders and (ii) prison staff, and how these are being monitored.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I would refer the Member to the fact as previously answered in S6W–02319 on 21 September 2021, prison staff are under no obligation to tell their employer of their Vaccination status, as it is not mandatory to be vaccinated. Although staff are paid away from …
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of (i) prisoners and young offenders and (ii) prison staff have received (A) their first dose and (B) both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, also broken down by (1) prison and young offender institution, (2) NHS board area and (3) whether the prisoners a…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has been working in collaboration with Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service to improve data on COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Scottish prisons. New prison vaccination data was been published by Public Health Scotland…
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government within what timeframe it anticipates all prisoners, young offenders and staff within the prison estate will have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, broken down by prison and young offender institution.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government works closely with all stakeholders including Trade Unions, to deliver the vital communication messages across the Prison Estate and the Member will appreciate that staff as part of the wider community, can be vaccinated and it is not …
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to local authorities to enable them to target people who are (a) homeless, (b) at risk of homelessness and (c) otherwise considered vulnerable regarding the provision of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government works closely with stakeholders to amplify key campaign messages and ensure we are continuously aspiring to communicate effectively to the population of Scotland, delivering messaging in an inclusive way to reach all geographies and se…
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people who are (i) homeless and (ii) at risk of homelessness have received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The homelessness status of those being vaccinated is not recorded at the time of vaccination. By the nature of homelessness short or long term, this data would be difficult to track. As of 31 August 2021, 91% of people in Scotland have had a 1st dose of a COV…
16 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to COVID-19 vaccination outreach programmes for homeless people in the West Scotland region.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Everyone aged 18 and over on (and including) 31 October 2021 has now been invited for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes adults experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. In Spring 2021, following new advice from the JCVI, priority gr…
6 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Scottish Swimming, and what discussions took place regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of (a) swimming lessons and (b) water safety education.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government held a meeting with key stakeholders, including Scottish Swimming, on 11 August to discuss water safety. Discussions included the provision of lessons and also water safety education. More discussions on how to move forward are sched…
6 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to address any barriers due to affordability that children may face when attending swimming lessons, and what progress it has made on this issue since the Health and Sport Committee's Inquiry into Support for Community Sport in 2012.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government works with partners to encourage all forms of sport and physical activity to be made available to all people across Scotland. We provided £1.72 million of funding to enhance work led by Scottish Swimming and local authorities to provi…
6 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Water Safety Scotland, and what action it is taking to support Scotland's Drowning Prevention Strategy.
Answer · Ash Denham: I last met with Water Safety Scotland representatives on 11 August 2021 during a meeting that I chaired with a range of key stakeholders on water safety. My officials are regularly in discussion with Water Safety Scotland representatives and their partners as…
6 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what catch-up plans it has put in place for children who have missed swimming lessons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government is in discussion with key stakeholders involved in the provision of swimming lessons and water safety education. We recognise the importance of swimming lessons in helping to build water confidence and learning to be safe in and around…
3 Aug 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to establish a public inquiry on its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government remains committed both to a public inquiry to be set up this year to consider matters in relation to Scotland’s handling of the pandemic, and to placing bereaved families at the heart of our work to establish an inquiry including in th…
30 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the MV Loch Seaforth has been covering freight sailings at night on the Ullapool-Stornoway route since the breakdown of the MV Arrow; how the cost of repairing the MV Arrow will be met, and whether this will be from the public purse.
Answer · Graeme Dey: During the breakdown of the MV Arrow, the MV Loch Seaforth operated her normal timetable, including overnight freight sailings. The costs of repairing the MV Arrow will be met by the vessel owner.
30 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has requested reports from (a) CalMac Ferries and (b) Seatruck Ferries regarding the breakdown of the MV Arrow on the Ullapool-Stornoway freight route on the weekend of 24-25 July 2021.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The operation of the MV Arrow on the Ullapool – Stornoway route is primarily a consideration for operator under the terms of the Time Charter. The Scottish Government has not requested detailed reports regarding the breakdown of the MV Arrow from either CalMa…
30 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an annual breakdown of the estimated expenditure on (a) new ferries and (b) infrastructure improvements on the ferries network from 2021-22 to 2025-26, based on the figures contained in its Draft Infrastructure Investment Plan.
Answer · Graeme Dey: The following table details the annual breakdown of estimated expenditure on new ferries and infrastructure improvements on the ferries network from 2021/22 to 2025/26. 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 5-yr Total £m £m £m £m £m £m Vessel…
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the impact that the fire at Troon railway station may have on (a) ferry services to Arran and (b) the Ardrossan Harbour project.
Answer · Graeme Dey: Arran ferry services were not impacted by the fire at Troon rail station. Rail connections between Glasgow and Ardrossan were maintained throughout the period of closure at Troon and temporary bus replacement links were put in place for passengers making jour…
20 Jul 2021 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the crew roster patterns will be on the MV Arrow when it is time chartered from the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company by CalMac, and whether the vessel will be managed by Seatruck Ferries when it is working on Clyde and Hebrides routes.
Answer · Graeme Dey: During the charter of the MV Arrow, Seatruck Ferries Ltd, the owner of the vessel, will be responsible for crew rostering as the crew are employed by them and not CalMac Ferries Ltd.